"Yes, it seems, one of the inspectors was paid to manipulate the budget of miners. They had taken him under investigation, but I doubt he would speak as his hands were greased well."
The mimicking tailor who used to fake Feng family's instruction was going to the brothel tonight, as the young eunuch of princess surveyed, the man had lustful desires. If the rest of those they arrested wouldn't speak, this one would, if they put a knife on his precious shaft. He loved that part, didn't he?
"Chao, if we faced the thieves, make sure you leave no one alive, I won't risk on the witch's line in no cause," bringing his hand up, his eyes rolled on him, "Because of this I am limited to feed my heart but I want to see them soaking in their blood. This is not something I spare with mercy."
Chao bowed his head, not so many days remained.
"Hey, you wild fox, I brought you food." It was master Qin who was cheerfully laughing after being hired as the princess librarian.
"Go to him, he had discovered so many things since morning."
The old eunuch disappeared after being hired, he went to bring his belongings, but the prince was confident that he had riddles in his sleeves
Chao went outside and kept the small window open, the prince relaxed when the flattering wings made his eyelids whir up.
The was his white eagle that entered and sat on the floor. Why did it come back this soon? Standing up, water dribbled down his body, his long black straight hair covered his back. Getting closer to the bird, he saw the covered scroll on her claw. It was bigger than the rest he had received, but the eagle head carving was saying that notice had come from his father.
His back chilled, and he didn't feel good taking out the paper from its golden case which was covered by a leather parchment. His heart was burning inside, could it be related to his mother? Was she… was she dead… despite everything she did to him, still he considered her as a huge and strong mountain behind his back.
The bones of his jaw line tightened as he gritted his teeth. His larynx bulged on his neck as he tried to suppress the pain in his heart.
His fingers trembled when he unrolled the string, then took away the parchment and the case shimmered, opening it, the black rolled paper fell on his palm. Time stopped right away. He hardly could breathe, the environment turned black around him.
The words were written in golden, it was his mother's handwriting, possibly the last ones.
"It was a cold winter night when I felt the pain in my belly. Your father was at war with Mei Kingdome.
I was giving birth to my son when the assassins sent by enemy surged into the winter castle. My father, the prime minister of Di, the man of science held a sword in his hand to protect his daughter and the grandchild that was his only wish, an heir to the throne he spent his life on.
I gave birth to my child, the heir to the throne but in the next hours, I faced my father's lifeless body in the snow. Right after that, arrived the news of cease fire. But the fire inside my heart never vanished.
Heavens couldn't heal and turn the burning hell off inside me, the moment my young brother was slew beside him. The passing wind was lashing me as if a blade cutting me off, making me bleed with every stroke that took their lives.
I gave birth to a son who they protected but the child was softhearted. He was crying when he first met blood. The son who was born in the blood of scarification was as soft as flower petals.
Seeing him like that pricked my heart, imagining him also be drowned in his blood when the Spring blossoms were falling was tearing my heart to pieces. And watching his enemies and rivals who were feasting above his head. Drinking and pleasuring their victory.
This son exactly looked like his weakling mother. But that woman was burned and her ash was gone with the wind.
I took hard on my son, letting every piece of my heart melt while lashing him, taking life from my soul I gave strength to my son. To make him a strong man, to make him the King he must be.
It is my punishment not to see you in the last moments I live in this world. My last wish as your mother is that you come back when I am gone. I want you to marry your cousin and make your place constant with the tie of power.
You must know that you were all I had in my life, the only reason I kept breathing, I let my heart resist. Fight for what belongs to you, fight for those whom their blood poured to make your rise possible."
Wu Xiuying closed his eyes, the paper wrinkled among his curling fingers. The reason behind her toughness, behind the lashes that let traces on his back, it was all this land's guilt. The land that he was cursed to stay in.
"Mother, I won't disappoint you." Those words brought glows in his eyes which came with a fury. With this fact, he would never let this land live in peace, if it was a chance to avenge the losses, he wouldn't refrain from it.
'Mother you held this bitter story in your heart, I will make sure your father will rest in peace, leave this world in peace, mother.'
He stood up, turning to his eagle said, "Dongji, you must take something to my mother." He paused, "If she is still alive."
Tearing his white bathrobe, he brought up his thumb and dove his fang into his own flesh, and blood popped out. Drawing his finger on the thin textile, he put it inside the case and wrapped it over the eagle's claw.
"She will know what this means, her wish will be fulfilled."
The bird's wings expanded and a second later, it wasn't there. He knew it was impossible to trust this land. For having Xin province and the interests of gold mines, they had killed his mother's whole family.
They caused deadly scrapes on her heart. He wouldn't forgive this, it wasn't important if how stupidly his heart was beating for the princess, emotions could change, could be slaughtered, it didn't matter if it could torment him; they could veer into poison and sharpen cutters to sever flesh; he would fulfill this wish, he would drag this land into wailing and misery.