When the news of the imperial sons came back safetly with only very minor injuries, the whole kingdom rejoiced.

However, their heart ached for the beloved Emperor.
He now lay on his bed, fighting a battle for life and death, and the whole kingdom fought beside him.

He is the legendary Emperor, prophesied to unite the kingdoms and bring peace and prosperity to the entire world during his life.

If he died, who knows if his son will be as good as him?

Jin qing was right, but the old man was just too stubborn.

<>

The entire household, like everyone else, is praying night and day for his recovery.
Jin qing the absolute hardest.

She knew she should have pressed on for his departure so he would be safe in the company of guards.
By her own silly belief that he would be careful, she didnt try harder.
According to reports, a enemy archer spotted him in the fray and struck him with a poisoned arrow.
All because of her.

She knew that if he died, there was no doubt that he'll tell Xi jian about her and her identity as the Xue xian.

No doubt about it. Otherwise, how else would he know who to ask for when he needs the Xue Xian?

All she can hope for is that Xi jian respects her wishes of being hidden.

She really wanted to keep her secret. The last thing she needed was for them to find out she is still alive.

It was the only part of the deal she struck with the Emperor 8 years ago in an exchange for her help.

Two days after their return from the hunting site, Huan le came into her room.

Jin qing looked up only to receive a strike across her face.

She forced her head to stay straight so Huan le didn't receive any sort of satisfaction that she struck hard enough.

"You still have the face and the guts to stay calm?" Huan le asked. "Why did you not refuse when the highness Xi jian asked you to shoot? Why did you not refuse when Princess An ru asked you to sing?"

Jin qing looked up "I wanted to. However, if i wish to protect Li family's reputation, I couldn't. Do not tell me, Huan le, that you care about your own reputation more than this family's?"

Huan le took a shaky breath "I hope you remember mother's orders or did you forget?"

"Does it look like I'll ever forget?"

"Then why didn't you obey her?!" She shrieked, steam coming out of her ears. "Now everyone is going to think that we have raised a boy instead of a lady. A lady who shoots archery and rides horses for fun. What a disgrace! They think less of me now, they think that I didn't do my duty as an older sister and-"

She struck Jin qing again on the other cheek, but once again, Jin qing didn't move

"Miss!" Bai yan cried. "Hey, please! stop!"

"You dare to talk to me, you lowly servant? Know your place!" Huan le said.

Jin qing knew not to anger Huan le anymore when her temper is still rising. But when Huan le rose her hand to strike her maid, she grabbed her wrist and held it there.

"Your argument is with me. Don't drag my maids into this." Jin qing reminded her. "Bai yan, Ye bing, do not interfere."

"All you need to remember is that you are nothing." She said to her. "You are nothing but a fake. You aren't from this family."
Huan le turned and left.

"Mother is very angry with you. I suggest you watch out." She added, and left.

Jin qing sat down, her head buzzing.

"Oh miss!" Bai yan cried. "You didn't need to do that for me!"

"I meant what I said."

"But miss!" Ye bing mourned "You have angered Huan le's mother. That's not good."

"I'll manage like how I have done in the past."

Ye bing and Bai yan exchanged a worried look.

"It's nearly noon and Miss haven't eaten yet." Ye bing said. "I'll go out and get you some food."

She hurried up and walked out, only to come right back with tears.

"What's wrong?" Jin qing asked.

"They won't let me go out! Apparently, the first wife banned any of us from going outside. How would we be able to get you anything to eat!?"

Jin qing sighed. "Have you eaten yet?"

They nodded. "We've eaten in the morning before we woke you up. But you haven't yet! If only we didn't listen to you when you said you weren't hungry and still got you some food!" Bai yan said.

"Don't worry. I was in no appetite to eat anyway."

Jin qing already knew that the first wife would lock her in her room. This isn't the first time she has gotten mad at her like this, neither was this the first time she was forced to go a day without eating.

Though she was secretly upset for not being able to eat. How can she do this to a food lover like her?! What an outrage!

Jin qing simply sat down and sewed for the rest of the day.

Her head spun with hunger, her vision often faded into darkness.
She knew hunger was only making it worse, but she forced herself to focus and sew.

"Please! Just anything! Please.. I haven't eaten in days-"

"Shut it! The empress said you don't deserve food, and you would not!"

"Please!"

Jin qing set down her needle and pressed the temples of her forehead and steadied her breathing, taking in the sweet smell of incense- not the stale air of a certain stone.

There were some footsteps outside, and someone came in.

"Second sister!" Xue hua said. "Oh are you alright?"

Jin qing looked up. "Hm? Oh, I'm fine."

"You look pale, are you sick? Do you have a fever?" Xue hua said, and pressed her hands to Jin qing's forehead.

"No, I'm alright." Jin qing assured her, gently pulling her sister's hand away from her head. "What brings you here?"

"I heard the first wife locked you in your room again." Xue hua sighed "I knew you haven't eaten yet, I snuck in with a steamed taro bun."

She lifted up a flap of her dress and gave her a bun that was wrapped up in paper.
It was still warm.

"My dress kept it warm this entire time. I wrapped it up in paper so it doesn't get dirty." She smiled. My maids bought a steamed bun for your maids too. I knew they would be hungry."

Jin qing smiled and ate.

"Thank you." Jin qing said.

"Your welcome. And sorry about the..." Xue hua said, lowering her eyes.

"Oh, about the singing?" Jin qing smiled gently "I already know it was you who told princess An ru. Don't worry, it's alright."

Xue hua looked up in surprise. "You knew? How?"

"I noticed An ru talking to you before she went up. You two were looking at me. That aside, you were the one who told princess An ru and Prince Min yin about my absence in the banquet the first night?"

"How did you know?!"

"I smelled royal incense off of your robes."

Xue hua laughed. "So smart! I can't keep any secrets you, even if I tried my hardest."

Jin qing smiled, and continued eating.

Xue hua looked at the little handkerchief her sister was lining with flowers and leaves. It looked very delicate and very real. The flowers bloomed and blossomed in all shades of colors. It was very pleasing to look at. Xue hua picked it up and studied it.

"Second sister, is this for anyone?" Xue hua asked with a mischievous look in her eyes. "Someone you fancy?"

Jin qing smiled and pinched her little sister's cheeks.

"Who do you think this is for?"

"The Prince Min yin? He seems to be very interested in you."

Jin qing laughed. "No, silly. But why do you say that?"

"I dont know. The prince Min Yin seems to be someone sister would like. Handsome, intelligent, quiet, someone that sister would get along great with."

"Well, its not for him. Its for you." Jin qing smiled.

"Huh?!"

"It's going to be your birthday soon, is it not?"

Xue hua looked down. "Yes. But with the emperor injured, no one will be in the mood to celebrate."

Jin qing smiled. "Thats why im making this. To remind you that I still remember. A birthday is always worth celebrating." Jin qing nodded.

"Did sister have birthdays in the countryside?"

"The elderly couple was very kind. We didn't have much money to throw an extravagant party, but a nice meal was always prepared."

"What about gifts? Oh sister, tell me stories about the countryside!"
Xue hua loved listening about the place she never visited. She finds it fascinating that a woman raised for 13 years in the country can be so calm and lady-like. When she first met her sister, she almost couldn't believe it!

Jin qing smiled "well, my adoptive brothers would always give me something they made themselves. The elderly woman would bake treats, and the man would allow me to follow him as he does his work."

"Have you visited since you came?" Xue hua asked "do you plan on visiting? I would so like to meet them!"

Jin qing shook her head. "No, I haven't. Though I want to visit them jist as much as you do."

Jin qing tilted her head up and spoke a little louder in a childish voice. "Though, about this gift... Now I have to make a new one. Since you have already seen this one."

Xue hua laughed at her expression. "Oh! No need for the extra trouble! This one is lovely!"

Jin qing smiled and returned to her soft voice "Oh too late. I already have ideas for the new one. No stopping me now, is there?"

Xue hua smiled. She was lucky to have a sister like her.

Xue Hua leaned over to give her sister a hug. "I wish the elder sister and the first wife can be nicer to you."

Jin qing smiled sadly, her eyes sympathetic. "It's alright. I'm used to it."

"Why do they hate you so much?" Xue Hua asked.

Jin qing shrugged "Who knows? It's a mystery that might never be solved."