"Your highness" Yao Yao shouted as she ran into the room.
"Yao Yao what's wrong" Bie liu asked. Lu Was have a nap and she didn't want her to be awoken by the noise. Yao Yao finally getting the hint Walked to her side and spoke softly "This is bad I just heard that the crown Prince was attacked on his way back to the capital and _
before being interrupted by Lu Xiaolian "What happened to Huang?
"mistress" she said sadly. Her mistress looked shaken and worried already.
"Yao Yao continue what happened to his highness? she walked forward.
"He is missing, everyone one of his escorts were found dead and his cloak was found hanging over a cliff" Yao Yao said softly. She didn't know how her mistress would take this, her mistress really like the Crown Prince.
"Was Chu Yan's body found? she said dropping to the ground with tears rolling down her eyes.
"No mistress" She really wanted to comfort her mistress but when she looked towards Bie liu in question she received a slight shake of the head and stood back. Bie liu was very familiar with her mistress and was aware that she didn't want anyone's pity.
After a few minutes she wiped away her tears and standing straight she said "Quickly I need to enter the palace"
"Mistress?! Yao Yao exclaimed.
"Since Chu Yan and his highness body hasn't been found it's safe to assume that they are alive. Her highness the Empress is his highness birth mother so she wouldn't take this news well I need to take care of her" she stood as Bie liu began helping her dress. After hearing her master's words Yao Yao quickly walked forward to lend a hand, her mistress has a point now more than ever is when her mistress needed to enter the palace.
* * *
The Empress private rooms
"Lady Su imperial Consort Lu is here to see her highness" a palace maid reported in low tones. the Empress had ordered everyone out save for palace Lady Su who walked out to receive the message. Lady Su walked back into the room and walked up to the Empress who sat facing the window and spoke softly "Your highness imperial consort Lu requests to see you"
"Let her in" the Empress said in a coarse voice after some minutes not even bothering to look up. "Yes your highness" Lady Su said and walked out to lead Imperial consort Lu inside.
Lady Su lead Lu Xiaolian into the room and bowing walked out of the room giving them some privacy.
"Xiaolian greets Imperial mother" Lu Xiaolian said paying her respects.
"Xiaolian come closer no need to stand on ceremony" the Empress said softly in a coarse voice quite unlike her sweet voice., Lu Xiaolian could already tell that she had been crying for some time.
Lu Xiaolian walked up to the Empress and kneeling next to her took her hands into hers and said softly "Xiaolian knows that mother is very sad but I still wish that you would take better care of your health his highness wouldn't like to see you sad and especially because of him"
The Empress turned sharply and facing her said "Xiaolian is right Huang'er wouldn't want me to be sad but what am I to do now, after everything I have been through I can't loose another child and for real this time, I just can't" she began crying heavily. Lu Xiaolian stood and hugged the Empress into her arms rubbing her back gently and said "I don't believe that his highness is dead or missing your highness"
"What?! the Empress said looking up. "Chu Yan his highness personal guard is also missing, if am not wrong then his highness isn't dead or missing just injured" Lu Xiaolian replied.
"really then he is still alive" the Empress said
"My thoughts exactly" a familiar voice was heard drawing their attention to the door, the Empress moved out of Lu Xiaolian's embrace and standing next to Lu Xiaolian, they both chorused "Your Marjesty"
The Emperor walked up to the Empress and taking hold of her hands guided her to a seat and sitting next to her placed her head on his shoulder.
"Xiaolian and I both share the same thought the evidence do not add up" He said stroking her hands. "Which is why I intend to sent some men to investigate further but I don't want to risk drawing any attention to him, seeing that you are her Xiaolian you must have thought of a solution" he looked up to his daughter-in-law.
"answering your marjesty I thought of a much safer way of handling this and that is by following the culprit's plan to the T and that involves carrying an open investigation into the attack to avoid suspicion while sending a few men to investigate in secret and find His highness" Lu Xiaolian said bowing.
"That is very well thought, I will have to leave that to you" the Emperor replied after some thought.
"we will have to keep up appearance so tomorrow morning I will be going to the temple to pray so the crown princess authority will be transferred to you that means you will have to take charge of the state events while I am gone" the Empress raise her head from the Emperor's shoulders and called for Lady Su.
"Xiaolian will abide" Lu Xiaolian replied.
* * *
The next day the Crown Prince Manor.
"Lu Yan have someone keeps an eye on the first prince's faction and report their every move to me nothing is too small" Lu Xiaolian said after receiving the crown princess consort seal.
"Yes mistress" He said and left. "Mistress the crown princess consort heard that you received the seal and is making a mess on her rooms" Yao Yao reported.
"Even with everything going on she still has time to throw a tantrum and madam Shen" she said taking a seat and placing her aching head on her hands.
"It was madam Shen that relayed the message" she replied.
"They seam to have excess time in their hands have someone deliver some Buddhist scriptures to then, since they are full of energy they might as well put it to good use" Lu Xiaolian said.