My Daughter Is The Family Head Chapter 28

Hua Ming was so terrified that she became speechless.  She turned her face away and wanted to put some distance between them but her eyes were fixed on the white jade bracelet hanging from his neck. 

The bracelet had the same carvings on the white jade bracelet that Mei Yi Wen gave her.  At that time, when she received the jade bracelet, she did not think much of it.  Now this man had so boldly hung the nine dragons* around his neck, then who else can this man be other than 'him'?!

(Nine Dragons - In ancient Chinese culture, the dragon represents the Emperor and the symbol of nine dragons signifies the highest order.  Since the Emperor is regarded as the Heavenly Son, therefore, the Emperor is the only one who has the right to use this symbol.)

She just did not expect that when she wore a veil to the p.a.w.nshop on East Street outside the Imperial City and handed over the white jade bracelet to Jin Fu Liai, the person summoned would turn out to be.........

"Audacious!  You even dare refuse to answer Zhen*?!"

(The Emperor refers to himself as 'Zhen' instead of using the word - 'I')

The man was so angry that he gave her a hard push and Hua Ming Zi crashed into the wall behind her.  The pain was so intense that she almost could not get up but she ignored the pain and knelt down while gritting her teeth.

"Hua Ming Zi greets Your Highness."  Now there is a chance to save Ying Yan Long!

Hei Xing Jian stared at her and studied her from head to toe for a while.  Finally, his gaze stopped at her anxious-looking eyes.  "Who gave you the white jade bracelet?"

"My white jade bracelet is a gift from Mei Yi Wen."

"Why did he give this to you?  Do you know how precious this is?"  Hei Xing Jian said through his clenched teeth.

"Brother Mei said he regarded me as a Sister and told me to keep this jade bracelet.  If I encounter any trouble, I am to take this jade bracelet to Jin Fu Lai to request for help."  Hua Ming Zi looked into the Emperor's eyes and said.

"Do you know that he had given you his life?!"  Hei Xing Jian roared.

"What happened to Brother Mei?  These days, Qingcheng Mountain Villa was surrounded by guards and no one was allowed to enter or leave.  I don't know about his situation........"

"He is dead!"  Hei Xing Jian stared fiercely at her as if in this way, Mei Yi Wen would be resurrected.  Hua Ming Zi's knees became soft and unconsciously, she clenched her fists.  She knew Mei Yi Wen was weak in health but she had always wished that he could live a bit longer.  She had planned to pay Brother Mei a visit again after she and Ying Yan Long were married.  Who would have known that now they were separated forever like heaven and earth........  Hua Ming Zi bit her lip and bowed her head to wipe away her tears.

When Hei Xing Jian saw her feeling sad, he became even more annoyed and said angrily.  "It is because you have taken away the white jade bracelet.........that is why he died!"

"Why will I take it away if I knew the white jade bracelet can save him?!"  Hua Ming Zi raised her head and said.

"Such audacity!"  Hei Xing Jian stretched out his hand to give her a slap.

When Hua Ming Zi was slapped, she fell onto the ground and her ears buzzed.

She resisted the urge to rage back at him. 

She knows the man in front of her can easily eliminate all the lives of the Ying and Hua Families........just because he is the Emperor!

Life has never been fair and so she can only do her best to preserve the important people.

Hua Ming Zi bit down on her lower lip angrily.  When she finally raised her head, she had erased the resentment from her eyes and used her most stable voice tone to say to the Emperor. 

"I also hope Brother Me is alive.  If I can give him a part of my life, I will be most willing."

Hei Xing Jian stared back at her because of her obstinate eyes.  Once, he had seen this look in Mei Yi Wen's eyes and Mei Yi Wen had said to him.  "You are just lucky that you were born into the royal family and became the Emperor.  Otherwise, what is the difference between you and me?  We are all human beings and you can't sprout wings to fly."

With those words from Mei Yi Wen, he could have received the death sentence from him but how is it possible for him to take Mei Yi Wen's life when that life is also his life?

Mei Yi Wen had never been submissive to him.  From the remaining amount of the Heart Relaxing Pills that were found in Qingcheng Mountain Villa, it can be concluded that Mei Yi Wen had already decided to end his life a few months ago.......

Suddenly, Hei Xing Jian sat down on the couch and held the white jade bracelet in the palm of his hand.  That instance, a feeling of sourness rushed up to his throat and he muttered to himself. 

".........You deliberately wanted to oppose me.......when Zhen saw the white jade bracelet, Zhen thought you were not dead and it was just a hoax........  That time, you had used death to threaten me to allow you to leave........  If I had known you will leave and so early as it is, I would have tied you down with me just to keep you with me........"

After he finished his words, Hei Xing Jian buried his face in his palms and his shoulders shook.

When Hua Ming Zi saw the Emperor feeling so sad, she quickly lowered her eyes to calm her mind.  She was afraid of witnessing emotions that should not be seen which could jeopardize her life.

She did not know anything about the relations.h.i.+p between the Emperor and Mei Yi Wen.  But now, looking at the Emperor being driven to distraction over his death and recalling Mei Yi Wen's envy of her, and the words spoken by Mei Yi Wen......... I have someone I love but the person is far away over the horizon...........and we cannot meet........ 

In addition, when Mei Yi Wen was in critical condition, Qingcheng Mountain Villa was sealed.......  The Emperor and Mei Yi Wen were in a relations.h.i.+p that is out of the ordinary.

But just because of this, she may still have a chance to take a gamble.  She is now looking at the Emperor, isn't she? 

Hei Xing Jian was sad for a while and seeing Hua Ming Zi was still kneeling on the ground, he asked aloud. 

"When he gave you this jade bracelet, what else did he say?"

"When Brother Mei gave me this bracelet, he did not say much but I knew he was envious of me."  Hua Ming Zi steadily returned his gaze and decided she would fight!

"What did he envy you about?"

"He envied me for being a woman."

Hei Xing Jian's face turned white and his tall body swayed a little.  Instantly, he became dejected.

When Hua Ming Zi saw this, she knew she had made the correct move and she could only keep on guessing.......

"Brother Mei had once told me he had someone he loves but he can't be with the person in this life.  He said if he were to stay beside his beloved, it will inevitably harm the person's reputation.  He said if he could be like me, he would be able to live with that person until they grow old.  But he was born weak in health and would not be able to live over the age of 30.  He didn't want the person to be hurt or to cry for him........"

Hei Xing Jian's body shook once again and he even held the wall to steady himself.

When Mei Yi Wen left him and swore he would kill himself if he ever sees him again, he had thought Mei Yi Wen chose to leave him because he hated him.  Who would have known that Mei Yi Wen left him because both of them were men and Mei Yi Wen was afraid for his reputation as an Emperor...........

Originally, he had thought that he hated Mei Yi Wen.......hated Mei Yi Wen for rejecting his affection.........hated Mei Yi Wen for leaving so heartlessly..........  Who knew the truth would be so heart-wrenching!   He would rather continue to hate Mei Yi Wen than to feel such heartbreaking pain!

Hei Xing Jian hammered his chest fiercely, hoping the pain in his heart would go away. 

"Your Highness, are you alright?!"  Immediately, two guards appeared at the door and stood beside the Emperor on his left and right to guard over him.

Hua Ming Zi then realized that their every move was monitored.  Her body trembled but she continued to kneel even though her knees were shaking.

"Everyone withdraw."  Hei Xing Jia waved his big hand.

After a while, he looked at her again.  "He.........what else did he say?"

"He said that every day he prays for blessings for the person he loves and prays the person will be benevolent all living things."  She thinks Brother Mei should not mind if she says some words of truth mixed with some words of falsehood to soften the Emperor's heart.

"When he misses that person, he would prepare some special dishes.  I had the privilege of tasting a few of those dishes and if Brother Mei did not put his feelings into it........or if he did not miss that person so terribly.........he would not have put so much effort into his skills."

Hei Xing Jia recalled his predestined love with Mei Yi Wen.  It was at a vegetarian feast that he first tasted Mei Yi Wen's tofu dish - 'Pining for Love' and as the Emperor, he summoned for Mei Yi Wen to meet him.  After that meeting, his mind was filled with the image of Mei Yi Wen.

 "What were the dishes he prepared?"  He asked.

"Pining for Love.........the tofu was like a chrysanthemum blooming in the soup.  The taste was excellent and it was out of this world."  She said. 

Hei Xing Jian gripped the white jade bracelet tightly and let the coldness penetrated into his heart......Mei Yi Wen.  If I had known you would miss me so deeply, whatever you say I would not have allowed you to leave.  What is the use of an Emperor's reputation?  Can it protect someone you love?

"Anything else?"  Hei Xing Jian stared into her eyes and prompted.

"There was also a clear stewed melon soup.  He named it - 'End of Love without Regrets." 

An incredible painful feeling rose in his heart and unable to bear the extreme pain in his chest, he lifted his head and roared with all his strength. 

"Why do you treat me so?!  Come back to me!  Come back!" 

Hua Ming Zi bowed her head.  Initially, she had wanted to avoid witnessing the Emperor's embarra.s.sing behavior but when she heard his roar, involuntarily her eyes turned red.  Even if one is the Emperor, one is also unable to hold on to the one you love.  When it is time for a life to leave, no one is able to make it stay........

"You.......do you know how to prepare 'End of Love without Regrets'?"  Hei Xing Jian asked.

"I know but at the most, I can only achieve half of Brother Mei's skills."

"Later you will cook it.  Whatever ingredients you need, just let Zhen's guards look for it."

"Understood."  Hua Ming Zi nodded.  Feeling anxious, she wondered when would be the right time to plead on behalf of Ying Yan Long.

Hei Xing Jian was watching her.  He noticed she was trying hard to remain calm and struggling as if she wanted to speak but lacking in courage.  Then he recalled when he was on the way here, the spy had briefed him about the background of Hua Ming Zi including her marriage with Ying Yan Long and Luo Ji Cai's pa.s.sionate pursuit of her.

These days, he was suffering because of Mei Yi Wen's death and did not want to manage anything.  So he had handed the matter of Ying Yan Long to Imperial Consort Luo for her to deal with it.  He thought that Imperial Consort Luo and Ying Yan Long did not have any grudges between them, so he just let Ying Yan Long remain in the palace prison for a few more days.  

But he did not expect the three people, Hua Ming Zi, Ying Yan Long, and Luo Ji Cai would have a connected relations.h.i.+p.  As such, the treatment Ying Yan Long received in the palace prison would not be any good.

"Why did you bring the white jade bracelet to Jin Fu Lai?  To save Ying Yan Long?"  He looked at her as she nodded vigorously and then kowtowed to him.  Then he asked.  "Do you know the crime Concubine Xu accused him of?  No woman will use her reputation to accuse a man of molestation, let alone she is a concubine........"

"He was framed."  Hua Ming Zi said anxiously.  Involuntarily, she crawled a few steps forward on her knees.

"Do you have evidence?"

"Yes!"  Hua Ming Zi quickly told him about the evidence she had collected over the past few days and her voice trembled as her words came rus.h.i.+ng out.

After listening, without even lifting up his eyebrows, Hei Xing Jian said.  "You all have heard.  Investigate this thoroughly!" 

"Yes."  A reply came from outside the door.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"  Hua Ming Zi kowtowed again giving three hard knocks on the ground.

"Stand up and prepare the soup 'End of Love without Regrets."  Hei Xing Jian said.

"Yes."  Hua Ming Zi stood up but she could not control her knees which had turned numbed after prolonged kneeling.  Her legs softened and she fell back onto the ground.

A cold sweat broke out on her back.  Then she tried to get up using both her hands as support.  However, her body was still weak and when her hands fumbled clumsily for support, her body swayed and she fell down again.

Hua Ming Zi's face had turned white.  Not daring to look at the Emperor, she forced herself to get up slowly.

"Seeking Your Highness's forgiveness, this woman is not deliberately being disrespectful......."  Hua Ming Zi's legs were shaking and her voice trembled.

"When Zhen met him the first time, he was kneeling far, far away near the door and waited until Zhen had finished tasting the dishes.  However, his health was not good and when I summoned him to come forward, he wanted to get up but he couldn't.  He struggled to get up but he fell back to the ground again, falling a few times in a row........"  Hei Xing Jian looked at her.  His gaze was vacant and his voice was sad. 

She sighed and quickly glanced at the Emperor before she carefully started to speak.

"Once when we were sitting face to face enjoying tea, Brother Mei who had not sat for long began to feel his feet turning numb.  Smiling, he said that in the past, he had drunk tea until his feet turned numb and he had to bother people to piggyback him down from the couch."

"Yes, ah.......  The doctor said that his qi* and blood is not sufficient so it was not suitable for him to either sit or stand for too long."  Therefore, he had would carry him when there was no one present.

(Qi means life force of a body in Chinese Traditional Medicine and it governs the well-being of the whole body.)

When Hua Ming Zi saw the Emperor's face with a thoughtful expression, she did not dare to ask more questions or look at him.  After she had performed a gesture of respect, she said.  "This woman will go out to get the ingredients ready first."

"Wait a moment."  Hei Xing Jian said.

Hua Ming Zi looked at the Emperor and saw he was looking at her with a complex gaze.

She stood motionless, not daring to move and she was so frightened that she broke out in cold sweat.

"Take this."  Hei Xing Jian handed the white jade bracelet to her.

Hua Ming Zi shook her head and did not dare to reach out for it.

"This is what he left for you.  Zhen does not want him to feel resentment for me in Heaven."  He said.

Hua Ming Zi knotted her eyebrows. Then she took the white jade bracelet and gave him a respectful bow. 

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Hua Ming Zi put the white jade bracelet on her wrist and nervously walked out of the chamber in a hurry.  She did not dare to ask a question more, a question that was of utmost concern in her heart........ How is Ying Yan Long now?

Due to her relations.h.i.+p with Brother Mei, the Emperor looked at her differently, and whatever she can say, she had already said.  It is not advisable to say anymore.  If she had incurred the Emperor's wrath, then the situation will even be more unfavorable.  Moreover, now the Emperor had sent his people to investigate this matter, then Ying Yan Long will have the opportunity to seek redress.

She quickened her footsteps and moved towards the kitchen while praying to Heaven in her heart.

~ Let the Emperor be able to find out the truth as soon as possible and let Ying Yan Long be able to return safely as soon as possible.  Even if her lifespan is reduced leaving her with only a few more days to live..........she is still willing...........