Chapter 7 - An accident
Yong Qi hurried home to find his whole entire bedroom flooded with paper. Loose sheets, some scrunched up balls and even whole entire layers rolled frustratingly into huge wads. In the midst of all the mess propped up against a pillow was Xiao Yan Zi, adding yet another ball to the mess. Ink was smudged on certain areas of her face and her clothing as she creased her brows in concentration and shakily blotted a few strokes onto the pile of paper placed upon a small table in front of her. Again she scrunched the sheet up into a ball and threw it onto the floor, this time throwing her brush down as well. Giving out a loud grunt of frustration she angrily shoved the whole table onto the floor and it crashed a few feet from where Yong Qi was standing. Looking up, Xiao Yan Zi finally noticed her husband standing by the doorway.
"You said you would help," she sulked, sullenly crossing her arms as she glared at him.
"What are you doing?" asked Yong Qi, still staring at the piles of paper covering his room in shock.
"What else can I be doing? Huang Ah Ma's essay of course. It's that horrid girl's entire fault, she was the one who made me fight with her. I should find her and bring her to Huang Ah Ma, then he can punish her instead," Xiao Yan Zi grumbled, angrily punching her fist against the hard wooden bedpost.
"Ouch!" she cried in pain, carefully nursing her fist in her other hand.
Yong Qi quickly ran to her side. "Does it hurt? Is anything broken?" he fussed. "I'll get them to summon the physician," he told her, turning to find the servants.
"No, don't! I'm fine," said Xiao Yan Zi, quickly pulling him back. Yong Qi frowned, gently taking her hand into his to examine it. After careful evaluation, and making her move her fingers for him to see they weren't broken, he finally nodded, satisfied.
"Okay then, what have you done so far?" he asked her.
Xiao Yan Zi pushed away a few of the sheets on her bed and extracted a stack of wrinkled papers with messy writing all over. Yong Qi looked over the smudged writing thoughtfully, before carefully straightening out each sheet of paper and placing them into a neatly folded pile beside her.
"That's not bad so far," he told her, doing his best to hide his smile. Xiao Yan Zi's writing was 'entertaining' as usual. "How many more words do you need?"
"Maybe five hundred," answered Xiao Yan Zi glumly. It had taken her the entire day to come up with the first half, how was she supposed to write another five hundred words? Xiao Yan Zi yawned, even though it was only early in the night. Writing always made her tired. She could run around and practice martial arts without stopping for hours, but make her write for more than an hour and her whole body starts to ache.
"Well, you've already covered a lot of points already. Maybe you just need to expand on some of them?" suggested Yong Qi.
Xiao Yan Zi yawned a second time.
"Yong Qi, can you do me a favour?" she pleaded, resting her head onto his shoulder and throwing her arms around his chest.
"What is it?" asked Yong Qi, silently enjoying his wife's affectionate sulkiness.
"Write the rest… for me…" she managed to say before giving in to her heavy eyelids.
"Didn't you say that Huang Ah Ma will recognise my handwriting?" asked Yong Qi, but Xiao Yan Zi had already fallen asleep on his shoulder. Shaking his head in amusement, he turned to gently gather his wife up into his arms and laid her onto the bed. Clearing away all the pieces of paper from the bed, he carefully placed her half finished essay neatly on their bedside table, before calling for Xiao Yan Zi's servants.
"Wu Ah Ge," they all greeted him as they entered.
"Where were you all?"
"Her Highness told us not to disturb her and sent us outside," said Ming Yue.
Yong Qi nodded.
"Ming Yue, can you get me a basin of water? Cai Xia, prepare Xiao Yan Zi's medicine. Xiao Deng Zi, Xiao Zhuo Zi, you two clean up this mess," he ordered them.
"Yes, Wu Ah Ge." They all bowed and set about completing their tasks.
Yong Qi settled himself by the bed and stared at Xiao Yan Zi's ink smudged face. Was she really He Zhen? A sister he had mourned the passing of so many years ago in his childhood? He had been inconsolable the day the news had spread through the palace that she had been swept away by the river during a storm while out with the Empress on a trip to the temple. But could there really be so much coincidence in this world, that such circumstances would bring He Zhen back into their lives, and as Xiao Yan Zi? Drawing a shaky breath, Yong Qi gently rolled Xiao Yan Zi's head over to the side and swept her hair apart. There staring back at him was a small patch of white on her scalp, unmistakably and terrifyingly real.
"Xiao Yan Zi, show me your essay," ordered Qian Long as soon as he entered Jing Yang Gong the next day.
Xiao Yan Zi sheepishly handed over the wrinkled and smudged sheets, avoiding the Emperor's eye. Scanning quickly over the pages, Qian Long smiled.
"It's a bit short, isn't it?"
"That's not fair," exclaimed Xiao Yan Zi indignantly. "I worked so hard on it and Huang Ah Ma doesn't even bother to read it. All Huang Ah Ma can see is that it isn't long enough. Yong Qi said I already covered a lot of points. I could have written a thousand words on food, and still passed the test," she complained.
"Then why didn't you?" teased Qian Long, chuckling. Xiao Yan Zi huffed, pouting and crossing her arms. Qian Long frowned when he saw the dark bruise across her knuckles.
"What happened to your hand?" he asked. Xiao Yan Zi glanced down, seeming to only notice her own injury at that moment.
"Oh? Nothing, I hurt it on the bedpost," she told him, still staring curiously at her own hand, and experimentally stretching her fingers a few times. Qian Long sighed, shaking his head slightly at her.
"Alright, Yong Qi told me that you worked hard all yesterday to write this essay, so I'm letting you pass the punishment."
"Really?" asked Xiao Yan Zi excitedly, perking up at once.
"Yes, really. And I'm sure Master Ji would love to read-."
"Huang Ah Ma wan sui!" exclaimed Xiao Yan Zi, jumping around in glee. "Huang Ah Ma, next time you punish me, maybe you should just give me a beating. Writing is even more painful. At least if you beat me only one area hurts, but yesterday, my head hurt, my hand hurt, my back hurt, everywhere hurt!" said Xiao Yan Zi.
"Humph. Maybe if you don't get into trouble, I won't have to punish you. What kind of person plans the next time they get punished?" asked Qian Long.
"I know I'll get into trouble, especially here in the palace," she told him earnestly.
Qian Long could only shake his head, a resigned smile on his face.
Xiao Yan Zi was out and about again in less than two days, despite Yong Qi's best efforts to make her stay inside and rest some more.
"It's so windy today, Yong Qi. I want to go and fly my kite," she told him as soon as he opened his eyes in the morning. She was already dressed and ready. Yong Qi yawned.
"Aren't you supposed to be taking it easy?" he asked. "How is your head feeling?"
"I've been 'taking it easy' for ages now. My head feels fine, and plus, Zi Wei is coming today," said Xiao Yan Zi.
"Oh, that's right," mumbled Yong Qi, lying back down onto the bed, hoping to sleep in for a few more moments. Unfortunately, his mischievous wife had other plans.
"Yong Qi! Wake up!" she yelled into his ear, causing him to jump straight out of bed and onto the floor.
"Ouch! Xiao Yan Zi! You weren't the one staying up late last night," he complained, painfully picking himself up.
"I haven't even scolded you for that yet. Where were you last night?"
"I was at Hui Bing Lou with Xiao Jian," replied Yong Qi. He had spent the last few days with Xiao Jian discussing over what to do now they knew about Xiao Yan Zi's true identity. They had decided to keep everything a secret for now until they could find out more about what had happened all those years ago, and why the late Empress had suddenly felt threatened enough to send her daughter away.
"Humph, you should've taken me along too," complained Xiao Yan Zi.
"It wasn't even your assigned day to go out of the palace," said Yong Qi. "Plus, you're meant to be resting. If Huang Ah Ma found out I sneaked you outside, you and I both would be writing thousand word essays."
"Okay, fine," sighed Xiao Yan Zi. "I just don't like you being away all the time, I've missed you," she mumbled softly under her breath, blushing furiously.
Yong Qi smiled, reaching behind his wife to draw her into his arms.
"Well if you had told me that earlier, I would have gladly stayed with you all day and all night," he whispered to her, gently kissing her cheek. He laughed softly when he saw her blush even harder.
"Yong Qi!" she exclaimed, pushing him away. "Humph, I'm going outside," she announced, joyfully skipping out of the room with her kite.
Yong Qi had just finished his breakfast when Zi Wei and Er Kang arrived.
"Zi Wei, come and fly my kite with me. Look how far it is up there!" he heard Xiao Yan Zi's voice from the courtyard. In a short moment Er Kang walked into the hall.
"Good day, Wu Ah Ge," he greeted. "I see Wu Fujin (wife of the fifth prince) has once again defied the physician's orders."
"As usual," said Yong Qi, shaking his head.
Er Kang laughed.
"His Majesty has requested our attention this morning," he reported.
"Do you know what the matter is?" asked Yong Qi. Er Kang shook his head.
"Xiao Gui Zi only told me we were summoned."
"Well, we should get going then," said Yong Qi, rising from his chair.
The two men walked out the door, bidding farewell to their wives. The last thing Yong Qi heard before he left was Xiao Yan Zi's excited voice calling out.
"Look Zi Wei, there's a little bird flying next to my bird kite!"
"Zi Wei, Zi Wei, can you see? The bird is flying up right next to it. Maybe it has mistaken my kite for a real little swallow," exclaimed Xiao Yan Zi, laughing.
"I can see," reassured Zi Wei. "How did your essay for Huang Ah Ma go by the way? Yong Qi told Er Kang that you only had half of it done."
"Huang Ah Ma let me pass anyway," Xiao Yan Zi replied nonchalantly, eyes not leaving her kite in the air. "This is so fun. Why don't you try holding it?" offered Xiao Yan Zi, pushing the wheel into Zi Wei's hands. Zi Wei took the wheel, biting her lip in concentration when a gust of wind started blowing in the opposite direction. She tried her best to pull it back, but the kite abruptly changed direction, falling some distance before crashing into one of the tallest trees in the garden.
"Oh no," cried Xiao Yan Zi, staring dismally up at the tangled string in the branches above them. She took the wheel from Zi Wei and gave it an experimental tug, frowning when it wouldn't budge.
"Maybe we can ask a guard to get it down?" suggested Zi Wei.
"That's alright, it's not too high. I'll go and get it," said Xiao Yan Zi, jumping up onto the lowest branch of the tree and beginning to slowly climb to the top before Zi Wei could protest. "Just don't tell Yong Qi," she added, as she made her way up higher and higher.
"Be careful, Xiao Yan Zi," called Zi Wei from below, looking at sister standing precariously on the tall branches.
"Don't worry," said Xiao Yan Zi, waving from where she was now almost at the top. She paused, quickly grabbing hold when she wobbled dangerously. "Xiao Jian said my qing gong is almost at the level of shenxian huahua (fairies drawing)," she boasted, readjusting herself.
Zi Wei gulped nervously, watching Xiao Yan Zi now starting to climb out towards the kite. Suddenly feeling dizzy, she grabbed onto the trunk of the tree, blinking to try and clear her head. She had been having a few of these spells lately, but had yet to see a physician. She knew that her health had often worried her husband and she didn't want to cause any more unnecessary concern. This time however, her vision didn't clear up as it previously used to, and she felt cramping pain growing inside of her, from her stomach and agonisingly spreading around. Her legs felt weak and her arms trembled. The wind suddenly felt as though it had dropped to freezing point.
"Xiao Yan Zi, come down," she gasped weakly, but was interrupted by a scream and the sound of snapping branches. Zi Wei made out a blur of red falling to the ground before her, before everything went black.
Xiao Yan Zi groaned, painfully sitting up. She wasn't sure how far she had fallen, only recalling hitting numerous branches before she landed on the hard ground. Her wrist that was still holding onto the kite she had retrieved throbbed with pain, and her back felt like it had been through a thorough beating.
"Zi Wei?" she called for her sister, glancing around until she saw the slumped form behind her. "Zi Wei!" she exclaimed in alarm, seeing her sister unconscious on the ground, a red stain now seeping through her dress. "Zi Wei! Help! Somebody help!"
Er Kang returned to Jing Yang Gong first by himself since Yong Qi was held back by the Emperor. Qian Long had summoned them to begin planning for another incognito trip, this time travelling to Dali as he had promised Xiao Yan Zi last year. Er Kang could hardly contain his excitement despite himself, for this would finally be a trip they could enjoy without any burdens, unlike the last two times they had travelled. As he reached the entrance, deciding on what to tell Xiao Yan Zi when she would no doubt demand to know what he and Yong Qi had been summoned for, he was surprised to see the imperial physician rushing out.
"Physician Hu, has something happened?" he asked.
"Master Fu, you're back. Princess Zi Wei has been in an accident. I'm going to the dispensary for some herbs, but Physician Jin and Physician Deng are already inside with-"
Er Kang didn't bother to hear the physician finish, racing inside to the bedroom. Pausing at the door, he felt his breath hitching at the sight of his wife laying on the bed, her face pale and lifeless.
"Zi Wei? Zi Wei, what has happened?" he asked, staggering to her bedside.
"Master Fu," the physicians greeted when they saw him.
"Don't be alarmed, Zi Wei Ge Ge has lost a bit of blood but should be fine with some rest. " reported Physician Jin. "However, we do have some bad news."
"It's all my fault," a small sob sounded out, drawing Er Kang's attention. He turned, seeing Xiao Yan Zi huddled on the ground in a corner.
"Xiao Yan Zi, what happened?" he asked, going up and bending over to face her. Xiao Yan Zi slowly lifted her head, revealing her red and tear-stained face.
"Er… Er Kang," she stammered out, her eyes pained. "I'm sorry."
"What for?" he asked, shaking his head in confusion. Had the physician not just advised him that Zi Wei was going to be fine?
"I was climbing… climbing the tree to get my kite, and I… I fell on Zi Wei," she whimpered, sobs choking her words. "And… and Zi Wei she… The physician said she lost..."
"Lost what?" asked Er Kang, his hands gripping Xiao Yan Zi's arms. "Didn't they say she was going to be alright?"
"Master Fu, I can explain," said Physician Jin. "While Zi Wei Ge Ge is going to recover, it appears Zi Wei Ge Ge has suffered a miscarriage."
"A… a miscarriage?" Er Kang stammered, turning to the physician. "A miscarriage? She was pregnant?"
"From what we can tell, she had been in the early stages of pregnancy. Unfortunately, it was already too late by the time we arrived."
Er Kang felt his body freezing up, his grip on Xiao Yan Zi weakening, his legs giving way. He dropped onto the ground in disbelief. How could it be? They had a child? He and Zi Wei had a child. Yet now, it was gone before they even knew it existed.
"How is Xiao Yan Zi faring?" Qian Long asked Yong Qi as they made their way to Jing Yang Gong. "Is her head still bothering her?"
"She is fine now. She declared that she has had enough rest this morning and went outside to fly a kite," replied Yong Qi, shaking his head in resignation. Qian Long simply laughed. He knew Xiao Yan Zi would have gotten out sooner or later.
"Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to Wu Ah Ge," the servants greeted them when they reached the entrance of Jing Yang Gong.
"Xiao Yan Zi?" said Yong Qi, calling for his wife as he walked in. "Zi Wei, Er Kang? Where is everyone?" he asked.
"Xiao Yan Zi, what's this I hear about you going outside to play already?" scolded Qian Long playfully.
"Your Majesty, Wu Ah Ge," Ming Yue greeted them when they reached the hall. "There has been an accident, everyone is in the bedroom."
"What has happened?" asked Qian Long.
"From what your servant knows, Huan Zhu Ge Ge was climbing up a tree when she fell and landed on Zi Wei Ge Ge," reported Ming Yue. "The physicians said that Zi Wei Ge Ge had a miscarriage."
"A miscarriage? Zi Wei was pregnant?" said Qian Long.
"Xiao Yan Zi fell on her?" asked Yong Qi.
Father and son quickly exchanged a concerned glance before rushing into the bedroom.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty and Your Highness," Physician Hu greeted Qian Long and Yong Qi when they entered. Yong Qi scanned the room, biting his lip when he saw Zi Wei laying on the bed, Er Kang solemnly sitting on the chair by her side. Seeing Xiao Yan Zi in the corner of the room, he quickly went to her, crouching down to face her.
"Xiao Yan Zi, what happened?" he asked, his heart already hurting at the sight of her, huddled into herself, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, her face buried in them. She barely acknowledged him, just huddling even tighter into herself when he reached out to her.
"Physician Hu, how is Zi Wei?" asked Qian Long, looking over his daughter in concern.
"Your Majesty, Her Highness should make a full recovery with some rest. However, we were unable to save her child."
Qian Long sighed, closing his eyes to gather his thoughts. While it wasn't uncommon for a lady to miscarry, it was still a poignant loss each time it happened.
"Xiao Yan Zi…" Zi Wei suddenly whispered from the bed, drawing all of their attention. "Xiao Yan Zi," she cried softly once more before drifting off again.
"Zi Wei," sobbed Xiao Yan Zi, pushing herself away from Yong Qi to crawl towards the bed. "Zi Wei, I'm sorry. It's all my fault," she cried, choking on her tears. But before she could reach Zi Wei, Er Kang roughly pushed her away.
"Er Kang, how could you?" said Yong Qi, rushing to his wife's side, pulling her tightly into his arms when she started to sob uncontrollably.
"Stay away from my wife," cried Er Kang. "You're right, it was your fault. You have hurt her enough."
"Er Kang, it was an accident. Xiao Yan Zi didn't mean to. None of us even knew that Zi Wei was pregnant," said Yong Qi, running his hands down Xiao Yan Zi's back to soothe her.
"Yes, of course she didn't mean to. She didn't mean to, but she still fell on Zi Wei, she still caused us to lose our child."
"Yong Qi, Er Kang is right, it is all my fault. I don't deserve Zi Wei as a sister, and I don't deserve having you to protect me," sobbed Xiao Yan Zi, pulling at her husband's sleeve. "Er Kang, you can punish me, hit me. It's what I deserve," cried Xiao Yan Zi, pulling away from Yong Qi to face Er Kang. Er Kang glared at her, his hand clenching into a tight fist.
"Your servant does not dare," he spitted out, turning away to sit by Zi Wei's bedside again.
Qian Long let out a heavy sigh.
"Yong Qi, maybe you should take Xiao Yan Zi to Shu Fang Zhai for now."
"But-" Xiao Yan Zi gasped, glancing at Zi Wei.
"I'll send someone to inform you when Zi Wei wakes," he reassured her, giving her a small pat on her shoulder.
"Come on," said Yong Qi, putting his arms around Xiao Yan Zi to lead her away. "Let Zi Wei rest. We can come back later."
They walked over to Shu Fang Zhai, where Zi Wei and Xiao Yan Zi used to reside before they were married. Qian Long had kept the residence empty so they could still use it as a place to gather and Zi Wei could stay there whenever she was visiting.
"Yong Qi, am I the worst sister ever?" asked Xiao Yan Zi, taking a seat in the courtyard. "I was bad enough that time I lost her and she got kidnapped and taken to a brothel. Now, I even cause… cause her to lose her baby," she sobbed.
"Shh," Yong Qi comforted her, pulling her into his arms so she could rest her head on his shoulder. "Stop blaming yourself. It was an accident. You didn't mean it."
"But it was still my fault. Zi Wei said we should've called for a guard to help, but I wanted to climb up there myself. Why am I so stupid, Yong Qi? So stupid!" she scolded herself. She bit her lip, then raised her hand and slapped herself hard on her own cheek before Yong Qi could stop her.
"Xiao Yan Zi," he exclaimed, catching her hand into his when she tried to hit herself again. "Stop this. What kind of person punishes themselves like that?" he asked, gently cupping her cheek and frowning at the red mark that had formed.
"Bad people like me deserve it," she stubbornly replied.
"Stop it," he scolded, wrapping his arms around her so she couldn't hurt herself any further. "You're not bad, don't say that. It was an accident, you couldn't have known." He glanced down at her, gulping down the lump in his throat at her pitiful appearance. "Now tell me the truth, are you hurt anywhere from falling down from the tree? Don't hide it if you are."
Xiao Yan Zi shook her head.
"Even if I am, I deserve it."
"Xiao Yan Zi," sighed Yong Qi, shaking his head at her. "Come on, let's go inside and let me take a look at you."
Xiao Yan Zi stubbornly shook her head.
"Zi Wei is going to hate me, isn't she, when she finds out? Er Kang already hates me," she said instead.
"They don't hate you, Er Kang is just angry," said Yong Qi, sighing. "What Zi Wei needs is for you to be strong for her and look after her. You need to take care of yourself if you're going to do that."
"But what if, what if she doesn't want to see me anymore? What if she doesn't want to be my sister anymore?"
"She won't, you've been through so much together already. Trust me, Xiao Yan Zi. Now let me take care of you so that you can take care of Zi Wei when she wakes up, okay?" pleaded Yong Qi.
Biting her lip, Xiao Yan Zi finally nodded, letting Yong Qi lead her inside.
It was evening by the time Zi Wei woke up. The cramping pain had lessened to a dull ache, but everything still felt hazy. Opening her eyes, she made out Er Kang's figure attending beside her.
"Er Kang," she whispered, frowning at the croak in her voice.
"Zi Wei," said Er Kang, "You've woken. How are you feeling?" he asked, his eyes wide in worry.
"What happened?" she asked. "Have I made everyone worried again?"
"Here, drink some water," offered Er Kang, holding a cup to her lips. He helped her up slightly so she could sip from the cup, feeling relieved from the coolness of the water. "You were in a little accident, but you're going to be fine," he consoled her, not willing to tell her of their loss just yet. Perhaps it would be better to keep it a secret from her, so she wouldn't have to feel the same pain he now did.
"Zi Wei, you're awake. How are you? Do you need anything?" Qian Long asked, interrupting them when he walked in from the hall.
"Huang Ah Ma, I feel fine. Just a bit tired and embarrassed that I have once again worried everyone," she replied.
"There is no need to feel embarrassed, your health is the most important. Quick, summon the imperial physician to make sure she is alright," said Qian Long. "And go and inform Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi that Zi Wei has woken as well."
"Oh yes," said Zi Wei, recalling the red figure that had fallen from the tree just before she fainted. "How is Xiao Yan Zi? Is she alright?"
"She is fine. I just sent them to Shu Fang Zhai so you could rest," reassured Qian Long.
Xiao Yan Zi stood nervously at the entrance of Jing Yang Gong, reluctant to walk in. Yong Qi took her hand into his own and gently squeezed it, comforting her.
"Come on, didn't you say you wanted to see Zi Wei?," he asked.
"Yes, but what if Zi Wei doesn't want to see me?" she answered, biting her lip.
"If she didn't want to see you, then they wouldn't have summoned us, would they? Come on, it'll be alright," he reassured her. Nodding, Xiao Yan Zi allowed Yong Qi to lead her through the door, though she stopped at once when they saw Er Kang on the other side, a serious expression on his face. Xiao Yan Zi shyly stepped backwards, gulping down the lump in her throat when he continued to stare steely at them.
"Er Kang, why aren't you inside with Zi Wei?" asked Yong Qi, trying to break the tension.
"I have some matters I must attend to," he replied. "Before you see Zi Wei though, know that I have decided to keep the miscarriage a secret from her. If you feel that you have hurt her enough as it is, then I suggest that you also help me to keep it a secret. Other than that, I would prefer that we stay away from each other as much as possible," he stated, glaring at Xiao Yan Zi, before pushing past them to leave. Xiao Yan Zi gulped, quickly turning to leave as well, frightened by Er Kang's words, but Yong Qi pulled her back.
"Xiao Yan Zi, Jing Yang Gong is our home," he told her, using his fingers to gently brush the frightened tears that had fallen from her eyes. "Beside, Zi Wei will get suspicious if you don't go and see her," he reasoned, gently pulling her towards the bedroom.
Xiao Yan Zi nodded, and held tightly onto her husband's hand as he led her in.
As soon as Zi Wei saw Xiao Yan Zi, she smiled in relief.
"Xiao Yan Zi, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten about me," she joked. "What happened to you? You fell from the tree didn't you?"
Xiao Yan Zi's face paled at the mention of her fall, gulping and quickly looking away to avoid Zi Wei's eyes.
"Yes, I don't know how many times I've told her to stay on the ground, but she never listens does she?" said Yong Qi, forcing a smile. "What were you trying to do this time?" he asked Xiao Yan Zi, gently nudging her.
"She was retrieving her kite," said Zi Wei, shaking her head, a fond smile on her face. "I told you to go and get the guards to help you." She paused, frowning at Xiao Yan Zi's continued silence. "What's wrong, Xiao Yan Zi? Are you alright? Why do you look so pale?"
Xiao Yan Zi bit her lip, staring at Zi Wei and swallowing hard to keep her tears at bay.
"She's fine, just some scratches and bruising. I've already helped her apply medicine. She's just a bit shocked. We were all very worried about you," answered Yong Qi, now lightly pushing Xiao Yan Zi towards Zi Wei. Zi Wei reached out to clasp Xiao Yan Zi's hand, pulling her towards the bed. As soon as Xiao Yan Zi felt Zi Wei's touch, her tears spilled out and she began to sob.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" asked Zi Wei, concerned.
"I… I thought that I wouldn't have a sister anymore," cried Xiao Yan Zi truthfully, before she started bawling.
"Why would you think that, silly? I must have really scared you. Don't worry, Physician Hu said that I'm fine. It might have just been something I ate," reassured Zi Wei, rubbing Xiao Yan Zi's back gently to comfort her.
"But," whimpered Xiao Yan Zi, before remembering that she was supposed to keep the miscarriage a secret. 'Er Kang mustn't have told her that I fell on her then,' she thought to herself.
"Wu Ah Ge, Huan Zhu Ge Ge, Ming Zhu Ge Ge jixiang," an eunuch suddenly greeted them from the door, interrupting them. "The Empress Dowager requests to see Huan Zhu Ge Ge at once," he reported.
"Lao Fo Ye wants to see Xiao Yan Zi? What for?" asked Zi Wei, helping Xiao Yan Zi to wipe the tears from her face.
"I don't want to see Lao Fo Ye," said Xiao Yan Zi, backing away.
"Even so, we can't disobey her summon," said Yong Qi. "I'll go with you to Ci Ning Gong. Zi Wei, if Huang Ah Ma returns to visit, could you let him know we are there?"
"Of course. Get Er Kang to go with you as well, if Lao Fo Ye troubles Xiao Yan Zi, he can help."
"I'll ask the servants to send a message to him and see what he wants to do." said Yong Qi, taking his reluctant wife by the hand to lead her away.
As soon as Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi entered Ci Ning Gong, a great number of guards pushed them apart and held them down. Looking up, Yong Qi could see Qian Long and Qing Er standing to the side of the Empress Dowager, looking solemnly to the ground. Xiao Jian was also kneeling before them, held down by another group of guards.
"What's going on?" asked Xiao Yan Zi, her eyes wide. "Why is Xiao Jian here?"
"I'll be asking the questions, Xiao Yan Zi," said Lao Fo Ye, glaring sternly at her. "Did you or did you not cause Zi Wei to have a miscarriage, taking the life of a royal grandchild?"
"Lao Fo Ye, that was an accident," Yong Qi spoke up at once.
"Mother, it was just an unfortunate accident. Xiao Yan Zi didn't intend for it to happen. We didn't even know that Zi Wei was pregnant," said Qian Long.
"Your Majesty, please allow Xiao Yan Zi to answer me," said Lao Fo Ye, directing her attention back to Xiao Yan Zi.
Xiao Yan Zi gulped, bowing her head, all the guilt building up inside again.
"Yes, I did. Zi Wei's miscarriage was my fault," she answered, biting down hard onto her bottom lip. "I know I deserve to be punished."
"You understand that causing the death of a royal is worthy of death? But first, you can have your wish to be punished. Guards, give Huan Zhu Ge Ge fifty strokes of the cane," ordered Lao Fo Ye.
"Wait, you can't! Lao Fo Ye, have mercy," pleaded Yong Qi, staring helplessly as a group of guards brought in a long hard bench and laid Xiao Yan Zi flat onto it. Two guards held her down, one at her shoulders and one at her feet, while another two stood at the ready, holding two large sticks.
"Mother, please reconsider," pleaded Qian Long, lifting his hands up in respect to Lao Fo Ye. "It was an accident, Xiao Yan Zi meant no harm."
"She's responsible for the loss of Your Majesty's grandchild, and my great grandchild. There is to be no leniency," said Lao Fo Ye. "Guards, what are you waiting for? Commence."
Yong Qi's heart almost jumped out as he heard the first thump, the hard stick making contact with tender flesh. Tears began to stream from his eyes as the thumps continued, merged with his wife's panicked shouts of pain.
"Lao Fo Ye, please, I beg you, stop," he pleaded in panic, struggling hard against the guards who were holding him down.
"Lao Fo Ye," spoke up Qing Er, "do you remember the last time Nanny Rong was punished with a caning, and how touched you were by both Zi Wei and Xiao Yan Zi's forgiving heart? On the mercy of that, please reconsider."
"Qing Er, do not try to guilt me into letting her off again. She's too much of a danger to us. She's tried to harm His Majesty once already, and now she's directly responsible for Zi Wei's miscarriage. How can this behaviour possibly be excused?"
"But it was an accident!" argued Yong Qi, starting to feel sick at the continuing sounds of wood beating against flesh.
"Help… it hurts… help..." whimpered Xiao Yan Zi, voice hoarse from crying, wincing hard every time she was beaten.
"Accident or not, she caused the death of a Manchurian royal grandchild. As for Xiao Jian, I have reasons to believe that he was also part of the conspiracy behind this. Who knows if they plotted this whole affair as revenge," said Lao Fo Ye.
"That's ludicrous and you know it," said Xiao Jian. "I can tell you this. The only reason that I hadn't avenged all of you in the many chances I had was Xiao Yan Zi. If this is the way you are going to treat her, then I will make sure you all bear the consequences of crossing my path," he warned, glaring dangerously at the Empress Dowager.
"Y… Yong Qi… I'm… I'm…" whispered Xiao Yan Zi, straining to speak.
Yong Qi took a glance at his wife, and gritted his teeth at the sight of blood beginning to seep through to her dress.
"Mother, please reconsider on my behalf," said Qian Long. "Even if you want to believe that Xiao Yan Zi wishes to avenge her family, you know that Xiao Yan Zi would never purposely hurt Zi Wei."
He closed his eyes, pain filling his heart at his daughter's cries.
"Emperor, don't try to pull rank on me this time. This is a family matter, and this is for your own good. Guards, another fifty," she ordered when the guards signalled that they had finished. Xiao Yan Zi screamed again as the stick landed, this time erupting into uncontrollable sobs. Yong Qi felt his heart almost tear out from his body. He strained against the guards holding him to bow to the Empress Dowager.
"Lao Fo Ye, please stop this. You're going to kill her!"
"Lao Fo Ye, please hear me out," cried Qing Er. "I remembered not long after you adopted me, it was said that Consort Chun had accidentally given Consort Ying some imported tea which caused Consort Ying to have a miscarriage. It was Your Highness who eventually pleaded mercy for Consort Chun, saying that although the miscarriage was tragic, it was an accident, and you were willing to forgive her. Your words touched me deeply, Lao Fo Ye, and at that moment, I knew that you were a merciful and kind person. I decided then that I would be proud to serve you at your side. Lao Fo Ye, on behalf of that moment, on behalf of Qing Er and the many years I have been with you, I beg for the same mercy and kindness now to be bestowed upon Huan Zhu Ge Ge."
"Qing Er, that was a different situation, my child. Consort Chun is a royal concubine, and the birth mother of three royal princes and princesses."
"Lao Fo Ye, Xiao Yan Zi is my wife. She can also give birth to a royal grandchild," said Yong Qi.
"Consort Chun is a Manchurian born of noble bloodline, unlike this… this daughter of a criminal. Stop your pleading, Yong Qi. We can always find you another wife more worthy of your status. Why, by law, she should've been killed along with the rest of her family nineteen years ago," said Lao Fo Ye angrily.
"No, I'm not taking another wife. And you're wrong about who she is," cried Yong Qi, causing Xiao Jian to look alarmingly towards him.
"Wu Ah Ge-" he warned, but was cut off by Yong Qi.
"She's going to kill her anyway," he sobbed, looking over to where his wife now laid lifelessly, too exhausted and pained to even react to the punishment being inflicted upon her body anymore.
"Stop this, stop this now. Xiao Yan Zi isn't who you all think she is. Even she herself doesn't know the truth, but she is not Fang Ci. Her name is He Zhen, her mother is the late Empress Xiao Xian. Please, stop it now," cried Yong Qi.
"What was that? What did you say?" Qian Long demanded at once.
"She's He Zhen, Huang Ah Ma. Xiao Yan Zi is the lost Xin Yan Ge Ge."
Author's Note: So cool to see there are still a good few HZGG fans reading fics here! Don't be shy, leave a review and say hello! :)