CHAPTER 18, THE XIN JIA'S AMBASSADOR
Hei An Guang was raining cats and dogs that the coldness has yet to disappear. In such a large dark wood coffin was Jing Nu, dead. The whole Chang Ge manor was decorated with white cloth around it, symbolizing moaning of the dead.
"Jing Nu, the palace refused to mourn for you because they said you're just a lowly maid," Wei An Ge, in all white outfit was kneeling before the cooffin. "Those stupid people,"
Her upper lips raised, smiling as she relight the candle that kept being blew off by the cold wind. She took a long breath, continue staring at the large brown coffin bitterly smiling.
It was freezing cold even though the rain was just sprinkling. Wei An Ge was freezing cold can only be a good girl and be there before Jing Nu get buried.
"Crown Princess," an old eunuch bowed behind her.
"Jing Nu needs silence, eunuch." She turned to him with a sad puppy eyes added with her pale skin and lips. "Would you mind?"
With a weak vocal, she pleaded knowing most of her request will get rejected.
The eunuch furrowed, scratching his head, confused. "Crown Princess, an ambassador from Xin Jia is here-"
"Ask them to go to the palace," She turned back to the coffin with a cold voice. "Why even bother coming here,"
"Gan Xin of Xin Jia greets the Crown Princess," The Wei Zhuang's Royal spies leader assuming his new identity as a Xin Jia official appeared behind the eunuch, bowing with a large innocent smile. He was displaying thick furry coat covering his shoulder and body from the coldness of the rain.
"You heard me, go to the palace," Wei An Ge didn't even spared him a glance. Her body was kept straight as her eyes turned teary, not being able to hold her dissatisfaction of having a proper burial for Jing Nu .
"Mother, do you want me to kick them out?"
She stared at the coffin, sneakily smiling. In all of a sudden, a loud banging sound hit the floor.
"GAN XIN OF XIN JIA GREETS THE CROWN PRINCESS AND HER MOTHER!" Gan Xin knelt down, smiling and bowing to the coffin. He then turned to the Crown Princess. "We meet again,"
"What do you mean?" Wei An Ge pointed the old dagger to him, deadly staring. "When did we even had a Xin Jia's ambassador?"
Gan Xin sneakily smiled, displaying his palm hanging on the air and then placed it on her hands, pulling the old dirty dagger to the floor. Her eyes were deadly exchanging between the dagger and Gan Xin's movement on the ground.
"Crown Princess, you look so pale. It's raining, shouldn't you be somewhere warmer?" He advised, sounding convincing.
However, her eyes were still on the dagger, staring.
"Crown Princess?"
"Get out, okay?" She begged with cracked voice, pasting her dead eyes on Gan Xin.
Gan Xin shook his head in denial, pulling the tips of his lips across his whole cheeks. He untied the thick coat he was wearing and placed it on the Crown Princess's back then tapped her back, "It's cold"
He knew instead of bringing the Jade Ring to Wei Zhuang, he needed her in the best condition of health. Looking at the pale face and swollen eyes, he knew Jing Nu won't stand the chance to survive. He felt pity for her because she was calling the maid 'mother' which hits him back to home, imagining if it was her mother in the coffin.
"Our Hei An Guang has enough blanket, don't worry," She buried herself in the coat, laying her side down to the floor. "We don't need your blanket supplies, understood?"
She pointed her left hand's index finger that was covered with black glove to Gan Xin's nose, waiting for reaction. "Understood?"
She repeated.
Gan Xin nodded, looking at her finger. She yawned and fell asleep on the cold wooden floor, hugging her shoulder, shivering.
"Crown Princess!" Li Zhang Ke rushed through the entrance door to Wei An Ge laying on the floor. He immediately locked his eyes at the stranger, Gan Xin. He picked the dagger up and pointed it at him, hiding the Crown Princess besides him. "Who are you?"
"Is this how Hei An Guang treat their guest?" He pulled the dagger to the floor again, with a smile. "Gan Xin of Xin Jia,"
He bowed, smiling in annoyance. Li Zhang Ke rolled his eyes, uncovering the coat on the Crown Princess. "You don't need this,"
"I-" Wei An Ge mumbled, refusing to let go of the thick coat. Her eyes were still closely shut and her face was relaxed. "It's cold, general. Let me be,"
"Why don't you sit in your room?"
"There's no Jing Nu there,"
---
"JING NU DIDN'T SURVIVED?" Li Hua Rong inquired in disbelief. Her eyes enlarged in regret. "How can that happen-" She fell on the chair.
The grandma's cottage has turned into Wei Zhuang's royal spies lair due to it's deep hidden location. Most outsiders will get lost if they weren't guided.
"I told you youngster," The oldest spy, the grandma said, shaking his head in disappointment. "Wei Zhuang-s can't use their power around the palace, how can you forget that?"
"Should we go and visit Jing Nu?" Sun Ai Er asked, having high hopes. "Leader, what do you think?"
She locked her hands on Gan Xin's arm, smiling.
"Um-" he panicked, slowly unlocking her grip in manners. "I disagree. The Crown Princess might suspect you ladies,"
Wang Xuan nodded, agreed. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "What's our next plan, leader?"
"Her coronation is confirmed, so we can't do anything about it," His eyebrows were knitted together, thinking hardly. "Get rid of Li Zhang Ke and then have the King released,"
"Don't kill my brother" Li Hua Rong insisted, panicked. "You got Jing Nu, don't have to kill Brother Li"
"Brother?" Gan Xin's eyes enlarged in panicked, stepping backward. "Li Zhang Ke is your brother?"
"That's a bummer. Miss Li we got no choice-"
The door was suddenly knocked. "Grandma? Zhi Qi?"
The spies froze for a hot second. They were panicking, finding a space to hide their presence. The grandma pointed to an empty small cupboard that could only fit at most two people. Gan Xin and Sun Ai Er immediately went in, panicked.
"Leader, how about us?" Li Hua Rong lip synced, panicking with Wang Xuan as she scanned the room for another hiding spot.
"Go hide!" He closed the cupboard, being trapped with Sun Ai Er in it together with him. "Miss Sun, sorry to trouble you like this," he whispered, bowing his head.
While Sun Ai Er, having a crush on him was having butterflies inside her stomah knowing that they were sharing the same oxygen in such place.
"Sister," the little boy Chen Zhi Qi rushed to the door and open it, revealing the Crown Princess in her all-white outfit, covered with the fur coat Gan Xin gave that morning. Her left hand was holding a wood basket, containing cakes and desserts of Hei An Guang.
"Zhi Qi, sister got you cakes," She smiled, rushing inside the cottage. "You like the chocolate one, right? Here you go,"
She excitedly took out the desserts and arranged them on the table, exchanging views with Chen Zhi Qi.
The other two spies ran to the back of the cottage at the last minute. While Gan Xin and Sun Ai Er were peeking on the Crown Princess through a small hole on the cupboard door. Well, curiosed of the scene, both had their head bumped on each other's.
'Miss Sun, you go first," Gan Xin offered, whispering in a deep and low tone.
Sun Ai Er peaked on the hole and immediately returned back.
"Leader, you go," feeling a hint of insecurity, she offered the view to Gan Xin. Her attention was locked on his tall, smart and innocent figure. She smiled as she stared, even in such dark and small space.
"Grandma felt sorry for your loss," the eldest spy persuaded in sympathy vocal. She was sitting with such sorrow. Her lip corners were pulled down together with her stretchy skin.
Wei An Ge froze, first staring at the table and then locked her eyes on the grandma, smiling. "Grandma, enough. You don't know how bad I cried after my birthday."
"and it's only been TWO days since" she shaped her finger as two, stamping it on Zhi Qi eating his cakes. "Tomorrow will be my coronation so I have to return a bit earlier,"
"How was the mourning?"
"Me and an ambassador from Xin Jia only. There were no Wang Xuan, Sun Ai Er nether was Li Hua Rong. How could they not visit Jing Nu? She was a mother to us," Her head turned to the cupboard upon hearing whisperings. Not wanting to cause any chaos, she ignored it.
She stood up, raising her cheeks. "Zhi Qi! It's cold, take this strange furry coat,"
She threw the furry and thick coat on his head, smiling. The small Zhi Qi was finding a way out of the large and thick furry coat, pouting in annoyance.
"I will get back soon, alright grandma?"
She walked through the door. "Smile more, both Zhi Qi and you. Your teeth will shine,"
Wei An Ge joked, closing the door knowing that both of them had a terrible teeth. "GO!" She marched with her silver horse.
"Cakes," Gan Xin ran out of the cupboard, reaching for the dessert. "Hei An Guang's desserts are the best I've ever tasted!" He praised, shoving the cakes before Zhi Qi could even.
"Brother, those are for me" Zhi Qi pouted, "You can take this strange furry coat,"
''Zhi Qi young boy, that coat is mine to begin with," Gan Xin laughed, patting Zhi Qi's head. "Don't blame me, it's your sister that keep making delicious desserts. Eating is my favourite activity, you know?"
"Leader, you're supposed to be at the court as well for Wei An Ge's coronation gimic!" Wang Xuan reminded as soon as she entered the cottage from the back door. "Drop the cakes, you should go!"
Gan Xin rolled his eyes in annoyance and walked to the door. "Yes, my ladies," he joked, bowing.
"GO!" The horse got whipped, running with Gan Xin on it. He had at least 4 cakes hidden in his sleeve and one in his mouth.
In the court after,
"THE CROWN PRINCESS WEI AN GE HAS ARRIVED!" The eunuch announced.
Wei An Ge walked along the long path filled with Hei And Guang's top generals and ministers. At the end of the path was the mighty throne with carvings of floral dragon on it, waiting for a new owner.
She was wearing her court outfit with a cloak to cover her facial features. It was the first time she had other maid to help her wear the court outfit instead of Jing Nu.
Her eyes were holding onto the sudden tears as soon as she saw the throne. How extensively things shifted.
Her left hand, covered in black glove was used to wipe the bottom area of her eyes as she took in a deep breath,
"This is only the training and I'm already overthinking," she mumbled, proceeding to the throne.
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