56. Scales falling from her eyes
"My dear niece, I hope my staff have been attentive to you." Pei said as he and Su stepped into the dining hall, where Xin and Fei Yuan were both already eating. Pei saw the place settings for brother Xie and Rushuang, so they were also expected.
"Yes uncle, they have been very attentive to me." Pei supported Su as she sat down on one of the benches. That morning he'd already been helping Su with various things that she simply couldn't do anymore. Most notably were her shoes: she had sat on the side of their bed and tried different ways of bending her body to be able to put her shoes on herself, only to admit defeat after several minutes. She had sighed in defeat and looked up at him. He had stood back observing her struggle, he had known to wait for her request for assistance, and waited. Seeing her frustration Pei decided that now was still not the time to suggest Su might take a personal maid to help her, so he didn't and kneeled down at Su's feet to place her shoes on her feet. Then he had lifted his shirt to show Su the healed wound. She had touched it hesitantly and commented that it seemed to have fully healed. Pei had looked her in her eyes and smiled, taking her in his arms and telling her he'd missed her. She had nodded against his chest agreeing with him.
While they ate breakfast together Pei explained he had to return to Prince Qi to help with the last few things that needed to be done. Su told the others she had some engagements that she had to attend to, as well as a banquet in the evening. "I'm sorry to have to leave you alone." Su apologized to Xin, who shook her head: "No need to apologize, I'll enjoy myself here." Then a messenger from Feiyun Manor came to inquire about his master. At that time Xie and Rushuang entered the dining hall. It turned out that there was urgent business that awaited the master and lady of Feiyun Manor. So after a quick breakfast Xie and Rushuang left for the Feiyun Manor. Not long after that Pei also left with Fei Yuan. Su and Xin shared tea and did some embroidery while Su waited for the carriage to be ready. She didn't look forward to the carriage ride as, with so many things these days, simply getting in and out of the carriage had become annoyingly difficult. She was starting to realize why so many pregnant woman choose to stay home and she was about ready to make the same decision. But first she had to get through this day.
After Su had gone Xin stayed seated in the pavilion to finish a necklace she had been working on. The rest of the morning and early afternoon she filled with small activities, like cleaning her room, helping the maids with some household chores and sitting around. In the afternoon Xin noticed an increase in noise coming from the streets, curious Xin opened the main gate and saw many people walking in the streets, they seemed to be heading somewhere. "What is happening?" Xin asked the maid next to her. The young maid had spent a lot of time with Xin and had become like a personal maid to Xin. The young maid looked out and then commented: "I've heard today Prince Qi comes back victorious, they'll have a parade through the city." She briefly glanced at Xin, she knew Xin wasn't supposed to go out without someone from Feiyun Manor but she suggested: "Come, you should see this, my mother told me these parades were really grand. Let's go, we'll be back soon." Xin hesitated a little bit, but then with sparkling eyes nodded. The two young ladies stepped out and joined the stream of people moving towards the royal palace. The young maid explained that the procession would end in the royal palace, where the army would meet the emperor. They found a quieter spot along the route and waited for the procession.
The sounds of the excited crowd were getting louder and Xin looked around taking in the large crowd of people. In her village there was never such a large gathering of people, not even during the festival of the two empires. It was fascinating to Xin who continued to look at all the different people. She heard snippets of conversations, people talking about mundane activities and people talking about the army and the battle they had waged. Most ladies seemed to be interested in seeing the Liang God of War and many fanciful tales were being told. Once more Xin wondered why people were willing to believe these fanciful tales, surely they could see most of what they told was not possible? "Look, there they come!" The young maid pointed to the distance. Xin saw men on horseback coming towards them. Even though this place was a little less crowded Xin and the maid were still in the back so both stood on their tiptoes to try and look over the heads of the other people. The man in front should be Prince Qi, Xin thought as she saw him come closer. He kept his gaze forward as he rode through the throng of people cheering for him. Xin at first just took in the splendor of the man, and only then looked up at his face. At first she only glanced briefly, already turning her attention to the men behind him, but then something made her snap her head back to Prince Qi. She didn't know what it was that made her look again, but with the second look she seemed to recognize something in Prince Qi. The army marched on, denying Xin the possibility to study Prince Qi further. When all soldiers had passed the crowd began to disperse. "I didn't see my uncle." Xin observed, following the last soldiers with her eyes.
"Maybe he's waiting in the palace with the court." The young maid suggested. "Shall we go and see if we can see him there?" Xin nodded eagerly. "Come, I know a fast way to get there." The maid turned and went to a small side street. Together they weaved through the streets to reach the palace. When they were near the palace, the crowds were getting denser. Xin heard snippets of conversations, what she noticed was that many young ladies spoke of the appearance of Prince Qi and how they could try and become a concubine. Once Xin looked around to see who had said something similar. The maid shook her head: "Prince Qi won't take a concubine and most know it."
"He won't? You mean he has enough already?" Xin asked.
"No, he doesn't have concubines. Some in court have tried to get their daughters in the Qi mansion, but even they were denied. Some were outraged that Prince Qi didn't take a concubine, but it is said only one woman can satisfy Prince Qi."
"Who?" Xin asked, but the maid barely heard her as she looked around, clearly looking for something: "Come, a friend of mine showed me a small room near the dais were we can see better. She works in the palace." The maid pulled Xin to a small gate in the wall, where they could enter without being stopped. They continued on, through some narrow hallways until the maid opened another door, they had passed several already and Xin was wondering how far they would still have to go. But then the maid said: "We're now in the one of the rear courtyards, come on we mustn't be seen" The maid quickly crossed the open space and found a small gate that gave them entrance to a building to the side of the large dais. Silently the maid and Xin made their way to hide for patrolling guards or wandering maids, but finally they found a small room on the top floor in the corner. From the windows they had a great view down on the dais. It was the first time Xin saw the emperor and there he was seated below her in all his magnificence. The clothes he wore were beautiful, the golden figures woven into the fabric sparkled in the sun. His headpiece shone brightly in the afternoon sun, Xin could only see his face in profile but she thought he looked friendly. During her time in the capital she had heard that many thought the emperor was just and friendly, but strict when needed. Now that she could see him, he reminded Xin of Zhu. Pei Zhu had come and visited her in Pei Mansion several times, during those visits they had talked about many things, her life in the village, the interesting things she had encountered on her travels, problems her family had faced in their business and the differences between Beirong and Liang. They had taken walks through the garden and even a few outside of the city. Zhu hadn't liked walking in the city, so he would come with a carriage and take her to the surround forest to walk. Xin took another good look at the emperor and then shook her head, it was just because they were both young men and the emperor was far away that made her think he looked similar to Zhu she decided. She then focused on the two ladies seated on either side of the emperor: an older lady who the maid confirmed to be the dowager empress and a young woman, who was clearly pregnant. "When is the heir of the emperor expected to arrive?" Xin asked the maid. The maid turned to her surprised: "Who's heir?"
"The emperor's." Xin pointed to Su seated next to the emperor. The maid smiled: "She is not the empress, she is the princess consort Qi, the only lady who can satisfy Prince Qi. They've been married less than a year and she is already carrying his child. Their marriage is very blessed." Xin took in the princess' appearance, her dress was beautiful and very elegant without all the fussiness and decorations the other court ladies had on their dresses. There was an understated elegance, which lifted her above the others, the only other lady who matched her was the dowager empress, whose headpiece was more elaborate and thereby denoted her higher status: "Why does the princess sit where the empress is supposed to be seated, doesn't that confuse the people, who I'm guessing don't see the emperor or his family much?"
"Actually she is placed where she is supposed to, next to where her husband would sit. Prince Qi always sits at the side of the emperor. The emperor values his brother and his wife highly."
"So, it's true that the emperor has not yet married?"
"It's true. There have been many girls through the palace at the invitation of the empress, but the emperor hasn't chosen anyone yet, don't they look beautiful? Xin nodded and watched the accumulated crowd in the distance, those were the citizens, they stood together in a disorganized crowd. Closer to the dais officials were standing in an organized manner, keeping a path clear over which Prince Qi would walk to come up to the emperor. Between the citizens and the officials a path was also cleared, the soldiers returned victorious would march across it as a salute to the emperor. Her eyes wandered over the people but Xin couldn't find who she was looking for. "I can't find my uncle, master Pei." Xin said to the maid. The maid searched for her master, but she also couldn't find him. Just as she was to comment they heard the drums. The two young girls turned their attention to the gate through which Prince Qi would arrive They didn't have to wait long as the gate swung open to grant access to Liang's greatest warrior and God of War. Through the gates he came, seated on his horse in all the splendor of a great warrior. She saw that the emperor and the imperial family had risen, it had taken the Princes consort Qi considerable effort to rise from her low seat, the emperor himself had helped her. Xin couldn't shake the feeling of recognition as she followed the movements of the emperor and princess, but try as she might she couldn't remember ever seeing them before. In the past her father been to the palace for trade related talks, not often, but they had never been with the emperor. So why did their movements, their being seem familiar? The two maidens followed the scenes below them. They saw Prince Qi ascend the stairs to the imperial dais and bow to the emperor. When they strained their ears they could hear the greeting from Prince Qi and the emperors response: telling his brother to rise. The emperor spoke of the victory and honor Prince Qi had brought to the empire, then as reward the tiger tally was returned to Prince Qi, with the assignment to keep Liang safe from outside forces and inside rebels. Prince Qi accepted the tiger tally vowing to do what needed to be done to keep Liang safe. "My royal brother, it is good to see you return to us. Please take your place at my side." The emperor finished and gestured for Prince Qi to stand beside him. Xin saw Prince Qi nod his head and step up to the princess consort Qi. It was with the way that Prince Qi and the Princess interacted that Xin felt the scaled fall from her eyes: It wasn't his hand first placed on her cheek then stroking her hair, before pulling her to him in a hug. It wasn't the two light taps his thumb gave when his hand settled on her shoulder. It was when they turned to the crowd and stood there hand in hand. That's when she realized where she had seen that hug and stance before, because she had seen it when she had once by accident seen Yan and Su embrace and hug each other in one of the pavilions at the Marquis' Mansion. But then they weren't Prince Qi and his Princess, they had been Pei Zhao and Su Ci. All the pieces she had seen today which she hadn't been able to place fell where the were supposed to and she understood why she hadn't been able to find Pei Zhao as advisor to Prince Qi. It was because Pei Zhao was Prince Qi. And if Pei Zhao was Prince Qi, who then was Pei Zhu? Xin turned her eye to the emperor and now that she knew who she was looking for, it was so easy to spot: in his posture, in his gestures and the smile he showed when he turned from his brother and sister-in-law who shamelessly kissed, to his mother. Pei Zhu was the emperor and now she understood why he hadn't shared much of his daily life and why leaving the house was always planned beforehand. Shocked and confused Xin stepped back, unsure of what she should think or how she should feel, it was all a daze. "Miss, you shouldn't be here. Let me escort you home." Xin recognized the voice of master Fu, but when she turned to him she saw a guardsman. She looked closely and then said: "Master Fu?"
"In the palace I'm commander Fu. Let's go." Fu made sure to keep his expression neutral. He gestured to the hall. The two young women followed him, but not much registered with Xin. Later she couldn't recall anything about her journey back to Pei Mansion. When they had arrived Xin walked to her room immediately, she needed time and space to consider what she had discovered. She didn't know how long she had been in her room when her door opened. "Who is it?"
"It's me." Su said as she stepped around the screen. Xin immediately felt anger swell up in her heart. Su still wore the dress and headpieces she had worn for the homecoming ceremony. "Who are you? Please leave." Xin said vehemently. Irritatingly Su only smiled and remained standing: "This is my house, I can come and go where and when I want."
"This isn't your home, your home is Mansion Qi." Xin turned away from Su, only to turn back and start a bow. Su stopped her, telling her not to stand on ceremony. "The mansion QI is my husbands residence, but this is also my home. In this home I am detective Su Ci and my husband is Pei Zhao. In Qi Mansion he is Prince Qi and I'm Princess Consort Qi." Su saw that Xin was still angry, she sighed and then continued: "Xin I know how you feel."
"How could you?" Xin blurted out, turning away from Su.
"When I first met my husband I only knew him as Pei Zhao, I also didn't know he was Prince Qi." Xin remained silent so Su continued: "I only found out after overhearing a conversation."
"But you are the great detective, how come you didn't know before?" Xin said, remembering the stories she had heard about Su Ci the young brilliant female detective.
"Because I wasn't looking or another identity."
"Were you angry with him for keeping his real identity from you?"
"I had no right to be angry, as I was also hiding my real identity. I'm from the Bai Liang tribe. Back then I would have been executed if tat was known. My husband knew I was a woman, but he didn't know about my real identity. So no I wasn't angry. I was more disappointed, but I could understand, not immediately though, it took some time. That same day we talked and I forgave him. After all, back then and still to this day, he is the only one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want to stay at his side as he wants to stay at my side." Su smiled to herself thinking back to that day of anxiety and hope. Xin watched her, but she remained silent for a while. Su understood Xin needed some time, so she didn't press her. It would be best if Xin came to her so Su waited. Eventually Xin looked away and stared at the floor. "Please send me back to my village."
"We can't, your life might still be in danger." At this Xin snapped her head up: "But the rebels have been defeated. The village is under protection of the army. Pei said so himself."
"The rebels are part of the Ghost Army, but they were only puppets. Others are behind them and ordered the actions the rebels had to undertake. We need to find those before you can safely return to your hometown. You can remain here for as long as it takes." Su kept silent for a while, letting Xin take in what she'd said. "There is another reason, why you have to stay here." Su said. At that time someone knocked on the door. Both ladies turned to the door. "Xin, can I come in?" they heard the emperor ask. Su looked at Xin, who shook her head and whispered that she didn't want to talk to him. "Please wait Pei Zhu." Su said to the door. "Alright." Yan Yi responded. Then Su turned back to Xin: "You have to talk to him." She could see the doubt and hesitance in Xin's eyes. Su sighed, these two young people were making this situation needlessly difficult. "Xin let me tell you what my husband and Rushuang said to me when I discovered Yan's true identity: it's just names. His actions were real and show you his real nature. He is the one who wrote you letters. Apart from Qi Mansion you are the only one who has pigeons that will fly to him directly. When you were hiding and called out for hep he was frantic. He wanted us to leave immediately. Before we left he came as Pei Zhu and demanded we take him. I've never seen him anxious before, nothing would deter him. He needed to find you and see you." There was a glimmer of hope in Xin's eyes, so Su pressed on: "You have to talk to him today and consider his words and actions. I will let you be and leave it up to you to decide when you want to talk to him, but know he is here waiting for you, instead of at the palace talking to the courtiers." Su placed her hand on Xin's and squeezed it reassuringly. Suddenly Xin seemed to realize something: "Shouldn't you be in the palace as well?" Su smiled and shook her head: "When Fei Yuan told us Commander Fu had taken our niece back to our home, I suddenly experienced a lot of fatigue. Prince Qi informed the dowager empress that I wasn't feeling well and she immediately send me home. I'll be in my room if you need me." Su left the room spoke some words with the emperor and then went to her room to rest, leaving Xin with her own thoughts.