Chereads / The Lady of Revenge / Chapter 59 - A boring tale 17 - Eighth Prince

Chapter 59 - A boring tale 17 - Eighth Prince

Lan Xuan Yi woke up feeling numb all over. Her eyes slowly fluttered opened and she slowly took in her surroundings with a dazed look. An unfamiliar ceiling of rotting wood, the scent of charcoal, the rough straws that made up the makeshift bed she was lying on poking her, and the spicy scent of the medical soup sitting beside her.

Gingerly, she sat up. A sharp pain shot up her head as the memories flooded in.

Ah, that's right. I fell from a waterfall, didn't I?

Lan Xuan Yi frowned at the sudden headache that set in and rubbed her temples, trying to ease it.

"It looks like you are awake," an unfamiliar voice said beside her, jotting her in surprise.

Lan Xuan Yi turned her head towards the voice and saw that it is a man who had a silver mask covering his eyes. His hair tied neatly in a ponytail and he had a sword strapped onto his waist.

"You saved me," it was a statement.

"My master did." The man corrected her.

"Where is the other girl?" The man eyed the weak little lady in front of him, unsure if she can take the news but when he saw her determined eyes, he decided to tell her.

"She died for you."

Lan Xuan Yi widened her eyes at his answer. What does he mean by that?

The question must have been apparent on her face because the man answered before she could utter the question.

"Don't tell me you cannot feel it?"

Lan Xuan Yi only noticed when he meant when he asked her that question. The strange feeling inside her eyes, something was pulsing, throbbing and that feeling was concentrated in her eyes. Her hands raised up, touching her eyes gingerly. It was uncomfortable but not painful. She snapped out of her world when the man stood up from the stool he was sitting on before and pointed at his wrist.

"Do you see this?" Xuan Yi eyed his wrist and saw what he was referring to.

A black mark, the pattern of an iris flower, sits neatly in the middle of the man's wrist but Xuan Yi can see more than that. She can see underneath that mark, in the man's wrist, was black trails that originate from the mark and coils itself around the man's arm.

Blinking her eyes rapidly in disbelief, she looked up at the man in confusion.

"When my master and I found you, you were the one that was on your last breath. It was the woman beside you that had a better chance of living, but she asked me to save you. My master asked her what she is willing to offer him to revive you and she said anything, even her life. So, Master took her last breathe of life and passed it to you, that is how you lived." The man explained, his tone was dull as though he was reciting the most boring story of his life.

The man then went on to explain her situation.

She is now in the secret base of the secret soldiers of the Eighth Prince. Back then, he was being chased by the enemy assassins and stumbled onto a forbidden place located in the dense forest. When the Eighth Prince and his men accidentally entered the area, they broke the seal that was put in place a long time ago to lock the demon that raged the area a thousand years ago by an immortal. The demon broke free and killed whoever that was insight.

The eight Prince and his men were smart. They used those assassins who were frightened out of their wits as meat shields as they slowly took down the demon. As the demon breathed its last, it decided to give him a reward for being able to defeat him even though he was just a mere mortal and the gift was his demonic powers. The Eighth Prince inherited the demon's knowledge and used his powers to strengthen his army and sealed off access to the forest he was in, using it as his base.

The Eighth Prince knew that the person who wished to harm him is the Empress because the Empress wanted to get rid of the Seventh Prince's supporters and he is one of his Seventh brother's biggest support. He learned from the demon's knowledge that he can share his powers with others by making them his followers, which he did to his remaining men and he immediately set off back to the capital quietly to speak with his Imperial Mother and his Seventh brother. Because of the Seventh Prince's injury, they must put their plans on hold for now. The public opinion is swayed towards the Third Prince as the new Emperor and even if the Eighth Prince healed his Seventh brother's injury in a few minutes, it cannot be known to anyone as it would be too unnatural. They decided to lay low and let the Third Prince become the Emperor for a while before they take it back.

As Lan Xuan Yi suspected, she saw the same faint mark of the iris flower in her eye when she grabbed a mirror. The unknown power pulsing within her made her strangely calm as she listened to the information given to her by the man. When the Eighth Prince revived her, he had made her his follower and with this power, it links her to the Eighth Prince. A master and subordinate relationship.

"From now on, you are one of Master's people. No matter your past, you cannot betray master." With those words, the man who introduced himself as Ling handled her a bowl of medicine. Lan Xuan Yi took it slowly, her brain trying to come up with a plan to run away, back to her family. Surely her father would figure something out. She does not doubt the part about the demonic power because she can feel it herself. The power inside her eyes, oozing out, surrounding her entire being, makes her feel as if she can take over the world.

But that does not mean she wants to.

"That woman who saved you, she left some words for you before she died." Ling suddenly spoke up, breaking her train of thoughts.

Lan Xuan Yi's hands trembled slightly at the thought of Ah-Lin.

"What did she say?" Her voice cracked at the end slightly, showing a moment of vulnerability.

"She said to tell you to not feel sad for her. Her life as a servant is cheap but you are a noble person who was meant to achieve way more than what she could. She is grateful for all your care when she was in your service and hopes that your Highness would not feel sad about her death. Ah-Lin did not die, she is living through you and she hopes that you can carry on living with your head held high for her sake."

Hearing those words, Lan Xuan Yi broke down. For the first time in her life, she brawled in a very unladylike manner. Her heart broke as memories of Ah-Lin flooded into her mind, all those days that she spent with her, rain or shine, happy moments, sad moments. Tears continuously dripped down as she cried her heart out.

Ling stood at his spot. He knew her identity as soon as the maidservant addressed her as an Imperial Consort. With her personality, it was clear she is not the vixen Imperial Consort Su, nor is she the prideful and arrogant Imperial Consort Qin. She would cry to this extent for a maidservant, only the newly promoted Imperial Consort Lan from the Lan family would shed tears for a slave.

Ling stood there, unsure of how to comfort her when he was suddenly shocked at the loud slap that resonated throughout the small hut.

Lan Xuan Yi slapped both her cheeks with her hands loudly, leaving red marks. Ling jumped in surprise at her actions and was about to ask why she slapped herself when she raised her head. The cold gaze of a dignified Imperial Consort pierced through him and stunned him at his spot, unable to speak a single word.

It was the lady who spoke first.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Eighth Prince for saving my life."

Ling jolted at her words and nodded hurriedly. It was an order, not a request. Her tone was extremely frosty, and Ling felt the temperature around them seems to have dropped a few degrees. If he were to be honest with himself and put down his pride as an assassin, as a follower of the Eighth Prince, he would say he was afraid of her, of Imperial Consort Lan.

"Master did say to inform him when you are awake, but it doesn't make a difference if Lady Lan were to pay him a visit." Ling gave her some simple plain clothes to change into before he escorted her out of the hut and Xuan Yi could see that they are indeed in a forest. The people nodded their heads at Ling and Xuan Yi as they went about their day. It seems like everyone was informed of her presence already and Xuan Yi returned their greetings with a small smile of her own.

They then reached a hut that was in a similar state as the one Xuan Yi woke up in and Ling knocked on the door, announcing their presence.

The door was opened by a man who gave her a cheerful grin.

"Looks like the lady is awake," he commented in a friendly tone, to which Ling nodded.

"Is Master in?" Ling asked the man who nodded.

Another voice from inside the hut told them to come in and the man opened the door wider to allow Ling and Xuan Yi to enter.

Inside was a simple house with many papers scattered around a big table and at the head of the table was a man who was surrounded by a powerful aura. Xuan Yi felt the pressure when the man entered her sights and her instincts told her that man is the Eighth Prince, her master.

"Xuan Yi greets the Eighth Prince," Xuan Yi bowed as if she was unfazed by the pressure which earned her a smile of approval from the Eighth Prince.

"It has been a while since this Prince saw you and you have indeed grown to be a strong woman," the Eighth Prince gave her a warm smile, gesturing her to take a seat.

"Has Xuan Yi met your Highness before?" Lan Xuan Yi could not remember when she ever met him, but she could deduce a few things here and there. Her father used to be a supporter of the Seventh Prince and that would mean they would meet often. The Eighth Prince is the Seventh Prince's supporter and would be on friendly terms with her family as well. This could mean that the Eighth Prince has visited her house before and saw her.

Seeing Xuan Yi worked things out in her mind, the Eighth Prince nodded in approval.

"Indeed, the daughter of the Lan family has grown to be a smart woman. This Prince was visiting the Lan mansion with Seventh brother when we saw you reading a ton of books by yourself in the library. You were too engrossed to notice us," the Eighth Prince enlightened her kindly and Xuan Yi coughed to hide her embarrassment.

"Please forgive this humble lady for being imprudent."

"It's fine, this Prince doesn't hold grudges against a six-year-old child. If those books were the reason why you are so clever today, then this Prince will have to thank those books."

Xuan Yi did not know how to react to that statement and so she offered a feeble smile. Sensing her discomfort, the Eighth Prince stopped beating around the bush.

"So, how is your body holding up?"

Xuan Yi did not know what the Eighth Prince meant, and Ling quickly explained. When someone is newly awakened to the power, they might not adjust to it and they will feel extremely uncomfortable. If their body constitution is not strong enough to hold that power and manipulate it, they might just explode into pieces.

Xuan Yi paused a little before she replied, "I feel fine."

"That's good. Now, I know you are one of third brother's woman but now you are one of my people. Imperial Consort Lan is clever, I am sure you know what I am implying." The Eighth Prince's smile suddenly turned cold and the killing intent was obvious.

Lan Xuan Yi stood her ground and asked boldly.

"The kingdom is doing well, and the people are happy. Why must your Highness start a war?"

The Eighth Prince blinked at the question as if he could not understand what Xuan Yi just said.

"Where do you get the confidence to say that the people are happy? Have you seen it with your eyes?" The Eighth Prince's question threw Xuan Yi off. She began to think furiously for an answer and in the end, she could not find one.

"Does your Highness mean to say that, the people are not happy?" Xuan Yi lived in the Imperial Harem the entire time and before that, under the shelter of her loving family. She had never walked the streets of the capital and she dare assumed that the people are living happily?

"This forest is at the edge of the capital. Maybe you can go and see the outside world for yourself before you give this Prince an answer," the Eighth Prince ordered Ling to accompany her out, but she did not stand from her seat.

"My family, I have to inform them that I am well. My bodyguard as well," Xuan Yi furrowed her brows in worry. If her father found out that she went missing, he might not be able to take it well.

"Do not worry, I'll inform the left prime minister of your well-being. It has only been a few hours since I found you, so you have at most two days to give me your answer." The Eighth Prince then dismissed her with a knowing smile.

Lan Xuan Yi was dazed as she walked out of the hut and followed Ling out of the forest. They left from an isolated area and entered the crowds who were walking towards the capital. Lan Xuan Yi, who was sheltered her entire life, looked at the world outside her well for the first time. The living conditions were extremely bad. Beggars littered the streets and the living conditions were extremely filthy. Houses were not as big and decorated as her Lan mansion, hunger could be seen on everyone's faces as they passed the streets. People doing manual labor regardless of their age to earn a few coppers a month, men physically abusing women and children in broad daylight and nobody cares, too busy to live their own pitiful lives. Children lying in the corners of the street, dying from either sexual abuse or of hunger. Xuan Yi wanted to help, her heart went out to everyone she saw, every abuse she encountered, every child but she knows that she cannot help all of them.

Was it all a lie? Was her peaceful world all built up upon the miseries of others? How can she live a good and comfortable life in the Lan mansion while people are dying just outside the capital? This is the first city outside the capital and the conditions are already so bad. What about those further out? Exactly how many people are suffering right now?

Xuan Yi remembered how the Emperor who spends his days having tea with his Imperial Mother and Sisters, playing around with the women in the harem, occasionally looking at reports. Is the Emperor even aware of the suffering his people are enduring outside the capital walls?

When Xuan Yi asked Ling, Ling explained that the Emperor is focusing on the nobles and could not care less for the commoners. He wants the nobles' approval and support because they used to support the Seventh Prince more than him as the next emperor and he wishes that they would stay loyal to him. The Emperor knows that the only way for them to stay loyal was to give them what they wanted. Nobles are rich and have status but that does not mean they do not have the ambition to have more. All the money was spent to entertain the nobles, to bribe them, just so that the Emperor does not lose his supporters.

While the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. It is a vicious cycle and the Emperor does not concern himself with matters regarding the welfare of his common people. He is too busy trying to stabilize his position. That is why when Xuan Yi said that the people are happy, the Eighth Prince told her to see for herself whether the people are truly happy.

After a trip to the outside, Lan Xuan Yi made up her mind. The moment she went back to the secret base inside the mist-shrouded forest, Lan Xuan Yi kneeled in front of the eight Prince and announced her intention.

"From henceforth, daughter of the Lan family, Lan Xuan Yi pledges allegiance to the Eighth Prince and the Seventh Prince."