Emperor Tian Ke had successfully untied his sash. Feng Mian could tell by the looks in his eyes that he was no longer lucid and immediately panicked inside.
Even worse, 555 scanned the doors earlier and found that they had been locked from the outside
Feng Mian: "MAYDAY! MAYDAY! ABORT MISSION! 555!!!!!!"
System 555: "Shit! You hold on a second Xiao Mian! Let me see if there's anything in the system store that could help!"
555 quickly logged off.
Feng Mian cried invisible tears, praying that 555 would be quick.
The emperor was already advancing, albeit wobbly, towards her. He sensed, instinctively, the coldness radiating from the skin of another human being.
Tian Ke was perspiring and panting. The lapels of his front robe had come undone at some point; messily hanging by his shoulders to reveal a broad bronze chest.
Feng Mian wasn't in a better state of mind, but she knew to retreat from the dangers of the approaching figure. She reached out for the ivory wine jug on the table as she shuffled away.
"You-... ughhh... Stay put for zhen!" The emperor ordered sluggishly. His headache made him rest his head against the palm of his hand. The fire inside of him had become intolerably unbearable. He was no longer in feeling just discomforted, he was in pain.
Feng Mian smashed the wine jug against one of the columns inside the room, pointing the sharp end towards him in warning. She tried setting herself steady even though she was woozy.
"YAH! Beat it! Zoukai!"
"Kkeojyeo!"
"Adios!"
"Belah lah!"
Her hand was waved frantically as if it could deter him from coming closer.
Li mortacci tua!
The emperor was deaf to her calls and advanced even more quickly. They were now moving in circles, both somehow managing to manoeuvre around without hitting any of the furniture. She snapped her fingers successively to get his attention.
"HEY! HEY! SNAP OUT OF IT!" Feng Mian bit her lips.
"What language do you understand!?"
"Yo no hablo Espanyol? English?"
She felt the room spin and saw three Tai Kes in front of her.
Emperor Tai Ke had gotten hold of her shoulders in an instant. He brought her down with the force of his weight and Feng Mian's knees buckled. She quickly intercepted his body that was about to fall unto hers, pushing the soles of her feet against his chest.
They were now in a deadlock.
"POLICE! CIA! FBI!"
"OHAYO! GOMENASAI! OMMMMAAAAAA!!!!"
555 finally logged back on.
"Xiao Mian! Xiao Mian! I bought you a knockout drug for 300 points! It's the cheapest thing in the store!"
"GIVE IT QUICK!"
Without looking at the parcel in her hands, she threw it directly to Emperor Tai Ke's face.
After being hit, his eyes blinked lethargically, gaining momentary clarity before his whole body fell into a stupor. His body hit the floor with a thud.
555 breathed a sigh of relief. 'Phew! Almost didn't make it!'
Feng Mian crudely shoved the emperor away.
Her body was still feverish but luckily the drug seemed to affect the men more than women. Feng Mian staggered to her feet.
She knew, any moment now, Concubine Zhou will probably come to watch raw rice become cooked rice.
Her beloved husband slept with her favoured maid. What a great excuse to distance herself from the emperor!
Even if nothing had happened, a rumour goes in one ear and out many mouths. It doesn't matter what's done and what's not done, her reputation would be crushed to smithereens. 'Truly a wicked plan!'
Feng Mian slowly made it to the front door.
System 555 reminded her, "The door's locked, host.'
She made a U-turn and saw a chair that she could possibly hoist.
The Wind made a 'swooshing' sound as an antique chair flew across the room and smashed the door open. Pieces of splintered wood littered the inside and outside of the chamber.
System 555: "...." 'Looks like its host was truly mad this time.'
By the time Concubine Zhou lead people to come over, they were greeted by the sight of a broken door and an upside-down chair.
*********************
555 followed its' silent host as she walked on aimlessly for 300 meters.
Feng Mian, in fact, wasn't walking aimlessly at all. She was heading towards the direction of one of the ponds in the palace.
It was early spring but the cold wind had done little to alleviate the discomfort from her body. She stared at the cold waters of the pond absentmindedly.
"AH!" System 555 shouted in surprise.
Its' host had jumped into the waters without warning.
The temperature of the water chilled her to the bones, but she felt the heat slowly distinguishing from her belly. Her long hair had become untangled from its tight bun, and they danced like fronds of seaweed in the dark abyss of water.
She submerged herself a while longer until she became clear-headed. But the more clear-headed she became, the angrier she felt. And that anger soon became disappointment. And disappointment turned into sadness.
Concubine Zhou and her, although not deliberate, have gone through thick and thin together for many years. Even cats will develop affection for humans once they've stayed together long enough. Let alone her, this stranded transmigrator. As soon as she opened her eyes, Concubine Zhou was the first person she saw.
Her heart felt as if it was poked by a swarm of bees. This was the feeling of betrayal.
She swam up. Her hands grabbed onto the rock on the pond's ledge and her head penetrated the surface first.
In her concentration, she didn't see a palace night guard making his rounds. She got ready to haul herself up.
"AHHHHHHH!!! A WATER GHOST!" The night guard dropped his lantern and fled with his tail between his legs.
System 555: "AHHH?? WHERE? WHERE'S THE GHOST?!"
Feng Mian: "...."
Feng Mian lifted herself up on the edge of the pond in one smooth motion. She squeezed her dress a few times to get rid of some of the excess moisture.
Her sigh fogged the air and evaporated into the sky.
Picking up the lantern that was left on the ground, she made her way back to the main courtyard of the Penglai Palace.