chapter 18

"My mother was a mistress of Prince Yaad's father. And she bored three children of him. My big sister, Me and my little sister.

The girl you know as princess Afreen is actually my big sister Simi, Lu Sin yi And I am Lu SanYi.

Simi and I used to play with princess Afreen and prince Yaad. Because we had same father, we had similarities in our looks. Specially in between me and Yaad.

One day we were playing on a cliff. It was Afreen's idea to play there. We were younger than her. So, she was the leader as always. We went there and played till evening. And when it was really dark Simi pushed Afreen. Afreen stumbles on her steps causing Yaad falling from cliff.

Yaad fell and Simi blamed Afreen for killing her brother. I was a kid back then , I didn't know what was happening.. I just remembered Afreen begging Simi to protect her.

Then they sneaked into Yaad's bedroom and made me wear Yaad's clothes. Next day everybody said SanYi died from falling off the cliff. I became Yaad."

"Nobody doubted ?" The masked man frowns.

"My mother did. But everybody thought that she has gone mad after losing her son."

"You never told them ?"

"I tried but Afreen and Simi used to tail me everywhere I used to go. They never gave me a chance."

"Then how your big sister became Afreen ?"

"On the day of the marriage, Afreen replaced her sister to marry Zixuan. She was getting ready in her cabin with Simi's help.

Simi somehow convinced Afreen to check on her sleeping sister one last time before marriage. They went to the secret cabin together. But only Simi came out wearing the wedding dress."

"What happened to original Afreen ?"

"She sold her, I can't exactly guess where but she did. Later when everyone checked the cabin only the sleeping sister was there..there was no trace of Afreen and they thought Afreen cheated and married Zixuan.

After that incident I have had enough, I wrote to Simi that if she doesn't come out and confess , I will. But that was my biggest mistake.

She kidnapped Lusi , our younger sister to blackmail me. Lusi was just a kid. She was even younger than Meimei. She sold her to ...

"Sold her to ?"

"To emperor Xi Lan of Lan kingdom."

The masked man raised his head "oversea ?"

SanYi nods.

"Why would Xi lan help her ? He is in famous for his conceited attitude."

"He was an admirer of original Afreen .I don't know the details... But my sister is there as a maid. But if I don't listen to Simi, She will make my sister a prostitute /slave.."

"How do you know you sister is not , right now ? She can lie."

"My sister wouldn't. I write to her sometimes. Simi let us talk through letters..and I know for sure, my little sister is writing those letters."

The masked man stands up "Why would Xi Lan help her ?"

"I don't think he helps her." Xingchen stands at the entrance of the dark room. "If he had actually helped her like the way you are thinking , then Afreen wouldn't wait this long to kill us !"

"Then ?"

"Maybe they have some kind of Deal. Maybe she sold the original Afreen to him and to repay that favour he kept my sister hostage."

"That means if we just kill Afreen right now, neither Lan kingdom nor Amari king would interfere?"

"They would if we kill Afreen but they wouldn't if we kill Simi." Xingchen takes in a sharp breath. "We need to contact Amari kingdom."

***

"He is nowhere in the palace!"

"Aarggghhh !" Afreen scream in frustration as soon as Le gui reports her after an entire day of searching. "Where the hell did he go ?"

"I don't know !"

"Then find him you piece of shit !" Afreen punches the wall in frustration. "Tail Zixuan and Yuzu .. I am sure one of them has kidnapped him !"

"We already tail them. There is no clue. Zixuan only met minister Bai in last twenty four hours. He is pretty upset with Zemin's death and Prince Zhan is sick so empress Yuzu didn't leave his side.

But he is searching here and there for her maid Meimei. Not anything out of ordinary."

Afreen frowns harder "what did you say ? Not out of ordinary? Wait ! Why ? Why not ? Zemin is dead. Meimei is missing, chief minister Xingchen is in prison. The situation should be out of ordinary!"

Le gui makes a face "Don't tell you have problem with this too ?"

"Wait.. le gui, tell me who came to meet Xingchen in his cell since yesterday  ?"

"Noone why ?"

Afreen stands up "then Xingchen shouldn't know that Zemin is dead. Right ?"

"No !"

"Let's go. I want to pay a visit to minister Xingchen."

***

"Afreen is here."Yang Xi shouts at the Meimei.

"Brother Xingchen isn't back yet."

"I am back.. come back Yang Xi. Behave normal. Meimei , you pretend to sleep. We can't let them doubt not now." Xingchen walks in the cell and sits in his usual position.

Yang xi goes back to his seat. "The snakes ?"

"Let them roam. We will be lucky if they bite one of them." Meimei whispers with closed eyes.

"The worm sack ?"

"I have it safe !" Meimei whispers again. She was about to add more but she hears the clang sound of the iron bar moving.

Afreen walks in the cell with a calm and composed face "how are you, minister Xingchen?"

Xingchen looks at Afreen "You wouldn't get away with this !"

"With what ? Killing your husband ? Or traping you for killing your husband ?"

Xingchen was about to answer both but he stops. Did he just notice a curious gaze on Le gui. Usually le gui comes to meet him and insult him but Afreen or Simi .. herself came to visit... He frowns..

"What happened , minister Xingchen? You didn't answer me ?" Afreen asks again.

"You two are not qualified to my words.. I would rather stay silent."

Afreen laughs "That's a good idea but what if it's your last chance to talk ? Emperor Zixuan has given a decree to slaughter you for killing Zemin. Don't you know ?"

Xingchen looks at Afreen and Le gui together. He gives a smile "You are here to provoke me ? I know Zemin isn't dead. Empress Yuzu would have informed me, otherwise."

Xingchen notices the disappointment on Le gui's face. Afreen on the other hand is really a fine actress. Her face gives away nothing !

"Your husband is dead !"

"I don't trust you." Xingchen retorts le gui.

Afreen on the other hand walks around the room casually "Le gui, I am very disappointed with you."

Le gui walks towards Afreen "why ? What happened?"

"Xingchen is chief minister of the Zi kingdom. He has a status. Why did you put him in the same cell with a maid and a former prince ? Doesn't minister Xingchen deserve a separate cell ?"

A vein pops in Xingchen's forehead. A separate cell with new guards ? No way !

"I thought I would keep all the trash in one place." Le gui replies with a sneer.

Afreen smiles"No no, Minister Xingchen deserves a special treatment. Afterall, he is pretty qualified for it. Isn't he ?"

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