Love In The Forbidden City (Completed)

Chapter XVII - Fourteen's Real Nature (Revised)

I was relieved that Ice Face managed to control his temper and simply walked away without starting a fight. The last thing that I wanted to see was him bleeding again.

The Eighth Bei'Le approached me. "Go back. If you do not love yourself, at least think of Ruo Lan. Her body is already weak and now you still want to burden her with your obstinacy."

I turned my face away and ignored him. I didn't need his sympathy right now.

"Fine! Fourteenth Brother, let us go."

"Eighth Brother, please head home first. I have something to talk to her about," One Sided said.

Talk to me? Is he going to mock me with his opinionated perspectives again? Can't he just let me go and let me endure my punishment alone? I thought helplessly. I really didn't want him to stay. The Eighth Bei'Le stared at us before walking away. To my surprise, One Sided squatted in front of me and took something out of his pocket. It was a small parcel tied with a pink scarf. With a warm smile, he placed it on my palm. Gingerly, I untied the scarf and saw some Lotus Cookies. Drooling, I wolfed down the sweets and drank the rainwater to quench my thirst.

One Sided grinned in a solemn way. "Ruo Xi, is it worthy for you to do so?"

"If it happens to you or the Tenth Prince, I would've done the same thing. Though we always quarrel, we are still best friends no matter what."

"I cannot let you undertake this misery alone. I will go to reason with Father now."

Before I could stop him, he dashed to the direction of the emperor's chamber. I cried out behind him but the thunder muffled my voice. Feeling helpless, I looked up. The sky above me spun like a roulette wheel. The rain didn't stop for the whole night. I smirked. Even Gods didn't want to spare me with their mercies, what could the princes do?

Staring at the grey sky, I recited a poem.

Storm blows past the graceful leaves,

Robustly it cheers, howlers, and thunders.

Water dribbles from the eaves,

In my heart, the sorrow stays and lingers.

In loneliness, the shack sighs,

In grief, the broken window and roof cry.

Old ale I gobble in tears,

to cherish the memory I hold dear.

To freedom, I surrender,

Watching the thick red candles grow slender.

Farewell, Die Hard Thirteen. Perhaps we would never meet again. My vision blackened and alas, my immune system gave way to Mother Nature's torture. When I woke up, I was shocked to find myself lying on my warm bed. Yu Tan exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Oh Sister Ruo Xi, you have finally wake up. You had passed out for three days."

"Help me up. I need to go back and kneel at the Royal Garden."

"You do not have to do that anymore, sister. I heard that on the night you collapsed, the Fourteenth Prince argued with the emperor. He was punished to kneel under the rain as well. The other princes wanted to plead for the emperor's forgiveness and knelt with him. In the end, the emperor had no choice but to forgive them, and you too. The emperor had even agreed to allow Miss Lv Wu to become the Thirteenth Prince's maidservant."

"Fourteenth Prince..." He kept his promise. I smiled feebly to myself. "Is he alright?"

"Do not worry. He is a stout man. He just caught light flu. Come, drink this medicine."