THE FLOWER PALACE'S SECRET

Chapter 12: Concubine Duan's Trap

Guanling Palace is so beautiful. The sunlight that happened to be shining brightly slipped into the sidelines of the palace. The flowers in the garden surrounding the fallen palace had begun to molt more severely than in previous days.

Autumn is about to end. The air temperature starts to cool. Maybe a few more weeks will come in winter. The plains of the Ling empire would be shrouded in dazzling white snow.

Lin Zian flapped his grey-colored feathered robe and bent his knees as soon as the Empress Dowager and Emperor came. Behind them, the Crown Prince followed in slow steps.

Shen Yanzhia did the same. Shen Yanzhia looked beautiful with a light blue hanfu wrapped in white beads like silver. His hair was carried back, some dangling beautifully to the back. His head was decorated with two hairpins in the shape of a lotus flower and a peony. The tip of the hairpin has a dangling tail.

Some of the Emperor's concubines, the Crown Prince's concubines as well as his empresses also rose to salute. Their clothes were much more luxurious and beautiful. Their personal servants stood obediently beside their respective masters. After that, they are welcome to sit back.

Lin Zian stared lazily at the group of concubines sitting in line in front and beside him. His feelings suddenly turned into disrepute. These women, are nothing more than cunning fox demons.

In front of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, they acted extremely well as if they were virtuous people. Their temperament and speech suddenly turned soft. They even praised each other's beauty. Lin Zian knew, in those compliments of course contained an innuendo that pierced each other's hearts. The praises were insincere, and were given as a sign that they still had a word, because behind the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, they were competing against each other.

Lin Zian did not hate concubines. They just don't like their behavior. He knew how cruel life was in the harem palace. Lin Zian, was a prince who was raised by concubines.

He was the second son of the queen when her father was still a prince, but her birth mother was nothing more than a stranger. Once he was born, he was immediately handed over to Consort Rui, the sacrificial concubine from Baindu Province who had already ascended to the second floor. Lin Zian did not know why the queen gave it to someone else. During her life, she only knew that her doting mother was Consort Rui, even though she knew she was not her biological child.

Lin Zian remembered very well how the other Emperor's concubines treated Consort Rui very differently. They not only sneered, they even dared to insult and act rude to him. The sneaky concubines considered Consort Rui to be the greatest danger because she had Lin Zian whom they considered a weapon.

Lin Zian often found Consort Rui crying alone in the middle of the night. Their treatment gets out of control after the queen suddenly dies. The sneaky concubines seemed to get a chance because now no one could protect Consort Rui anymore. Therefore, he was devastated when he heard that Consort Rui was dead. Unfortunately, the Emperor sent him back to the military camp. Lin Zian often thought that he was an unwanted son. But, Lin Zian had never kept that thought for a long time and protracted.

“Zian, are you okay?” shen Yanzhia asked half a whisper. She did not know why her husband's face had suddenly changed.

“I'm fine,” replied Lin Zian no less slowly.

“You sure?”

Lin Zian nodded. He forced a smile on his face to look good.

“If your mood is bad, we can return to the residence. I'll ask Your Majesty for permission.”

“I'm fine.” Lin Zian replied firmly.

Shen Yanzhia then returned to her original position.

The feeling is not good. His instinct is to say that something bad is going to happen. Shen Yanzhia knew her husband was holding back feelings. He did not know exactly what Lin Zian's childhood life was like because they only met when the palace held a banquet. Shen Yanzhia also had never met Lin Zian when she played to the palace at any time. I don't know why he suddenly felt worried.

A few servants then walked in carrying tea pots and beautiful gold-colored ceramic cups. The servants then placed their tea pots and cups on each table occupied by the royal families. Some of the other waiters then appeared to bring food and snacks. After all the dishes were served, the servants then left.

“I toast as congratulations on the wedding of Prince Qin and Princess Jing Mei,”, the Crown Prince said as he lifted a teacup and drank it. The people present did the same. The Queen Mother and the Emperor smiled.

“Thank you, Crown Prince,” said Lin Zian and Shen Yanzhia together.

“I also toast to the wedding of Prince Qin and Princess Jing Mei.”

Concubine Duan, the Emperor level one concubine imitated the Crown Prince. Once again, Lin Zian and Shen Yanzhia thanked him simultaneously.

“It seems, Zhi’er and An’er are indeed paired. You guys seem very suitable and harmonious,” said Ibu Suri sincerely. Shen Yanzhia and Lin Zian smiled. The two then sipped tea in their cups as a sign of respect for the recognition and congratulations from the people here.

After tea, the concubines and the empress wished the Queen a happy birthday and gave the Queen Mother a gift. The gifts they gave were all extremely expensive and luxurious valuables. Shen Yanzhia quietly giggled amusedly.

“Why are you laughing?” asked Lin Zian slowly.

“It seems, their efforts to impress His Majesty are huge. I'm a little moved.”

Shen Yanzhia did not reply. He took back his tea.

Shen Yanzhia glanced at Concubine Duan. The Emperor's favorite concubine gave an ancient painting titled “River and Bulan” painted by Yuchi Tan, a legendary painter from a very great previous dynasty. His paintings are famous for having a soul and seeming to be truly alive. Shen Yanzhia glanced at the painting.

“River and Bulan” are representations of two different stories that meet in the night, when the tragic tale of river wanderings meets the story of the bright moonlight. After folding back the scroll of the painting, Consort Duan glared at Shen Yanzhia and Lin Zian. Shen Yanzhia could see a sly glint in those shining eyes.

Shen Yanzhia's conjecture came true. The concubine's tongue began to act. It seemed, Consort Duan knew that Shen Yanzhia had not prepared any gifts for the Queen Mother. The concubine wanted to humiliate him in front of the royal family. The cunning woman holds a grudge against him because the Queen Mother loves him and protects him, even though she is only the daughter of Prince Yun who does not have great power and power.

“It seems that Princess Jing Mei has a very nice gift for Her Majesty's birthday this time,” she said as she glanced cynically at Shen Yanzhia. Everyone who was there immediately stared at Shen Yanzhia. It seemed like they were also curious as to what gift the Queen Mother's beloved daughter would give.

They did not know that behind Shen Yanzhia was Prince Qin, the second son of the Emperor who had made the entire country proud because of his abilities on the battlefield.

Shen Yanzhia turned to look at Lin Zian. He wanted to collect the man's words. Shen Yanzhia became doubtful whether the man had actually prepared the gift or not. During his adult years, Lin Zian spent time in a military camp away from the frenetic and cultural fabric of the capital. Will the man understand?

Xu Chi then came with a female servant. The accompanying female servant carried a medium-sized box. The box was decorated with wood carvings forming a long arch at the top and bottom. After saluting, Xu Chi then walked up to Lin Zian and his wife. The female servant then handed the box she had brought to Lin Zian.

“Your Majesty, since Princess Mei is my wife, then my gift is her gift. Today, we specially brought the folding silk cloth of the Kun Tribe in the East. I hope Your Majesty will be pleased to accept it,” explained Lin Zian with great confidence. Everyone in the room stared in disbelief at what he said.

“Sutera fold Kun Tribe? Isn't that very rare?” ask the Queen Mother.

“Yes, Your Honor. On this plain, only seven silks remain. Incidentally, while in the military camp, a friend from the Kun Tribe gave it to me. But, this cloth is too precious to be owned by a family of little princes like me.”

The Queen Mother and the Emperor smiled happily. Shen Yanzhia stared proudly. He could see flashes of anger hidden by Consort Duan's pretty face. The concubine had already fallen into her own trap.

The Kun Tribe's folding silk fabric is more valuable than the painting “River and Bulan”. Lin Zian then handed the box containing the Kun Tribe's folding silk to the Queen Mother.

Consort Duan's hidden annoyed gaze turned into a sweet smile that contained something else. That smile was more terrifying than the blood-soaked Moon Sword in Shen Yanzhia's eyes.

Consort Duan set up another trap to catch his mistake. This time, Shen Yanzhia could not guess it. He really did not know what else this cunning concubine would do. Even so, staying careful and preparing yourself is one very important thing to do.

Shen Yanzhia's stomach suddenly felt nauseous. Head's dizzy. Shen Yanzhia then held onto Lin Zian's hand tightly. The man looked at her questioningly. But, that gaze turned into a shock that alarmed him. Shen Yanzhia's face was as pale as without blood.

“Tea it, the tea is problematic.”

Shen Yanzhia's voice weakened. As much as possible he tried to hide his pain. Lin Zian sipped a little tea that his wife drank. His forehead shriveled and his eyebrows almost became one.

“What is your tolerance to wine very low?” tanyanya slow.

“I've never liked alcohol.”

Lin Zian felt that the tea that Shen Yanzhia drank was already mixed with the cloud sugar powder that could cause one to become drunk like drinking wine. His wife's low tolerance to any kind of alcohol will cause problems if left unchecked. Lin Zian was worried that Shen Yanzhia would do something beyond his control. If that happens, this banquet will be chaotic and his wife's life will be in danger.

“We need to get out of here right away. You pretend that I can take you away,” said Lin Zian. His voice was so small that even the waiter behind him could not hear him.

Shen Yanzhia according. He then pretended to be unconscious to the surprise of the entire Guanlin palace, including the Queen Mother and the Emperor. Lin Zian who was beside him propped up his body with one hand so that Shen Yanzhia would not fall to the floor. He then lifted up Shen Yanzhia's body.

“Your Majesty, I'm sorry for not being able to attend His Majesty's birthday banquet until the end. It seems like Princess Jing Mei is exhausted, this worthless granddaughter of yours beg for permission,” pinta Lin Zian while bowing her head. The Suri Mother who looked very worried nodded.

“Baw, let Zhi’er rest.”

Before leaving the Guanlin palace, Lin Zian glanced at Concubine Duan. The concubine smiled and was upset at the same time. Secretly hatred infiltrated Lin Zian's heart after seeing that smile. It seemed, Concubine Duan had already prepared everything thoroughly. Even though Shen Yanzhia was not up to messing up, Consort Duan was quite satisfied that the daughter of the lowly prince was about to leave from before him.***