Rain patters across the darkness and in a split second, daylight is breaking. The early sun breaks through the lingering nighttime fog. The morning had overcast the clouds and rain drenched the twilight.
"I plunged into the chasm of eternity and forgetfulness." The internal voice continually knocked Anchhi as consciousness resided within her, saying, "As I struggle back, I wonder if I am the same being the heaven previously used to recognize." The first look of dawn caressed her face, making her look even more radiant.
The room was fragrantly filled with the incense burner's invigorating scent. She took a deep breath, like if her wounds had found their way back home.
Her ruby eyes were slowly opened back to grasp the reality. Blurry visions, skeptical mind and tangled thoughts engulfed her as soon as she got her cognizance back.
"Young Miss, you have retrieved your senses." As Anchhi swept her gaze across the room, she was warmly greeted by Shoumen.
In the meantime, Crown Prince Hui Jing entered the chamber with his heavy footsteps and heaviness on his heart, anticipating for a better today.
"Greetings, Your Highness." He was trailed by the Royal Physician behind him.
When his gaze got to witness the fragile girl on bed, reinstate her consciousness, Hui Jing hastened his steps.
Considerate of her situation, he sat next to Anchhi and affectionately stroked her forehead.
"Jia'er, You are awake!"
She was awoken after whopping three days!
On the other hand, Anchhi was attempting to discern reality as she relived her most terrifying deathbed experience. It did, however, strangely calm her racing heart to have Hui Jing by her side. A teardrop slipped past her eyes.
Breaking the eye contact, Hui Jing turned to look at the Royal physician. "How was her poison detoxed? "
Before replying, the royal physician examined Anchhi's nerves then he bowed his head. "Your Highness, I have no idea. Young Miss may have taken some miracle medication."
Unsatisfied with his response, Hui Jing again turned to his right, facing Shoumen, expecting a direct reply from her. "Perhaps, you may be aware of something, Shoumen?"
Shoumen kowtowed before replying, "Your Highness, I don't know either. She was only awake this morning."
"It's good that she's awake." With a brief sigh, Hui Jing gazed Anchhi with his longing eyes.
"Court lady, send someone to bring nurturing supplements to help Jia'er for her speedy recovery."
"Yes, Your Imperial Highness."
"I seek for privacy with Jia'er." He motioned for everyone in the room to exit with a wave.
"Yes, Your Highness." In a blink of an eye, the chamber was emptied, leaving Hui Jing and Anchhi alone.
The memories of that night flooded and severely hit Anchhi's nerves. Turmoil washed over her and a numbing emotion filled her heart. Beads of sweat dampened her forehead, as she struggled to swallow the lump formed on her throat.
"W-Where is...Fourth b-brother? How-w is he d-doing?" Anchhi struggled to sit upright, wanting to get out of the bed.
"He is doing fine, Jia'er. Don't rush. You need to rest." With an effort to soothe her down, Hui Jing safely wrapped Anchhi around his warm embrace. He tenderly stroked her hair and said, "You are secure...he is safe."
Hui Jing yanked her out of his grasp and held Anchhi's cherry countenance. She sighed heavily, letting her head drop. "All of this was brought by me. They would have released him if I wasn't so obstinate in wanting to return."
"Nobody would have known about fourth brother's situation, if it weren't for you. You aren't at fault, Jia'er." He gently wiped Anchhi's tears like-pearls with his affable thumbs.
Soon, their privacy was distorted by the Head Eunuch and some menservants of the Chang Yuan Palace, who came with an Imperial Edict.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"You may rise." Hui Jing casted a sideways glance.
"As Fei Jia has restored her consciousness, she is expected to make her presence in the Royal court as soon as possible." The Head Eunuch opened the scroll and recited it loudly.
Hui Jing abruptly stood up. "A sheer absurdity!" He murmured. "She has just restored her self and Emperor Father already expects her to visit him?" His hands were crawled up to form a fist. Despite his calm demeanor, he couldn't hide his vexation.
"Whoever dares to defy my order, that individual should be ready to face my wrath." The Head Eunuch completed reciting the Edict with a threatening remark of the Emperor.
Anchhi's brows were flinched. Baffled and unaware would be the words that best suited her situation at that moment. Whatever the matter was, she thought of obeying the royal order regardless of her weak situation at that moment. "I, Fei Jia shall abide by his order."
******
In the Imperial Clan Court,
Surrounded by buzzing whispers and gossips, Anchhi was standing with her back straight, amidst the crowd. In a plain ruqun with her hair cascaded down and delicate skin still pale, but eyes glinting the flame of boldness.
She had the courage to face the Emperor despite of the frailty that surmounted her fragile body.
The old farts's eyes gawked at her, with a disgusting sight. An unsettling feeling aroused inside her heart.
"Silence." One word from the emperor and the court had a pin drop silence.
Meanwhile, "Your Majesty, this servant has a matter to report." A guard informed, bowing before Gua Huang.
He had dragged a fragile maidservant, who was kneeled down only to get confronted in front of the people, gathering inside the court.
"Say it." The Emperor hummed.
Standing by the side of that maid, Anchhi squeezed her eyes to recognize that maid and to her surprise, she found Shoumen, her own handmaid. "Shoumen, why are you here?" Considerate Anchhi, snapped in fret.
To her dismay, Shoumen wasn't there to save her, rather she was there to push Anchhi in the abyss of betrayal.