CHAPTER 17, JING NU'S LAST WORDS
"Crown Princess, we can't do anything about it. The King really is guilty"
The court was in chaos upon the King being in the imperial prison and the Crown Princess insisted on letting him go for the sake of the kingdom. She knew she shouldn't voice about the poisoning matter as it was indeed, a guilt.
"But he's done so much for our kingdom. This should be a big deed!" she knelt, protesting with a loud determined vocal.
"Indeed it is. But it's only enough to not get him sentenced to death, crown princess" The old minister of crime explained before her that was kneeling, with an unwilling heart. "We're also sad upon knowing this."
"Who's going to lead the court if it's not His Majesty?" A general stood out, questioning.
"It should be the Crown Princess," Li Zhang Ke voiced out. "All the training these years are for this moment,"
Wei An Ge turned to him, deadly. "I refuse to."
"Crown Princess reached sixteen years old today. The minimum age to be a ruler of Hei An Guang" Li Zhang Ke added, forcing her way as the new ruler. "It's your responsibility,"
"MAY THE CROWN PRINCESS HAVE HER CORONATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!" Li Zhang Ke bowed, shouting his desire.
A few seconds later, the whole court bowed, repeating Li Zhang Ke. Wei An Ge was left with an unsettled heart, anxious s she began clutching her hands tightly on the ground.
---
"A bunch of old men wanting me to guide them? General Li is really forcing my way," She shoots the arrow she was gripping on with her full anger. "My coronation, such a joke"
As expected, the arrow dropped to the ground. She stared to the ground with a sigh of anxious heart. Wei An Ge had not yet confident of her potential and presentation. She had never really focused in her trainings as she thought she wouldn't have gotten the crown so quickly.
"Crown princess!" Jing Nu came running. "Are you okay?"
"Where were you yesterday?" She pointed the arrow towards Jing Nu that was catching her breath. "There was no one in the Chang Ge manor. There were no Jing Nu, Li Hua Rong, Sun Ai Er, Wang Xuan nor is Li Zhang Ke. The King is in the prison, were you all planning something behind me? " She walked closer to Jing Nu, with a mixed feeling of anger and disappointment.
Jing Nu shook her head in denial, freaking out upon the arrow pointed at the center of her eyes. "Li Zhang Ke, he-"
Upon hearing Jing Nu's unfinished statement, Wei An Ge just dropped the bow to its container and walked away with a clueless mind and mixed emotion. Her eyes turned red and her facial look was deadly. She felt bad for Jing Nu having to withstand her but there were no turning back to apologize with her high ego.
--
"Leader," Wang Xuan, Li Hua Rong, and Sun Ai Er bowed to the man on the horse, sitting with a straight back. "Welcome to Hei An Guang"
He uncovered his face that was covered with his outfit's hoodie. It was Gan Xin with his tall figure on the horse, with fully raised cheeks, squinting his lower eyes. His smile was generous and kind, creating a very friendly appearance.
"How old are you guys?" He inquired, scanning their faces, being curious. "You all look so young,"
"Sixteen this year," Sun Ai Er replied, shyly smiling.
"Me too" he smiled, jumping off the horse and started bowing to them. "Nice to meet you ladies. I've known your father and they are perfectly fine, guaranteed."
They all smiled in relief.
"Ladies, would you bring me to Chen Zuo Li, the oldest Wei Zhuang royal spy?" He inquired with an enlarged, interested look in his eyes. He exchanged looks with the ladies, asking for confirmation.
"This way," They marched with a horse each, going through the crowds and a deep green forest, arriving at a wooden cottage to see an old grandma infront of the door. Probably to welcome his arrival.
"Gan Xin greets Elder Chen," He instantly jumped off the horse, bowing to the old grandma who was carving the happiest smile.
The girls followed Gan Xin, bowing in respect, excited to finally be able to meet their senior.
"Grandma, who are these people?" Chen Zhi Qi who was hiding behind her grandma asked in cautious. "Are they sister's friends?"
"Aiya, don't need formality. Let's go inside, it's warmer" The grandma smiled, lifting each of them back on their original straight posture. Her welcome for them was warm and friendly "Have some cakes,"
All of them sat on a round wood table just at the center of the cottage. She handed a plate of a rounded dark brown cake given by Wei An Ge yesterday.
"Brother, try this. My pretty sister made it yesterday," Zhi Qi handed, smiling to Gan Xin. Using the same facial expression, his eyes were expanded as he pouted the tiny lips of his.
"Who is the pretty sister?" Gan Xin wondered, already taking a bite of the offered cake. He was amazed by the nostalgic feeling of the cake. Exactly the same as the one he had a few years back.
"Our beloved Jade Ring, who else could it be?" The grandma, Chen Zuo Li laughed. "Yesterday was her birthday, she made this to celebrate it with me and Zhi Qi."
"The Crown Princess?" Gan Xin turned to the girls for confirmation.
The girls nodded, confirming.
"What can this old grandma help you youngsters?" finally the grandma sits with them on the table after wandering around the cottage, finding snacks for her guests.
"We want to bring the Jade Ring back to Wei Zhuang. Hope you can help us," Gan Xin took the lead.
The grandma fell into a sigh, furrowing her eyebrows. Gan Xin and the girls were worried of her reaction, they were stunned. Meanwhile Chen Zhi Qi had his palms covering his ear, knowing the bomb of nagging will about to explode. Scanning the brothers and sisters expression for the last time as he shut his eyes down.
"Why can't just leave her alone? She's happy here. No need to bother such unfortunate lady." The grandma started, smacking the table.
The four froze, blinking their eyes rapidly upon seeing the duality of the sweet and the protective side of the old women.
"Is she? I heard she is getting hit and whipped every time she failed her training WHICH she never passed." Gan Xin voiced out, protesting. "Grandma, she's living a sad life here."
"That's true, grandma," Li Hua Rong joined the force. "Everyone is stabbing her back now,"
The girls bowed down, ashamed knowing the one stabbing were no one but themselves.
"Doing this is a choice you made, not mine. The Jade Ring belongs to both kingdoms. The Queen knows that." The grandma walked to her bed just by the corner as Zhi Qi rush to her. "I'm staying out of this,"
With Zhi Qi in her arm, together they observe the nature outside through the opened window. The four let go of a sigh, dissapointed with the grandma's reaction and unwillingness. Gan Xin massaged his forehead, trying to sketch a new plan, slouching his tall back. He knew the lives of the whole kingdom are under his hands.
"Leader, in the palace later you will be an ambassador from Xin Jia." Wang Xuan explained, seriousness was painted on her face. "You need to help Wei An Ge to release His Majesty,"
He returned his posture, looking at Wang Xuan. He knew every plan must be followed and done perfectly. Hence, he was focused.
"Wei An Ge is her name?" Gan Xin took another bite of the cake, satisfying his craving stomach. "What's wrong with His Majesty?"
"He is in the royal prison,"
"Why would he?"
"Li Zhang Ke reported on him. He wanted Wei An Ge to ascend the throne" Sun Ai Er explained. "This way he can obtain the power. Plus, make things hard for us"
"If we kidnap Wei An Ge, the Queen of Hei An Guang, the kingdom will fall to its rock bottom." Li Hua Rong added with such worried vocal. "Leader, I hope you can avoid this,"
Gan Xin nodded, agreed. He understood that nevertheless of the girls being Wei Zhuang spies, their home and origin was still Hei An Guang and that their only mission was to bring the Jade Ring back to Wei Zhuang, not ruining the kingdom and its people.
"If so, does Li Zhang Ke has any appreciantis? We can make use of them."
Wang Xuan shook her head, denying.
"But he started getting closer to Jing Nu, Wei An Ge's personal maid. I think he's threatening her," a bulb lighted on her head.
"Jing Nu can help him to have entrance to Chang Ge manor so he can have more opportunities with Wei An Ge." Li Hua Rong thought herself.
"Then we should get rid of her" Gan Xin confirmed. "As soon as possible"
He scanned the girl's reaction. None of them agreed. They either looked down or turned their sight to the other way. "What's wrong?"
"Jing Nu is the sweetest maid. She even took care of us. How could we-" Sun Ai Er protested. Her vocal fell to the end point.
"Didn't Elder Li give the crown princess the journal already??" He turned to the grandma, convincing. "Being desperate, she should be able to make the jade pearls exactly at the moment. Just like that, Jing Nu will not be dead. Despite being quite old, she will take a long time to recover. Enough time for us to delay Li Zhang Ke"
They all nodded, agreed. "We'll do it in two days"
--
2 days later,
Inside the room, Wei An Ge locked herself scrolling through each page of the old vintage journal she found. She covered her body with the thick blanket, sitting on the bed.
"Jade pearls" She read, passing her fingers on the drawing of the three jade pearls. It looked like rocks but green in colour. There were no light passing through it but reflects the light via the smooth surface. "The most poisonous medicine,"
She shrugged her eyebrows, confused. "How come? This one is so weird. How is the medicine poisonous if it's a medicined?"
She scanned through the page again for confirmation with her eyebrows knitted together. "Yup, should learn how to make this one,"
The page's upper corner was folded, marking some of the things she wanted to try making soon.
"CROWN PRINCESS!" Li Zhang Ke shouted, rushing through the door.
"The door is locked, don't bother," her eyes were rolled, annoyed as she proceeded with her reading. "Forced my way as the Queen and then rushed through my door without manner. General, I'm telling you as soon as I am entitled as the Queen, my first demand is to have you married to Wang Xuan. This way you won't bother me anymore!"
She mumbled with annoyance.
"Crown Princess!" suddenly the general appeared on the window just beside her back with only his head, smiling with full of silliness. "We have the training, don't you remember?"
"I'm not going," an old and dirty dagger with its blade side was just in front of his neck. Her voice turned deep, serious. "The King is in prisoned, how can I be at ease without finding a way to get him out?"
Her eyes were deadly, displaying her willingness. He first carved a wicked smile and managed his way through the window by jumping through it, having a grip on her right hand. The old dirty dagger fell to the ground.
"What are you doing, Jing Nu!" She called as she was dragged with him through the exit gate of Chang Ge manor, she tried running back to Jing Nu and managed to catch her outfit.
Jing Nu stood still, bowing her head not daring enough to spare a look on the Crown Princess.
"Jing Nu-" her voice cracked in disappointment, letting go of her grip and as they walked, she was still pasting her view on the old maid. They went to the training base in the palace.
As soon as the general and the crown princess were out of sight, the young spies were ready to take action, hiding at some of the corners of the kitchen.
As expected, Jing Nu hurried to the kitchen, intending to bake a cake to make up for the one she missed for the Crown Princess's birthday. "Flour," She was bending her body to reach the sack of flour that fell on the floor.
"Ugh!" She moaned, her right was holding a knife penetrating her abdomen while the other one wiped the whole arm through the counter, causing a knife and a few nuts to fall to the ground. Her eyes were shut, bearing the pain and her lips were knitted together, trying not to scream. She bent her back, looking up. Instantly, she burst out of tears in disbelief upon seeing the stabber. "Wang Xuan?"
She furrowed her eyebrows in disbelief, shaking her head. She clutched on Wang Xuan's warm hand that was holding the dagger inside her. Coldness covered her body as she started shivering.
"Young lady," she called, crying in disappointment as their eyes met.
Wang Xuan eyes were shut tightly, sniffing all of the liquid she's having inside her nose. Her face was red, holding onto her tears. Her breathing was rapid. Jing Nu immediately knew that she was also unwilling and immediately pushed Wang Xuan away.
The dagger was pulled out of her as she was about to fall, losing balance, she was caught by Li Hua Rong and Sun Ai Er arms. Carefully, they placed her on the floor, leaving her there, crying in heartbroken of how she used to be watching and guiding those girls but then become her own killer. All of the memories flashed through her vision of the wood ceiling. She held Wang Xuan's blue-black clothing, preventing them from walking away. Sun Ai Er froze, giving enough time for Jing Nu to grab the knife fallen on the floor, tearing the cloth.
"Jing Nu, you'll be fine," Li Hua Rong said with a cold voice, pulling Wang Xuan away.
The cloth flew along with the strong wind as they walked away.
As soon as the training was finished, Wei An Ge rushed back to her manor intending to find Jing Nu. She knew something was wrong.
She started from the imperial palace.
"GO!" The silver horse ran faster. In all of a sudden, it started raining cats and dogs as lightnings were striking the ground, randomly. Her body and the silver horse were wet and shivering via the coldness. Nevertheless, the silver horse continued running through the mud and slippery road.
"JING NU!" she shouted as soon as the manor's entrance gate was just in front of them. "GO!" She whipped the horse harder.
Unfortunately, the horse speed causes it to fall to the cold and dirty ground. Both Wei An Ge and the horse were covered in mud. Being determined, Wei An Ge stood up and wiped the mud off her face. She then proceeds on running to the entrance gate alone. She fell and struggled to wake up but as her heart beat faster, she knew it's worth it.
Being anxious and panicked, she shouted as soon as she ran past the entrance gate. Surprisingly no guards or maids were waiting there.
"JING NU!" She called with a brittle tone of voice.
She immediately ran to the kitchen as soon as she heard the sound of falling knives and wooden spatulas. Holding onto the kitchen's door side to hold her acceleration, she was stunned to see Jing Nu being covered in blood on the cold floor. Her swollen eyes were displaying sadness as her hands were shaking out of the coldness. She was bleeding from a stab at the part of her abdomen. Wei An Ge rushed to her, automatically kneeling before the dying maid.
"Jing Nu, press the wound. Avoid excessive bleeding right?" Wei An Ge's eyes turned red and teary. Anxious, she had a grip on the knife and torn her clothe to wrap Jing Nu's stab. She placed Jing Nu's bloody hands on the pressed cloth as she dragged Jing Nu to the wall, letting her sit on her bottom.
"You're okay, right? Jing Nu?" She held her cold hand, tightly. "You're fine, just press on the wound, alright?"
She nodded herself, convincing Jing Nu that everything was fine.
"GUARDS!!" She shouted as loud as she can to the point that she started screaming with her hoarse vocal. Unfortunately, there were no response. "WHERE ARE THE GUARDS!"
She turned to every corner of the kitchen, looking for a reaction. Out of fear, her body started shaking. Whenever she turned to Jing Nu, she carved a very steady smile, not to show her panic and she kept reminding her that it was all going to be alright.
Jing Nu softly slap Wei An Ge on the cheeks. Jing Nu shook her head, denying as she carved a smile. Behind the smile, Jing Nu knew her chance to survive was impossible. "No one is here. All are dead,"
"What, why?"
"Don't bother, would you just sit here with me?" Jing Nu wished, tears began to fall from her eyes.
"Please," Wei An Ge begged, blowing Jing Nu's hands to provide warmth. "Jing Nu,"
"Crown Princess, would you mind calling me your mother for once?" she placed her palm on Wei An Ge's, smiling with red eyes. Her breathing rate turned slower.
"Jing Nu, as long as you don't leave me alone I'll even call you my great-great-grandma," Wei An Ge cried, begging with such brittle vocal. She was still scanning the area in case anyone came across them. "mother, you're going to be okay, right?"
Jing Nu smiled, happy nodding with her neck. "Good girl," Jing Nu's eyes blinked slower. Same goes for her breathing. Her fingers and body were cold.
"Mother, don't" She gripped tighter, placing their gripped palms on her lips, bursting into tears. Her talking produced fog, justifying how cold the kitchen was.
Jing Nu's smile faded as the grip started loosening. After a long breath, her eyes were finally closed, peaceful. The corner of her lips raised, happy.
"Jing Nu, don't do this," she hugged the dead body, crying out as she shivered in coldness.
The cold raining and thundering fitted the scene, excellently. The manor was silent for an hour as The Crown Princess was still screaming and crying in the kitchen with Jing Nu in her arms.
"Jing Nu, remember when you tight my hair?" She glanced at Jing Nu, in her arm once, smiling and gradually snorting. Her eyes were deadly staring through the kitchen's door. "I couldn't hate it enough. But when you give bits of advice, I always remember it because some are actually useful. Like pressing on the wound, avoid excessive bleeding. You know how many times I saved people with that advice? a lot,"
She snorted. Her eyes were getting more teary as they fall, one after another. Her eyes were still dead. "But it didn't save you,"
"Jing NU, I miss you already." She hugged her tighter for the last time. "Don't worry, I'll avenge you" She placed Jing Nu's dead and cold body laying on the wooden floor, smiling.
She walked out of the kitchen, crippling smothered in blood. She scanned the area, there were no dead body. Being relieved, she took a long breath stepping forward outside. She knew that as soon as she stepped outside, there will be no Jing Nu anymore in her life. Before stepping, her eyes were shut , relax as well as her lips. The warm tears on her cheeks turned cold as they dropped to the floor.
She made her step with a breath.
Looking down to her shoes, she realized she was stepping on a familiar strip of blue-black cloth. The cloth was also covered in blood and mud just by a glance.
"I'll get them," She picked it up, gripping the strip with hatred. Cascading plants grew through her long let-go hair slowly. She herself was shivering out of coldness and her skin, as well as the lips, ran out of color, pale as she fainted.
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