Free Web NovelChapter 16: Wedding Preparation
There was an air of excitement as nobles from far and wide arrived at the palace for the royal wedding.
Even old Bai He seemed to be in high-spirits as she barked out orders in the courtyard. But not even the pastries from the merchants that the other maids passed around could lift Ru Yi’s mood.
"Why do you keep touching your lip?" Lang Ying asked from where she sat on the floor. "Is the food too spicy for you?"
Ru Yi wished the bowl of porridge in front of her was the problem. No matter how much she tried to forget it, Shen Qingyue’s threat rang in her ears. And her lips—
Her hand folded into fists.
She had failed to deliver the letter because Shen Qingyue had taken it, and Ru Yi knew without doubt she was going to read it.
The instruction from Shen Qingyue was to leave the palace with Crown Prince Zhao Chen that night. Was it really the only way Ru Yi could survive?
And after what happened between them, Ru Yi didn’t think she could look at him the same. She’d felt pity for him at first but she wouldn’t excuse his behavior. Drunk or not.
"Ru Yi." A maid walked up to her. "Princess Lin Yuexin has summoned you."
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There was a maid waiting to show Ru Yi in when she got to Lin Yuexin’s residence. The princess was already standing in her inner chamber, waiting for her.
Ru Yi bowed her head when she entered the room. "You summoned me."
Princess Lin Yuexin turned, a scroll in her hand. "I found a document that shows the Empress has been purchasing poison since the last full moon. There are scrolls that show she switched the royal guards with her own personal army."
"The Empress has an army?"
Lin Yuexin nodded. "She’s not supposed to. She must have had them trained in secret." She tilted her head to the side in deep thought. "Or had someone with a high rank in martial arts do it."
"Do you think it’s the triplets?"
Lin Yuexin shook her head. "They would never have anything to do with the Empress."
"We have to find out who else is in cohorts with her." She looked at Ru Yi. "We don’t have much time left, we need to figure everything out before the wedding."
Ru Yi gulped.
There might never be a wedding, but she didn’t tell the princess that.
"There are rumors about the Empress’s corruption in court. She seems to have been taking grains out of the royal store and reselling them to merchants. Even the accounting for the imperial funds seems to be off." freёwebnovel.com
Ru Yi stood beside the table, wondering what her role was in all of this.
"I need you to find a way inside the imperial archive. We need solid proof."
Ru Yi was already beginning to shake her head. "I can’t possibly go inside the palace without being found out. It’s too risky."
Princess Lin Yuexin grabbed her hands. "I know, but you must do this for me. Or don’t you want to leave the palace anymore? I promise you’ll live a carefree life and never have to worry about anything again."
Not if Shen Qingyue finds out she had no plans to elope with the crown prince. She’d strike Ru Yi down on the spot.
A shiver ran up her spine.
Right now Princess Lin Yuexin was her best bet.
If she got the records for her then she could leave before any of the triplets would come looking for her head.
"Will you give me the pass after I get the records? I’m running out of time. I really can’t spend another waking moment in the palace."
Princess Lin Yuexin rubbed the back of Ru Yi’s hand in a soothing manner. "I never go back on my word. All I want to do is expose the Empress and her corruption. Everyone will be safe if order is maintained in the court."
"And what about you?" Ru Yi asked. "What if—"
"Don’t worry about me." Princess Lin Yuexin pulled Ru Yi closer. "I only want you to take this a bit more seriously. The future of the kingdom lies in our hands."
Ru Yi did not want a responsibility that big, but she couldn’t voice her concerns to the princess. All she could do was nod. freēwēbnovel.com
"The crown prince does not care much for the throne. That rules him out of the equation. We need to find out the powerful figure that’s supporting the Empress."
"If I get the records, what will you do with them?"
"I’ll present it to the inner court."
Ru Yi wanted to point out the flaw in her thinking. The Empress would have officials in the court that were in her support.
Exposing her wouldn’t be as simple as Princess Lin Yuexin thought it to be.
And if indeed she succeeded in exposing her, the Empress wouldn’t just sit back and watch. She’d retaliate.
Ru Yi looked at Lin Yuexin.
She’d started to grow fond of the princess. She wouldn’t be able to bear it if anything happened to her.
"Sit down," Lin Yuexin said, startling Ru Yi. "Enough of the political talk, it’s beginning to tire me out. Have a drink with me."
Ru Yi was about to protest when the princess clapped her hands and a maid walked in.
Moments later, the maid came back with a wine pot and two porcelain cups.
The maid lifted the pot carefully and poured the wine.
"Your highness, I’m just a maid." Ru Yi looked at the maid as she left the room. "It’s not proper for me to have a drink with you. If the other maids start talking—"
"Don’t worry about that. No one will say a word." She raised the cup to her lips. "If anything I don’t see you as a maid."
Ru Yi saw the teasing glint in her eyes.
"I mean, we’ve practically kissed each other."
Ru Yi choked on the wine— her eyes growing wide.
"Relax..." Princess Lin Yuexin laughed. "In another world I’m sure we would’ve made very good friends. Maybe if all goes well..." she trailed off.
Ru Yi watched the princess refill her cup before she could offer to do it.
"Would it be selfish of me if I asked you to remain by my side?" Princess Lin Yuexin asked, her eyes already clouded.
Ru Yi couldn’t answer that.
"Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to stay. But please..." her eyes were pleading as she took hold of Ru Yi’s hand on the table. "If anything happens to me, promise that you’ll remember everything we’ve found out."
