chapter 12

"now who is going to come for you ? There is no one. You Zemin wouldn't listen to you anymore."

Tears roll down from Xingchen's both eyes "this is wrong. You can't do this."

"You don't have any idea what I can do. Want to see a trial ?"

Xingchen widens his eyes seeing the burning iron bar coming at him. "No ... AHHHHHHHHH"

Xingchen sits on his bed in cold sweats. He looks around. Again the same nightmare . Since his childhood he had these nightmares of a black figure torturing him in various ways. He only sees it when he gets mentally disturbed.

It's not now. But for the first time, he heard a name. The speaker said Zemin wouldn't listen to him anymore. Is it because he was disturbed by Yaad's game ? So, the reality got mixed with his nightmares ?

Xingchen closed his eyes in a strong headache. He can't sleep anymore. He needs some fresh air.

***

Yaad crumpled the paper like a madman with his fist before throwing it at his personal maid.

"I asked you to keep your eyes open." Yaad hisses with rising anger "Where the hell were you when this came ?"

"I was in master's room all day. Nobody came in this room. I don't know how the paper.."

"Shut up !" Yaad shouts. "Does the paper have legs that it came by itself ?"

The maid lowers her head in panic.

Yaad closes his eyes in frustration. "Now go and ask Le gui. Would you ?

The maid bows hurriedly. She takes a breath of relief as her master didn't punish her. For a second she thought it was her last day.

Now, she needs to find le gui as soon as possible. Only le gui can divert her master's attention.

Xingchen was taking a stroll in the courtyard when he notices Yaad's personal maid running out of the palace in a panic state. He hides behind a tree.

The maid didn't notice Xingchen. She keeps on walking until she reaches the prison gate.

Xingchen comes out of shadow after the maid entered the prison. He was surprised how the prison guards didn't stop her. Which means he comes here often ? Did she come to meet Afreen ?

Xingchen was about to walk in when the maid came out of the prison with the jailer of Zi Prison - Le gui.

Xingchen hides again.

Le gui looks annoyed by the maid but there is something in his demeanor that screams danger. Xingchen's eyes follows le gui's back as he disappears slowly in the dark.

Suddenly Xingchen's black figure of his dream fits with a face - le gui. Shivers crawls under Xingchen's skin. He fell on the floor in panic.

Cold sweat drops forms on his forehead one by one. His ears rings with scream of his own agony. His heart beats fast. He eyes turn blurry as a teardrop runs down his cheek.

The pain hits too real to be a dream. Xingchen gulps. After a long moment of harsh breath Xingchen stands up.

He needs to find the truth of le gui.

***

"Why can't you understand, I need to meet Afreen." Yaad shouts at t le gui.

"She wouldn't meet you.".

"Are you serious? Someone is threatening me. I don't know what to do. Only Afreen can help me." Yaad explains in a hushed tone.

"You are of no use to Afreen. Afreen reviewed her punishment decree. Your husband Zemin can't release Afreen from Jail..because the  judiciary system of entire Zi kingdom has been transferred under empress Yuzu's power. Two days ago."

Yaad got splashed with cold water hearing the news "w... What ?"

"Why do you think Afreen asked you not to visit her ? You are useless now."

"Le gui, don't forget who are you talking with ? I am Afreen's brother." Yaad tries to act confident.

"Do you know what am I to Afreen ?" Le gui smirks.

Yaad's confidence breaks "b..but she needs to help me. What am I suppose to do without her help ? Someone is treathening me everyday..."

Yaad passes the crumpled paper to le gui.

Le gui takes the paper with a casual expression"what is this ?

"Cook hulatang for your husband or I'll reveal your secrets. Don't take this as fake, since you already know what is fake and what is not."

Le gui reads out loud. "What kind of threat is this ? You are taking it seriously?"

Yaad face turns ugly "don't pretend you also know it's not fake. Someone is really after me. As for the tasks, I am confused too.

"Yesterday it was like «feed husband's  insecurity about his brother», then it was «cook fish fry for your husband» and now this."

Le gui laughs out loud "then whoever it is, wants emperor Zemin to be healthy."

"Don't joke."

"I think it's Yang Xi." Le gui finally replies seriously. "Remember, emperor Zemin's fake lover. Maybe, he is still not over it and is trying to re-kindle emperor Zemin's hatred towards his brother."

"T..then what am I suppose to do ?"

Le gui hands over the paper to Yaad "how would I know ?  your secret , your problem. Not mine."

"YOU .."

"DON'T SHOUT." Le gui almost roars "And never ever summon me for your stupid problems. I am the jailer of Zi kingdom and I have nothing to do with you."

Yaad chuckles in disbelief "You two want to abandon me after using me ? Then listen, if I go down, I will take you and Afreen with me."

Le gui smirks like an evil scum "why don't you try then ?"

"Arggghhh !" Yaad shouts like a madman after leaving gui left his bed chamber. "Muan."

The maid Muan trembles hearing her master's summon. She enters the bed chamber with trembling legs..

Only then Xingchen comes out the big pillar just beside Yaad's entrance.

"Prepare the ingredients. I will cook hulatang tomorrow for his highness's breakfast."

Xingchen hears Yaad ordering his maid. But he pays no heed to them. He looks at le gui's leaving back.

He heard so many things that shocked him to the core.

Empress Yuzu took the control over Judiciary? When ? How come he has no idea about this ?

what is Le gui's connection with Afreen ? Are they lovers ?

What is Yaad's secret ?

And why would Yang xi ask Yaad to cook for Zixuan ?

Most of all, where is Yang xi ? Is he close to the palace that he can blackmail Yaad in broad daylight? Or there is a mole in the palace ?

So many questions and so many things to hunt. But with whom he can share this information ? Why he feels like he can't share with anybody ?

If le gui, the in charge of Zi Prison can be a traitor, then anybody can.

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