Eastern Palace Chapter 22

I can't even swim, the a.s.sa.s.sin's toss was violent, I fell deep into the water, surrounded by ice cold water, my head was covered by dark blue water, a beam of light can only be seen at the top of my head.....I 'gudu' drank a mouthful of water, thinking about the last time I went into the river to save someone, A'Du saving me, then going to the Wannian County court to dispute, the Pei Zhao before wore a light gown with a belt, amiable and adorable.

        The water continuously went through my nose and my mouth, I don't know how much water I had swallowed, gradually feeling suffocated........The beam of light from the top of my head became further and further away, I gradually sank deep into the water. All I can see was slowly becoming pitch-black. A gush of wind was gently blowing through my ears, a person holding onto me......He was saving me, holding onto me while spinning through the night wind....spinning.....slowly spinning......The sky was filled with stars like raindrops falling down.......Between heaven and earth only his eyes were gazing into my eyes.......His eyes only had me......I wanted to faint, I really wanted to faint, being held by him in such a way, it was this person......I know I love him deeply, he is also someone that loves me deeply, only if he is there, then I will feel safe.
　
        I dreamed about this dream many times, it's only that I haven't thought about it. I was about to be drowned to death....Also, no one is coming to save me.
　　
        The hero in my dreams did not come to save me.
　　
        Li Cheng Yin, he did not come to save me.
　　
        I was like a steelyard weight sinking deep into the water, I don't know how much time have pa.s.sed, it felt like many years have pa.s.sed. My chest suddenly felt some pain I couldn't help but to open my mouth, spitting out water.

　    I don't know how much water I had drank.......I was exhausted from spitting out water.
        
        I almost finished spitting out the water that I had swallowed, just lying there feeling dizzy, I couldn't open my eyes as the sunlight was s.h.i.+ning directly into my eyes, I used all my strength to see, a pile of withered gra.s.s can be seen on one side, then I used all my strength to look into another direction, a pile of stones can be seen on another side.
　　
        The corner of the a.s.sa.s.sin's gown can be seen in a close distance, even after my body had submerged into the water, I still did not die. Also the a.s.sa.s.sin, I would rather die than to be tortured this way.
　
        I did not have any strength left, the moment I opened my mouth to talk, I wanted to spit out water, I said without any strength: "If you want to kill or cut me into pieces......"

        The a.s.sa.s.sin did not respond, but rather used the sword to poke my head, the moment I turned my head I wanted to spit out water..........I felt like I spit out a creek......I closed my eyes and then I slept.

        The dream took place in the Eastern Palace, Li Cheng Yin and I were arguing. He was trying to protect Zhao Liang Di, I fiercely argued with him. He said: "You think I care that you have saved my father? Don't ever think that I owe you a favor!" I was so angry that I wanted to spit out blood, I said: "I didn't want you to return any favor, however last time you saved me from the a.s.sa.s.sin, so this time I am only returning a favor." Although I was saying that, however in my heart I felt very sad, suddenly tears were shed. I didn't want him to see me cry, so I hid behind the fragrant box, the fragrant box was really hot, I felt my skin was burning even though I hid for only a moment, very painful.

        I lifted my eyelids, eyes seem as though it was swollen, however my face was burning hot, my whole body was cold, a burst of coldness making me clench my teeth. I asked A'Du: "Is it snowing?" A'Du went to get my little red horse, my father was not there, we quietly went out to ride our horses. Riding our horses in the snow was fun, it was so cold that the tip of our noses were red, snowflakes continuously fell onto the sandy hill, the roots of the gra.s.ses curved like my father's beard......If my father knew that I ran onto the snow and behaved atrociously, he will definitely scold me......Li Cheng Yin have never seen my little red horse, not knowing how fast it can run.........I don't know why I kept on thinking about Li Cheng Yin, he doesn't treat me well.....My heart felt bitter, no, even if he doesn't treat me well, I only hope that his eyes only had me.........However unfortunately he has Zhao Liang Di.......When Li Cheng Yin had snapped the arrow, I remember him shouting out: "Xiao Feng...." If I can't survive, he will definitely feel sad.....although I don't know how sad he will feel.....I used all my strength to open my eyes, discovering that I was not by the riverside, but rather in a small house, moonlight spa.r.s.ely s.h.i.+ning from the outside, making the house not too dark. Today must be the Lantern Festival......Ten miles of lanterns, nine layers of watchtower gates, fireworks in all directions, seven star tiered tower, being happy together, to go and to return, peace......It should be bustling with noise on the day of the Lantern Festival, however it did not seem like it...........My whole body was cold, constantly s.h.i.+vering, suddenly discovering that my body was covered by a leather fur coat. Although the leather was made out of ordinary sheep skin, however the fur was suppose to keep me warm, I only realized that I have a fever, a blanket was on top of the coat, however I kept on s.h.i.+vering.

        I gradually got used to the darkness, the house was filled with boxes like a storehouse. The a.s.sa.s.sin was sitting not too far away, looking at me while I slowly wake up, without making a sound he placed a bowl beside me. I touched the bowl, it was very hot.

       "Ginger soup." His voice had a weird accent, I was very exhausted that I did not have any strength, I sounded like a mosquito when I spoke; "I........." I could't lift the bowl.
　
        Before when I was sick, I felt like I was dying, now I am finally sick again, I usually don't get sick, however when I am sick it felt that way. I have been sick for two times, my wrist felt sore, I couldn't lift the bowl.

        I did not hope, also did not feel like thinking about why the a.s.sa.s.sin give me a bowl of ginger soup. However this place was much warmer than by the river, although the house was filled with things, but after all it was still indoors, ten times warmer than by the river with wind chills and rus.h.i.+ng water.
　
        The a.s.sa.s.sin came over to grab the bowl of ginger soup, slightly supporting my body with one hand, my throat was sore, I couldn't care much about this, I held the bowl with one hand, swallowing the ginger soup in big mouthfuls. The soup was extremely spicy, extremely unpleasant to drink, however after drinking the soup, my blood vessels begin to circulate again, I suddenly choked.

        My face was flus.h.i.+ng red when I coughed, the hand that was holding onto the bowl was continuously trembling. When the a.s.sa.s.sin saw me like this, he held the bowl with one hand and used the other hand to pat my back. I slowly breathed, suddenly reaching out one hand to take off the cloth covering his face.

        With his skills, he could have easily avoided my hands by just dodging, however if he wanted to dodge, he will have to use one of his hands, also if he let go of his hand, the back of my head would hit the box. I thought that he would definitely dodge my hand, and then I could break the porcelain bowl, maybe I could even grab one of the broken pieces and uses it in case anything happens. I didn't expect that he didn't let go of me to dodge my hand, more so I absolutely did not expect the face that was behind the cloth.

        I stared at him blankly, the moonlight was bright, although it pa.s.sed through the window, however I could still recognize him.

        Gu Jian!
　
        Why is it him?
　

         All my blood felt like it was rus.h.i.+ng through to my head, I asked: "Why?" He did not answer me, only slowly putting down the bowl. 　　

        I asked again: "Why?" Why was it him? Why did he taken the Emperor as hostage? Why did he kill so many people without thinking about the consequences? Why did he take me away? Why? Why did everything happen?

        I am very silly, how many people in this world would have such exceptional martial arts skills? How could I not think about it?

        I was very silly even using the arrowhead, waiting for Gu Jian to come save me.

        A'Du's safety was unknown, Gu Jian was my last hope, I was waiting for him to save.

        Why?

        He faintly said: "Not why." "You killed so many people!" I was very angry, "What are going to do? Why have you taken the Emperor as hostage?" Gu Jian stood up, the moonlight reflected through the window s.h.i.+ning at his shoulder, he faintly said: "I will kill if I want to kill, if you are unsatisfied, then I don't have anything else to say." "What did you do to A'Du?" I was grabbing onto his shoulders, "If you do anything bad to A'Du, I will definitely take revenge for her." Gu Jian said: "I did not kill A'Du, believing me or not is your choice." I felt relieved, said: "You can let me go, I promise that I will not say anything to anyone, I will only say that I ran away." Gu Jian suddenly smiled: "Xiao Feng, why?" I was confused: "What do you mean why?" "Why are you treating Li Cheng Yin so well? What is good about him? He....He has always been betraying you. Right now he's marry one woman after another, you constantly get mistreated by those women, even he mistreated you. In the future when he becomes the Emperor, he will have even more women, so more people will mistreat you. Why are you treating Li Cheng Yin this good? Is it because of Western Liang that is why you are willing to sacrifice your happiness to live in this cold lonely palace?" I stared blankly, said: "Western Liang is Western Liang, however I am already married to him, also he doesn't treat me that bad......" "How is he not treating you badly? He's just using you, do you know what he's thinking? Do you know what he's planning on doing? You can't win, you can't win over those women, even you can't win over Li Cheng Yin. Right now they are still worried about Western Liang, however once Western Liang is not useful to the Central Plains, you will definitely will not able to win." I sighed and said: "I don't have that much worries, however Li Cheng Yin is my husband, I can't abandon my husband." Gu Jiang laughed coldly: "What if Li Cheng Yin abandons you?" I said: "He won't." The first time when he encountered the a.s.sa.s.sin, he pushed me away; the second time at Ming Yu Fang, he tried to blocked my way to prevent me from going to the a.s.sa.s.sin. Every time he would put the danger on himself, Li Cheng Yin wouldn't abandon me.

        Gu Jian laughed coldly, said: "In front of the whole world, who do you think you are? If a person has to become an Emperor, it's unavoidable for them to be cold blooded. I brought you here, do you think Li Cheng Yin will come and save you? Do you think he would have the urge to save you? However today is the Lantern Festival, people go out to look at the lanterns, the Capital's city gate is open, allowing anyone to go inside. What are you to them? The Li family are unworthy of you, they are still celebrating with the commoners by the Cheng Tian gate, not caring about your safety. If I really was an a.s.sa.s.sin, I could easily kill you with one strike, then leave the Capital at night to escape to a faraway place.....After eight to ten days have pa.s.sed, only then the Yu Lin army will come here and find your corpse. Li Cheng Yin will probably just pretend to be sad over your dead body, afterwards he will just bestow the t.i.tle of a Crown Princess to Zhao Liang Di, who will remember you? You still hope that he would remember you?" I lowered my head, did not say anything.

        Gu Jian pulled my hand: "Let's go Xiao Feng, leave with me. We can leave this place together, go far away from this place where people scheme against each other. Once we are outside of the gate, we can release horses and raise sheep together......"  I broke free from his hands, said: "Whether Li Cheng Yin treats me good or not, this is the path I have chosen, also this is the path my father have chosen on behalf of Western Liang, I can't just run away, Western Liang cannot either...." I looked at him: "Just let me go." Gu Jian quietly stared at me, after a while he finally said something: "No." I felt sad and tired, before when I had a fever, my throat was burning like fire, however since I have spoken too much, my throat hurts right now, my whole body did not have any strength, even there is a burning pain just by breathing. I caressed my throat with my hand, then I slowly went back to lean against the box.

        He was thinking of saying something to me, however seeing me like this, he seemed as though he couldn't bear to say it out loud, only asking me: "Do you want to eat something?" I shook my head.

        He couldn't help but ask again: "I will buy something for you to eat, okay?" I wanted to shake my head, however I suddenly nodded.

        He helped me pull up my blanket, and then said: "You should sleep." I closed my eyes, quickly fell asleep.
　

         Approximately after the incense stick was burned, I opened my eyes again.

        Inside the house was still dark and quiet, only the faint moonlight reflecting from the window to the ground can be seen. I got up to look at the moonlight, s.h.i.+ning brightly. Today is the fifteenth of the first month of the lunar year, the Lantern Festival, the moon was beautiful, the streets must be crowded and bustling with noises.

　　
        I wrapped myself tightly in the fur coat, went over to shake the door, however the door can't be opened because the door was looked from the outside. I looked around, one thing noticeable about the storage room was that it was only surrounded by walls, only the window can be found near the top of the room. The window was built near the top only so that air could flow freely into the room. I tried to touch it by reaching my hands, but I wasn't able to touch the window.

        However there's always another method, I pushed a box over there, then stacked another box on top to create a large step. I don't know what was inside the boxes, fortunately they weren't heavy. However my whole body had weakened, no strength was left in my hands, when I pushed the boxes underneath the window, I was so tired that sweat were dripping.

        I stepped on the boxes to climb up, the window was made out of wood, wouldn't move even if I push it. I could only climb down and search around the place. Once I opened a box, it contained silk fabric inside.

        I didn't know that rich people owned this place, placing these beautiful silk fabrics locked in the storage room or maybe this is the place that stores all the silk fabrics. I didn't want to overthink too much, disappointingly closed the box. In the end I looked at the porcelain bowl that was once filled with ginger soup.
　
        I smashed the bowl, picked up one of the broken pieces, then climbed up again to cut open the window.
　　
        Although carving of the window was thin, however cutting open the window requires a lot of effort, I kept on cutting the window.......accidentally cutting my finger, bleeding.
　　
        Suddenly I felt there was no hope, by the time Gu Jian comes back, I still wouldn't be able to get out. He might kill me, or maybe locked me here for the rest of my life, maybe I won't be able to see A'Du ever again, also won't be able to see Li Cheng Yin.

        I only despaired for a little while, then I started to cut the window frame again.
　　
        I don't know how much time have pa.s.sed, finally a snapping sound can be heard, the carving on the window frame had finally snapped. I felt there was hope, continued to cut the other corner of the window. After the carving on the other corner was cut off, I used all my strength to break open the window.
　　
        I suddenly felt happy, however jumping off from such a high place would only cause my legs to break. I pulled out a silk fabric from the box, placing a corner of the silk fabric underneath the box while tossing the other corner of the fabric out of the window. I used the fabric that was out of the window to slowly climb down.

        I don't have any strength left in my hands, the silk fabric was slippery, I could only hold onto the fabric with my wrist, the weight of my body was hung onto my wrist. Holding onto the silk fabric was extremely painful, however I could care less. I was only worried that if I let go, then I will fall down, so I carefully climbed down. When my tiptoes finally reached the ground, my feet felt numb as though one movement will cause me to fall to the ground.

                                                                                                    Chapter 23>