This one does not know,” The six palace attendants went on their knees, none of them able to answer the question.
“Go find out!”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this one remembers that one long hour ago, Princess Ling Meng had requested an audience with Your Majesty. I am uncertain the reason for her request,” An eunuch stepped forward from behind the Emperor and answered in a feminine manner.
“Ling Meng? What happened to her? Ling Meng have always been well behaved. Unless something major had happened, she would not disturb me at such a late hour! Why didn’t anyone report it to me? Who was so presumptuous to the point of interfering with my matters?” The Emperor realized something out of place here.
“…” The eunuch remained silent, his eyes drifting towards the bedchambers.
“Quickly summon Ling Meng over!”
“Yes!”
“Concubine Meng! Get out here now!” The Emperor shouted out in fury. A beauty whose body was covered only in a layer of translucent cloth came out and knelt on the floor.
“Answer me, why was Ling Meng looking for me? Why did you stop her?” The Emperor’s eyes were like ice, devoid of warmth.
“The Princess… she said that someone tried to assassinate her, but I, I saw that she was not hurt and was able to talk in her usual manner, so I believed that she was only being mischievous. In addition, Your Majesty was already asleep, this concubine… dared not disturb you,” Concubine Meng answered as she trembled.
“My daughter suffered from an assassination attempt and you stopped her from meeting her father, and you had the gall to say that she was being mischievous? Hehe… You are quite the considerate concubine,” His Majesty said in a gentle voice, seemingly undisturbed by everything that had occurred. But Concubine Meng who was kneeling on the ground started trembling all over. She knew that once His Majesty used such a kind of voice to speak, it meant that someone’s head was about to roll!
The Emperor moved forward and gently whispered into her ear. “I know that someone like you would not have the guts to do something like this. However, whatever it is that your master had promised you, it would never be accomplished. I will also ensure that he fails to accomplish it!” Concubine Meng was suddenly overwhelmed with fear and stared with wide-open eyes, her body slumping onto the floor.
“Men, bring Concubine Meng away and have her sent into the Cold Palace! No one is allowed to come in contact with her!” The Emperor’s face remained calm as he declared the fate of Concubine Meng who had once stood above thousands.
“Imperial Father!” Princess Ling Meng rushed towards the Emperor; her hair was still in a bit of a mess.
“Do not be nervous, just tell me what had happened today. Come, talk to your father, make sure you tell me every detail,” The Emperor smiled kindly as he looked at his daughter, as though nothing had happened earlier; the chilling coldness within his eyes was already completely concealed.