Chapter 22
1480 Words
Kana spent most of his time inside his own courtyard, his mind keeps on thinking about Prince Sunwoo and he felt like he's turning crazy.
He can't stop himself from worrying, gladly his shadow guards always find ways to make him happy.
A sound of a flapping wings was heard on his window.
"Moon!" Kana immediately opened the window and there he saw the owl messenger.
He get the folded letter in his leg, and shove some treats in his mouth.
"Are you tired little Moon? Why don't you rest huh?"
Kana get a large cage that Prince Sunwoo provided for Moon.
The bird hop inside, Kana felt pity on the poor creature. He close the Cage and put it inside his room, leaving the bird resting.
Then he open the letter in all excitement.
"My Sunflower, how are you my love? We are doing fine here. My father sends us here for more serious reason, we will help the Yuan Prince, that's all for now. Don't do anything that can cause you misfortune. Stay in your Pavilion until I come back."
Love, Sunwoo."
Kana creases his forehead. What's happening in the borders?
He knew that it was far from the capital and he can't just tell his guards to go there and spy. He can't do that.
Kana pace back and forth and prepare a letter, he will send it once the bird had proper rest.
"My Sun, please don't worry about me, you know that I can handle myself well, but I found something suspicious and you can't stop me from looking on it, it hit my interest, nevertheless, I will stay in my own courtyard.. Drinking tea. I'll prepare something when you comeback.
?
Yun came without being told.
"What is it?"
"I found out that the Emperor is very weak, looks like he's just waiting for his death, and the Empress was the one giving his medicine... I also thought that someone change the vial. This is the real one." Yoongi handed Kana another small bottle.
He sniff it, and it is medicine.
"So someone wanted him dead,"
"Yes, Your Grace."
Kana sigh loudly.
"We can't do something now, Prince Sunwoo told me to stay in my courtyard, Continue to look after Consort Pleng."
Yun disappeared and V, came after him.
"Your Grace."
"Report."
"I eavesdrop on Consort Mia's palace. She is planning to kill the Emperor."
Planning? Kana rubbed his nape. So the evil Consort did not carry out her plan yet someone did it for her.
"I heard that they will do it, after a week." V added.
Kana flick his fingers and the rest of his shadow guards appear.
"RM and V, go to the borders now. If the Emperor will die, the Princes will be called to comeback! And if that's the plan of Consort Mia, an assassination is possible! We must move before them. Take care.
RM, bring some medicines with you, and V, take this to his highness." Kana give him a sealed letter.
"Yes,Your Grace."
"Seok, you'll replace V on spying at Consort Mia, and Jeon and the rest of you, collect some herbs, I will make an antidote."
Poison is the best weapon at this Era, even the arrows used in battles are poisoned. He should atleast be ready.
They don't exactly know when the real enemy will attack.
***
In the borders, Yuan Special Armies and Jong Empire troops fight against the current evil Emperor of Yuan.
Prince Jiwon is thankful that they helped him along with the Armies of Silla.
The sound of sword clanging against each other, swooshing poisoned arrows, gushing bloods and screams of the fallen soldiers filled the entire border of Yuan-Siam, Yuan-Silla intersections.
It's been a week, they will only rest once the enemy retreats, tends to the wounds and sleep for a bit, then after the enemies will attack, again they're back in camouflage.
They are currently resting when Moon came, carrying a message from Khlui.
Prince Sunwoo felt excited he thought it was from Kana but he just get disappointed.
"Your Highness, the Emperor of Jong Dynasty.. Died. And the Empress is currently under observation for committing a crime of killing him by poisoning him, evidences has been found and it looks like the Empress is not in a good shape. Please come back Your Highness."
Prince Sunwoo called his shadow guards and Commander Yin, the brother of Kana went back with them.
Prince Haii and Prince Tong came along with them as well.
Someone framed his mother? Images of Consort Mia filled his mind. They will pay!
A woman wearing a black veil was talking to a group of bandits.
"Make sure to hit each of the Princes to avoid further accusations and to mislead the assassination for a plain threat, but make sure that there's no poison in the arrow that will hit my son. Or I will kill you all with my bare hands, remember You must kill the two Princes, don't even leave anyone alive except for my son."
"Yes, Your Grace."
This is definitely the most beautiful day of her life.
***
Loud sound of gong filled the whole Empire that wakes Kana in his deep sleep.
Sheen came rushing in his room.
"Your Grace! That sound.. Someone from the Royal family... Died." She said in a quivering voice.
Kana felt a sudden fear crept up in his system.
"What?!" he abruptly got up, Sheen handed him his robe and they get out in the courtyard.
'Please be safe, Sunwoo.' His mind keeps on repeating this like an endless mantra.
They waited there for the announcement until a Eunuch came holding a letter looking like an edict from the inner court.
Kana opened it with shaking hands.
"The son of heavens, Emperor Jong already pass away. Everyone is requested to attend his funeral."
Kana somewhat felt relief that it wasn't Sunwoo but felt sad for the Emperor who died in the hands of cruel people.
Kana glance at the antidotes he prepared.
He didn't even had the chance to give it to him but he knows that he is already late. If the Emperor consumed too much poison no matter how strong the antidotes, it won't have any effect.
Sheen helps her master prepare for the funeral.
Kana was in a deep thought and he realized something.
"Sheen, call Lili and the rest of the servants to tidy up everything. Tell Jeon to hide all the antidotes I made and the remaining herbs to their usual hideout, some people from the Bureau of Investigation might come to inspect all the pavilions. Someone is behind this and I don't want fall on their traps. Now! Quick!"
Kana pace back and forth,
He remembered what Yun said.
"This came from the Imperial Academy of Medicine I saw a servant burying them at the back of the Sunflower Palace, I took one and wash it to see what's inside but the smell wasn't even removed by running water."
The Empress is in danger!
Kana put on his black outer robe and run out of the door but he is meet by men wearing red in their foreheads.
The Shadow guards of Sunwoo!
"What happened?" Kana ask in daze.
The event went on so fast.
"The Empress is facing trial and no one is allowed to see her." Min said.
"But she's framed up!" Kana retorted.
"His Highness Prince Sunwoo ordered us to keep you here safe in your own courtyard until the investigation is done. They are on their way here."
Kana look at the empty cage of Moon.
They use the bird for a message to the borders.
"Who's with Sunwoo? Why did you left him! Something might happen to him while travelling back here! Quick! Fetch him now!" Kana frantically said while pacing back and forth.
"The rest of us are with him Your Grace. No need to fret."
Madame Yoon came and calm him down, and behind her was soldiers assigned by his father to guard their home.
"Kana'er, I came here to attend the funeral but the Palace is close, and I was send here instead, my servant send me a message that our Manor was under thorough investigation about what happened to the Emperor, why we are involved? The whole time your father and brother was with the princes in the borders." Madame Yoon massage her forehead.
Looks like having Kana in the Palace brings problems to their peaceful home.
"What mother? They did that?" Kana ask while looking around the servant clearing his courtyard.
"Yes, they bought some letter coming from the Bureau of Investigation. I can't say no for that so I let them be. They won't find anything on our home."
So the real perpetrator was like forming a spider web, and they are all trap at the same time!
- Writer
