:: Ninth Heaven::
Bai Feng Jiu squeezed Nai Nai's hand tightly, her face was as paled as a ghost when the maid told Su Su's backstory up to the day she lost her eyesight.
"He was the one who took away her eyes? But I thought, it shouldn't -..." her voice wavered, tears of mixed emotion, mainly bitterness and anger, well up in her eyes. "How could he be so cruel?"
"Little princess, the Crown Prince didn't really have a choice. Consort Su Jin and her family would never let Lady Su Su go free without punishment. If he didn't do it, others would." Nai Nai interjected quickly before Qing Qiu's little princess could go further. She did not want others to think ill of her master. He had done his best.
"That's the most absurd thing I ever heard. There are always choices in life. It's just that you have to be willing enough to brave them. Clearly, he was not, not for her anyway." Feng Jiu protested vehemently. Her new-found hatred for her aunt's ex-fiance reached new heights. She sent a quick prayer to the Heavens and praised the small blessing that he would never be a part of their family now.
"I remember seeing her a while after that. What happened next? How did she die? Was it during the childbirth?" Feng Jiu prodded her to continue.
"Of course not, although there was some difficulties at first but her birthing went through. The little prince was born very healthy," Nai Nai smile was tremulous and teary.
"You are not being entirely truthful with me," Feng Jiu's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "What kind of difficulties?"
Nai Nai squirmed uneasily under her scrutiny before answering. "Those palace guards refused to inform the Crown Prince that she went into labor. I have to beg the Third Prince for his mercy."
"How barbaric," Feng Jiu sucked in her breath, "to turn away even a distressed mother in need. Celestial always boast themselves to be the most prestigious of the Immortals Clan. The way I see it, you lots are in fact the biggest, conniving, no good bullies of us all."
"Shhhh." Nai Nai looked around frantically and made sure no one heard her. "Little princess, please don't be so upset." She tried to appease the upset royal.
Feng Jiu was incensed at how inhumane Celestial's royal family treated her aunt. She took several slow, deep breath, not that it helped much. "What then, after the birth of the Celestial Great Grandson? The Heavenly Lord had her killed, hadn't he? He let her live long enough to give birth. Figures."
"No, he didn't, little princess. It's...she," The dam of tears finally burst out, Nai Nai hiccuped. "I didn't - didn't know that she had planned it all along. Had I known," her wailing grew louder and increasingly hysterical, "I would never bring her back there again and again."
Feng Jiu casted an instant privacy spell around them, Nai Nai's earnest cry might attract unwanted attention. "What are you going on about? You are not making any sense?" Feng Jiu frowned. "My - I mean Su Su, she planned to do what?"
"Lady Su Su had asked me to walk her to Zhu Xian Terrace many times. She always claimed to like the smell of flowers along the way there and I was so foolish to believe her. " Nai Nai wiped the tears from her eyes.
"That day I was busy feeding the little prince, when I came back to find her, the other maids said she had already left. Later I learned that she had jumped down the Zhu Xian Terrace, her spirit and soul was obliterated." Nai Nai truly ached for her late Mistress ill fates. Even at the last moment of her life, the peace she craved eluded her.
"I only came to see the truth of her untimely death months later. Consort Sujin deceived her yet again. Lady Su Su was led to believe that was the only way for her to return to the Mortal Realm. She always wanted to; instead she walked to her own demise. Had I been there with her, I would have stopped her in time." Nai Nai looked distraught. This very thought had plagued her minds for the hundreds years. "Then she would still be alive."
Bai Feng Jiu staggered back from the maid in disbelief. Her mind went numb at the startling revelation. She had been there with her - Su Su - but never stopped to help the poor soul. If her aunt ever remembered their meetings, would she be disappointed in her? Blame her for not recognizing her and save her from the pain of betrayal? Xiao Jiu failed her - her aunt who always lavished her with affection and treated her kindly. Along with her self-blame, came the righteous anger and the need for vengeance. She vowed that those who had wronged her loved ones would pay dearly for their sins.
Her first thought went to the Crown Prince; the real culprit of her aunt's suffering. She wanted to see how he would explain himself and his consort's deception that lead to her death. She took first few steps toward Xi Wu Palace then stopped. "No, this is not right."
She gave a slow shake of her head and whispered almost inaudibly. "My family. They also need to know about this. They have no idea what she went through." She turned around and grabbed Nai Nai's wrist tightly. "Nai Nai, you must come with me."
"Go with you?" The maid looked frightened; she cried out. "Why? To where?"
"Don't you want justice for your Mistress, Nai Nai? And retribution for those who wronged her?" Feng Jiu demanded in her most agitated voice.
"Of course I want it, but that is simply impossible. The Sky Lord always listens to Consort Su Jin, not even the Crown Prince can do anything about it," she said sadly. "Trust me. There is nothing you can do, little princess."
"I beg to differ, you just haven't tried it my way." Feng Jiu lowered her voice to a whisper. "If I tell you your Mistress still lives, what say you?"
For once Nai Nai was stunned into silence. "Little princess, your joke is too cruel," she was dismayed by her coarse jesting.
"No, no joke. What if I am not telling you a lie? What if I could prove it to you?" Feng Jiu decided to test her resolve. "Will you come with me to repeat the story you have just told me? Then together we might find a way to get back her justice and her eyes."
Nai Nai bit her lips nervously and hesitantly. What if Bai Feng Jiu did not really try to pull a prank on her? No, her Mistress was too important. Even if this might turn out to be an elaborate joke, she must be certain. "I can't. No. I mean I can, I want to. But I can't leave right now. The little prince - the little prince is coming back soon, I have to tend to him."
"How about later?" Feng Jiu suggested then resumed her walk again. "I promise to bring you back here before dawn."
Nai Nai rush ahead and blocked Feng Jiu's path. "My Mistress, she is really alive?" Nai Nai looked at Feng Jiu for a confirmation; her tone was hopeful, full of longing, perhaps a little scared.
"Come with me and you will see. I have no reasons to deceive you, haven't I?" Feng Jiu threw the question right back at her.
Nai Nai took a much needed moment to make her decision. "I will come to see you after the little prince lay down for the night."
"Good." Feng Jiu gave her a winning smile. " Nai Nai, you can't tell anyone about this. Not the Crown Prince, nor the little Prince. Do you understand? If words go out, I am afraid troubles will come find her again."
"I know that." the maid exclaimed; fully well aware that her Mistress's nemesis will not pass up any chance to make Lady Su Su's life a living hell. At the same time she was confused. Why the Crown Prince and the little prince can not know about her resurrection? They would be so ecstatic, their elusive dream of getting her back was finally coming true.
Then another thought came to her. Was it possible that Lady Su Su did not want to see them anymore? Nai Nai still remembered how she estranged herself from both father and son in her last days. If that was the case, Nai Nai would respect her wish.
Moreover if she refused, the little princess might not take her to see Lady Su Su at all. Nai Nai had no choice but to agree to her terms. "Rest assure little princess. My mouth is sealed, I swear no one will know about her miraculous return to life." For now , she added silently.
Feng Jiu watched Nai Nai slowly walked back to Xi Wu Palace . Every few steps, she would stop and looked back as if she was still uncertain. She gave the maid a nod and somewhat reassuring smile, gesturing her to go and come back swiftly.
:: Kunlun Mountain, sometime later ::
"What is this place?" Nai Nai looked at a very robust, majestic stone architecture in front of her in awe. She shivered in delight. The purity of this land was astounding; just standing her made her so euphoric and energized. She used to serve the Deity of Mountains when she was younger. The holy atmosphere emitted from those sacred mountains was not even a blip compared to this particular place.
"We are at Kunlun Mountain and that is the Grand Hall where they receive visitors." Feng Jiu pointed at the towering building ahead of them. "Come, Nai Nai, follow me."
"Little princess, you are sure we should be here?" Nai Nai pulled at her arm tightly. "Isn't this where High God Mo Yuan and his disciples reside? Won't our arrival disturb them?"
"There is nothing to worry, High God Mo Yuan is my uncle-in-law." Feng Jiu said cheekily.
"Bai Feng Jiu, there you are." The old phoenix's familiar voice made her wince silently, she turned around and came face to face with Zhe Yan. Feng Jiu groaned. She thought she had successful sneaked in without alerting anyone of her presence.
"Where have you been? Your family have looked for you since morning." Zhe Yan gave her one of his disapproving looks again.
"Oh well, I was just here and there. Wait, is my father still here?" She asked sheepishly.
"Everyone is here," the old phoenix looked bemused when she acted like a deer caught in the headlights. "And who is the young lady that's accompanying you?" He gestured Nai Nai who hid behind Bai Feng Jiu's back.
"She is a just a friend of mine." Bai Feng Jiu said distractedly.
"Why did you bring her here, Xiao Jiu?" Zhe Yan glanced at the small fairy in suspicion. "You didn't kidnap her, did you?"
"Of course not! She came here on her own volition," Xiao Jiu took offence at his presumption; then pouted. Technically she did not kidnapped the maid; she just come after some coaxing. "Why you always think the worst of me?" She scrunched up her face.
"Because you usually don't think everything through before you act. You just react most of the time," he said as matter of factly. "So what is her reason for being here?"
"She has first-hand knowledge of something very important. I thought it will be useful to know. So I persuade her to join me," Feng Jiu faltered before finishing lamely. "And here she is."
"What exactly are you referring to?" Zhe Yan gave her the once over scrutinize. The lass was covering something up. She tended to rumble when she did that.
"I am talking about what really went down three hundred years ago, when Su Su was still alive. I trust you knew her very well?" Feng Jiu looked at him pointedly, just as she unceremoniously dropped the bombshell on him .
"What did you just say?" Another voice came closer and asked. "Su Su?"
Feng Jiu wanted to bang her head against the wall. She chanted not good, not good repeatedly in her head. High God Mo Yuan was in on the secret now. Her aunt was going to kill her once she wakes up. Anxiety poured off her in waves; she guessed everything was on the table now.
She tugged at Nai Nai's elbow, push her forward and motion her to follow her suit as she lowered her head down and greet her uncle-in-law. "Bai Feng Jiu greets High God Mo Yuan." She heard a faint gasp of surprise coming next to her.
"Can I talk to you, alone?" Zhe Yan stepped in. He caught her arm and let her further away from the rest of them. "I understand what you are trying to do, Xiao Jiu but now is not the time."
"What do you mean? Do you have ideas any what she went through?" Feng Jiu exclaimed and pointed in the direction of her aunt.
Zhe Yan tried to reason with her patiently. "Your grandparents are having a difficult time coming to terms that your aunt was almost lost to them forever. Again. The emotional upheaval was already too much for them. Exposing the truth of her past to them now would be unnecessarily rubbing salt to the deep, raw wound. You understand that, don't you?"
"I do, really. But, Zhe Yan, she knows things …," Feng Jiu started.
"Have you ever thought what will happened once she learns the true identity of her former Mistress?"
"I didn't plan to tell her that Su Su is actual my aunt." She defended herself weakly. "And Nai Nai promised not to talk."
"First, you bring her here to see your family, someone who couldn't possibly be connected to Su Su in any way. You truly expect the maid won't be suspicious of the connection and come up with a conclusion on her own? She can't be that slow, nor clueless of what was happening around her, no matter how innocent she looks. How else she survives living in Xi Wu Palace for this long?"
Feng Jiu flushed red in embarrassment. Zhe Yan was right, she really thought Nai Nai would be none the wiser to her aunt's true identity, if she just glossed over how she came to be here and omitting out the facts. "But High God Mo Yuan plans to talk the the Crown Prince anyway," she muttered.
"That's different. Ye Hua knows enough to whom and what to say (and not to say.)" Zhe Yan sighed. "Whatever you felt the need for them know, say it to me and Mo Yuan. We will bring it to their attention when the timing is right."
Zhe Yan peered down at her. "As for allowing her to see Fifth sister, you have to clear it with Mo Yuan first. This is not something you can just decide on your own."
Feng Jiu gave a sign that she understood his meaning. "I will make a formal apology to him and ask for his permission then."
"You do that," Zhe Yan gave her his approval.
'Wait." She held Zhe Yan back. So much had happened in such a short time; she totally forgot what she learned, by accident, this morning. "My aunt, she's really fine now? What about my cousin? You can't really do nothing to save him or her?"
"Where did you learn about that?" Zhe Yan stared at her, perplexed. He cursed the one who thoughtlessly mentioned it to her.
"I...overheard Dong Hua and High God Mo Yuan," she admitted gullibly.
"Of course you did." Zhe Yan sighed exasperatedly. He rubbed his forehead, annoyed that there was no privacy in this place anymore. Everyone stumbled on the very things not meant for them to know. "Your aunt is fine now, she will recover in time. Sadly, the same could not be said of her child. It was beyond my ability; I wish I could have done more."
"Listen, Xiao Jiu. This also falls within the 'when the timing is right' categories that I just mentioned to you. All right?" He waited until she acknowledged and concede to his point.
"Earlier your grandmother was so enraged with Mo Yuan, she almost took your aunt back to Qing Qiu and forbade him to ever see her again. We had to convince her, for a long time, to even let Fifth sister stay here." He continued. "Can you imagine what she will do if you mention this tidbit of information to her? You can't let it slip accident by either. Mo Yuan's suffering now; he will be inconsolable if your aunt is taken from him. You don't want that to happen, do you?"
"Of course not," Feng Jiu protested then asked tentatively. "Grandmother was that angry?"
"Don't you know her?" Zhe Yan snorted. "She is barely seeing reasons now. I am waiting until she calms down to talk some sense into her. Remember, don't stir and create more troubles. Do you understand? It is imperative that some of us keep a level head and maintain the little peace of mind we have now."
"At least, you are sensible enough not to broach the subject in front of Mo Yuan," he added as an afterthought. "Let's go back to them." he beckoned her to follow.
Nai Nai gasped when her eyes fell on the renowned God of War for the first time. Many had claimed that the Crown Prince bore strong resemblance to High God Mo Yuan. Nai Nai always thoughts they merely exaggerated. Seeing him with her own eyes today; they obviously knew what they said. His outward appearance was almost the same as her Master, save for the beard. It added the sense of seniority and intimidation point to his whole persona. Both excluded the same detached, imposing and quiet attitude but his eyes were not as cold and piercing as her Master.
"And who might you be?" The gentle but firm voice jolted her from the wandering thoughts and back to his question.
She curtsied to him, a little shaken, her head bowed down in respect. "High God, my name is Nai Nai, I'm a personal maid to Celestial's Great Grandson, Prince Ali."
"You work for the Crown Prince?" He looked genuinely surprised for a minute.
"Yes, High God, Qing Qiu's little princess brought me here, she said...," she stuttered a little; then said the rest in a rush. "She said, my former Mistress is still alive and that she needs my help."
"Who is your Mistress? One of Ye Hua's consort?" Mo Yuan asked for confirmation even if he had an inkling whom she was talking about.
"No, High God, I used to work for Lady Su Su, his former Consort, when she was still alive," Nai Nai answered him truthfully.
Mo Yuan fixed his sharp eyes on her when she said that. "You did? There were a lot of speculations of what really happened with Ye Hua at that time."
"Yes, High God. I have heard a few of those rumors. Most of them are just that, speculations," Nai Nai played along. She was not sure whether he was the one little princess wanted her to meet.
"Yes, it will be useful to know what came down that year," Mo Yuan said. "Your Mistress can no longer remember her past."
"So she's really alive?" Nai Nai perked up, excited, then added, "I heard mortals never survives the malevolent energy of Zhu Xian Terrace. Their spirit and soul would be totally obliterated. It's miraculous enough she survived; I guess it can't be help if her memory was lost," she whispered brokenly.
Nai Nai's thoughts turned sad. Was this was the reason little princess asked her not to tell anyone just yet? Because to her, they were strangers, whom she did not recognize anymore. It was a blessing in disguise; at least she would not be miserable anymore. But it also meant she can not stand up and fight for the justice she deserved on her own. Nai Nai decided then to forego her initial reluctance to talk to these people. They were all honorable beings if they wanted to help out a helpless female.
Just then, Zhe Yan and Feng Jiu came back and joined them. Zhe Yan gave him an imperceptive nod; letting him know everything was all right now.
"You promised to take her to see her Mistress?" Mo Yuan addressed to his would-be-niece.
Bai Feng Jiu curtsied to him, asking for his forgiveness for her reckless behavior. "I am truly sorry, High God. I am acting too impulsive by bringing her here without asking for your permission first. I didn't think through of the ramifications of exposing her."
The secret of Seventeenth's past may not be kept any longer once he confronted Ye Hua. But Feng Jiu's careless act could not be ignored if she was to succeed Seventeenth's position. "Someone of your position could not just do what you want on whims. There are always consequences of our actions. Sometimes, even the smallest mistakes brought dissension or even war to your doorstep sooner than you realize. I hope you learn a valuable lesson from today."
"I understand, High God, I will always keep that in mind from now on." Feng Jiu bowed down to his discipline.
Mo Yuan instructed her to take the maid away. "When you are done, bring her and come find me in my meditation cave."
"Yes, High God," Feng Jiu gave him another curtsy.
"Wait here for a while, I am going ahead. Perhaps I could persuade them to take a break. Then you don't have to lie to your family about her presence. You are not very convincing at it anyway." Zhe Yan told her before he left.
"Thank you so much for your assistance." She shouted after his back.
Zhe Yan gave himself a rueful smile. The things he did for these children, Bai Zhi really owed him a lots and lots of favors for keeping him from certain headaches.
"Come inside, don't be afraid, Nai Nai," Feng Jiu called out. Nai Nai looked around uneasily; when she was positive there was no one in sight, she entered the room. As she approached the bed; she took a good looked at the one lying there. It was really her Mistress! Though she seemed a little different from the last time Nai Nai saw her. Nai Nai was not certain how she came back and why she was here of all places but it was definitely her.
Nai Nai knelt down by the bed and took hold of her hand. She rolled over the sleeves of her left arm and revealed the telltale red scar just above her wrist. "Mistress, it really is you. Praise the Heavens. You finally come back, I have been waiting for you for a long time." She pressed her tear-stain face into the hand of her Mistress. It took her a while to compose herself, then she turned around to Qing Qiu's princess. "What is wrong with her? She looks unconscious. Is she still injured from the jump?"
"She is alright. She only needs sometimes to rest and recuperate then she will be fine." Feng Jiu told her.
Nai Nai gently tugged her Mistress's hand back inside the blanket. She stood up reluctantly. "I see. I am ready to do what you ask of me now."
"Good, follow me then," Feng Jiu said grimly. "The truth needs to come out."
Note : There's something I really don't understand, the first time Su Jin jumped down the Zhu Xian Terrace, she was injured and lost her eyes. Why would Su Su believes Su Jin when she said that the same Zhu Xian Terrace will lead her back to Mortal Realm, instead of hurting her? It doesn't make any sense. In my opinion, Su Su might be innocent but she's not stupid. =="
PS. Very special thanks to Noitratoxin who speed proofread this chapter for us on such short notice. :))
#janey : It will be a while for BQ to be back. Now the arc revolves around the past coming out. Mo Yuan was banned to see her, so he can't kiss & wake up our sleeping beauty either. lol
#pennameis : Agreed on all accounts. :)