Back In Time (The Reincarnation of the Cruel Concubine)
The Invitation of the Hang State
"Darang Yi, are you sure that little ladyboy will work well. Are you sure he's reliable for this?" wu Li Mei asked as she folded her hands together, she noticed from afar a dozen-year-old lady-in-waiting sent to deliver the book to Physician Zhong.
The book was very important, originally Wu Li Mei wanted to send Commander Hao alone. Unfortunately the commander is in a task that is no less important than the emperor.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I can vouch for it." replied the dear.
"Alright then." the woman nodded her head, "But if the book does not reach Physician Zhong and is lost, be sure to punish him."
"Okay, Your Majesty."
Wu Li Mei stepped foot out of the pavilion, for several days he did not go outside and just stayed inside the pavilion. The residence of the grand concubine was huge and spacious, not to mention other buildings such as the king's pavilion and hall. It could be imagined as wide as what that magnificent imperial palace was, it was truly extraordinary.
The concubine stopped as she stared at the rose garden which began to come back to life after a long and tiring winter, surely the peonies would soon bloom. Wu Li Mei had to send a series of peonies to the little princess, or else she should make a peony garden near Zhou Xie Ling's tomb in her memory. Wu Li Mei would ask the emperor for that.
"What is the crown prince and Princess Fang Yin doing today?" ask Wu Li Mei.
"They are studying with Master Zhang, Your Majesty."
"Teacher Zhang is back?"
"That's it, Your Honor. About two days ago Master Zhang had already returned from the Hang Country in the north, to retrieve the sword that the emperor had reserved specifically for the crown prince. Reportedly the sword was very beautiful and was made by the best swordsmen in the whole country."
Wu Li Mei frowned after hearing a familiar name for her, "Hang Country in the north? What's that place?" tanyakanya.
The dayang sontak rounded his eyes staring in disbelief, "A-you forgot about the Hang Country?"
"What's wrong with that country?" ask the curious concubine.
"The country should not be forgotten by you, given how much you miss the place. You've been crying for days just because you miss her, but you forget her." said the lady.
"I think I forgot about it too." Wu Li Mei grimaced.
"The Hang Clan is a prosperous empire in the north, Your Majesty. The land is your birthplace, your parents and relatives are in the land, you don't remember?"
Wu Li Mei shook her head with an innocent face, in fact she felt familiar with the name. But no matter how hard you try to remember, still nothing comes of that name. There is only a feeling of being familiar and unsettled. "Sorry Dayang Yi, I seem to have forgotten that place as well. Oh, how could I forget about my own homeland?!"
"Not what Your Majesty, you have indeed forgotten many things since the tragedy-"
"May'er?
The heavy voice that was sounding resolutely made Wu Li Mei and the lady-in-waiting turn their heads quickly, they immediately lowered their heads in respect as Emperor Zhou and the entourage came. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Rise!"
"I'd like to present an invitation to you, Mei'er!" the emperor said again, without further ado, the man immediately handed over a paper scroll that was originally carried by Eunuch Hao.
Wu Li Mei accepted it with a frown, as long as she lived a life as a grand concubine. He had never gotten such a neat and nice roll of paper. "What is this, Your Majesty?"
"That's an invitation for you, open it!"
"An invitation?"
Wu Li Mei opened the scroll slowly, reading what was written inside without anyone missing. The invitation was from the Hang Empire in the north, his birthplace that he had just talked about with Dayang Yi.
There is an invitation to attend the coronation of the new emperor, and an annual celebration to commemorate the fertility year with the offerings of the dragon god.
Wu Li Mei did not really understand, if this invitation was for him why on the scroll was written for the emperor. "I think you're wrong, my name isn't written here."
The Emperor smiled faintly, "Of course it is also for you, inviting me is the same as inviting you Mei'er. They expect you to be present for your brother's coronation as the new emperor."
"Yes, brother. Wu Zhang Zu, he will soon ascend to the throne in your father's place. You have to be there to see it, mom must be so happy because you came home after all this time."
"Is that really so?"
"Why? You're not happy to be home?" ask emperor.
Wu Li Mei shook her head quickly, "No, that's not what I mean, I'm happy to see my family again. But it's been too long, it would be very strange if I went home" he replied hesitantly.
Honestly, he did not know how the two parents of the great concubine, whether the same as the father and mother Marissa, or different. If their faces were the same, it was certain that he would cry hugging them longingly. He misses his father and mother, they must be angry because Risa did not say goodbye before leaving for good. Plus he hasn't shown them the best annual doctor's charter yet.
"May'er?"
"May'er?!"
"Yes!" Wu Li Mei flinched, a call from the emperor managed to pull her from the daydream. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Why are you daydreaming, Mei'er?" emperor Zhou asked worriedly, "Are you not feeling well?"
"I just miss my parents."
The emperor approached, he pulled Wu Li Mei into his arms, giving a soothing warm embrace. Wu Li Mei simply kept silent and accepted the hug without replying, but he leaned his head on the emperor's sturdy shoulder. "Not what Mei'er, we'll meet them soon."
"The journey to the Hang Dynasty in the north will not be too far away because we will use a ship. They will surely welcome you with great joy, believe me, your parents love you so much."
Before becoming a grand concubine, Wu Li Mei was the youngest daughter of the Hang Empire who was greatly cherished and pampered by both her parents. She was like a beautiful pearl guarded with all body and soul, her beauty was famous until many crown princes, princes, even emperors came to propose to her. All of that was rejected, because Wu Li Mei had been blinded by her love for Zhou Xiu Huan, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
The concubine looked up, "Who am I going there with?"
"Of course with me." replied the emperor.
"Only two? Is one of my kids not coming?"
The Emperor shook his head firmly, "Ming Hao should remain in the palace and Fang Yin should study diligently, if the four of us leave, then the palace could be attacked from within."
"Right, too," the woman with the orange hanfu nodded, "Then we'll just go both ways?"
"Who else if it wasn't the two of us?"
"But you can't just go alone, it will..." Wu Li Mei was worried about having to go alone with the emperor.
The Emperor grinned faintly at the woman's temperament, which seemed reluctant to go with him, he brought his lips closer to the concubine's ear and whispered ignorantly. "Are you afraid I'd pounce on you if we were just the two of you? I'll make sure you stay up at night, Mei'er."
