Jin qing noticed the strange moods hovering in the palace.

The emperor is in good health, but why does everyone look so nervous?

No one but Jin qing noticed this. The private servants seemed extremely nervous and very jittery.

Jin qing was getting unnerved. She was getting more and more worried about the emperor. There's something that he isn't telling her and she's getting more anxious trying to figure out what's going on.

She stayed in her room, staying quiet, refusing to see anyone- not even her maids.

Jin qing needed some time by herself. Ever since returning from the hunting trip, she found it harder to sleep at night. She would often wake but not remembering where she is. She'll panic for a little bit then calm down.

Xue Hua worried for her second sister, and so did Yi ping.

They sat at a bench by the flowers drinking tea and looking at the quiet scenery.

"How's training in the military with Kai feng?" Xue hua asked.

"Normal, nothing special. But because of the upcoming conflict, I do believe we are going to war soon."

"If we go to war..." Xue hua said softly. "Yi ping, can you promise me that you will stay home?"

"Little sister..." He said. "Will I be allowed to?"

Xue hua didn't reply.

"Besides." He said. "If i'm gone, you still have Jin qing to keep you company." Yi ping's eyes grew distant. "But know I hope that day never comes where you are alone."

"She's been so distant. Yi ping, you're not a lady so you don't hear all the things they say about her." Xue hua said. "You don't understand what the first wife does to her sometimes. She says she's used to it- but she's only been here for 8 years, how?"

Yi ping cupped his sister's face in his hands. "She's stronger than you think. She's just in one of her, erm, days."

"You and Jin qing are the only ones who are kind to me. Xi yan likes the elder sister because she gets treated as a higher lady there, so she doesn't like to be near me. Huan le treats me like the food dogs eat, and Kai feng- he doesn't even talk to me."

Yi ping looked at the clouds, then looked back at his sister. Noticing the dampness in her eyes, he sighed. "Would you want me to play the flute?"

Xue hua nodded and wiped the tears off of her eyes.

Yi ping stood up, and turning his back on her, he took out his flute.

<>

Jin qing fingered the jade disk she always kept on her. She knew she didn't need it, but she liked to hold it for comfort.

She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing.
She isn't as composed as others think she is.

It was day five alone in her room.
Those five days, she read, sewed, and thought to herself.

She had a feeling the emperor is dying. He never told her about all the poison in his body, but she knew it.
Not everyone is as good as her in hiding pain.

She just wondered how long he'll last.

On the sixth day, Xi jian and his younger brother Shang ye decided to visit and congratulate Kai feng on becoming an official commander.

The household flurried around, getting everyone and everything ready for their visit.

Jin qing was completely unaware of this, and only realized when they arrived.

Meanwhile, her maids panicked because they thought their miss wasn't prepared, and they tried to find a way to contact her miss if they can come back in. To their surprise, their miss emerged, fully dressed and proper. Elegant and simple hairpins rested above her ear, pearls stuck between braids and a calm expression.

The only difference was that she was a bit thinner, most likely from not eating. She even put on the makeup by herself to hid the paleness of her face.

"Miss!" Bai yan exclaimed. "We were so worried about you!"

Jin qing looked up and asked softly. "Why would you be?"

"Have you eaten?" Ye bing asked. "Look! You're all bones!"

"No" She replied to both statements at the same time

"Bai yan! Get something for miss to eat!"

Bai yan hurried off to bring a platter of food and Ye bing helped her weak miss sit down on a stone bench.

As Bai yan returned, Xi jian just so happened to be passing by, enjoying the flowers.

Jin qing rose from her seat and curtsied. "Greetings to your highness Xi jian."

"Jin qing." He nodded. "How is your day?"

"As normal as it can be." She said softly, keeping her eyes low.

"Oh? I see." He said.

Jin qing noticed the strange tone in his voice and felt studying eyes.

"You're looking a little thin, is everything all right? Are you sick?" he asked, suddenly grasping onto her hand.

Jin qing recoiled at the sudden contact and swiftly drew her hand back. "I'm fine, thank you. But, why do you ask?"

He studied her with his prying eyes and sighed. "A little worried. Your hands and frighteningly cold, are you sure you are alright?"

"Yes, thank you for caring, but I am fine." She said coldly.

Xi jian looked at the plates of food untouched "Did I interrupt you in the middle of your meal?"

Jin qing shook her head. "No, I haven't started it yet."

"Then I'll leave you be then. Have a good day." He said, and left.

Jin qing sat back down and ate only to satisfy her maids.

"What will miss be doing this afternoon?" Bai yan asked.

"I would like to go to the study."

Ye bing looked at her, her mouth open. "But you just spent days in your room!"

"I know."

"Staying inside too much isn't good for you!" Ye bing said. "Come out and have some sun."

Jin qing paused.

"Please?" Bai yan pleaded. "Even if you are just sitting in one area? Can you please just stay outside and have a break? You need it, miss."

Jin qing sighed "Fine..."

Bai yan and Ye bing squealed.

She settled on top of a small corner near her room where she grew some flowers and herbs. The air smelled sweet with honeysuckle, a sleeping willow tree next to her to provide her some shade from the sun.

With a small spade and a box of seeds, Jin qing planted blooming flowers to surround the tree, leaving a small path wide enough for her to sit in. She found this oddly relaxing, and she didn't mind the dirt getting on her hands and dress. 

It's better than the other things she used to get on her dress.
Her small and pale hands dropped the scissors, leaving a small cut in the earth.

She picked it back up, and pruned the dying flowers from the branch, and put them in a basket.

Picking apart the petals of the different flowers, she placed them in a large mortar.

Using the pestle, she pressed the petals until they became a paste.
She placed the handkerchief she made for her sister over the paste and poured hot water over it.

She stirred it for a little bit and added some more petals.
She did this so the handkerchief can have a hint of flower fragrance and be tinted a certain shade.

Besides, she didn't mind getting her hand dirty.

She had done the same to her honeysuckle handkerchief she uses-except she adds a little bit of honey.

She knew Xi Jian was watching.
She knew something was wrong.

Xi Jian shamelessly stood behind a wall, watching her in perfect secrecy.
Or at least so he thought.

He watched in fascination with how a lady can not mind doing such work. All the ladies he knew was always clean and gentle. The only work they did with their hands was sewing or painting.

Yet she didn't look uncivilized.
Despite sitting on dirt, she manages to make it look elegant as if the dirt was a wooden floor.

With the soft hues of the flowers and willow, it made her look like she was part of the background, but her peaceful expression made her look heavenly.

In his opinion, she is more interesting than her elder sister.

"Xi Jian." Shange ye said softly.

Xi Jian held out a hand for silence, then pointed at Jin qing.

Shang ye followed his pointing and laid his eyes on Jin qing. "I see." He said. "I know what you mean now."

"Yes, she doesn't look like much does she?"

"Not at all."

<><><>

A few days later, the emperor was assassinated.

It came to a shock to the entire kingdom.

Enemy assassins from the Song sneaked into the palace and killed the emperor-just like that.

His eldest son was supposed to ascend to the throne a mere two weeks later because of the upcoming conflict from the Song, though peace was still negotiable and was actively hoped for.

The whole country mourned for the great emperor.

He will be one not easily replaced, and everyone hoped that his son will be as great as his father.

Xi Jian knew he would. After all, the woman behind his father's success was alive and well.

Ahh im late ;-;

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed the chapter!