Chapter 623 - Blackmailing
"Brother Nianzu, I think I made a mistake," Xue Yu-Yan said and started to cry. Nianzu was perplexed to hear her statement.
"What happened, Sister Xue? Stop crying first and then calmly tell me. Sit here," Nianzu told her and gestured to her towards the round stool carved in the pavilion. Xue wiped the tears from her cheeks and sat on the stool while Nianzu sat on the other one.
Nianzu observed that Xue Yu-Yan's hands were trembling in fear and she was unable to speak anything.
"Sister Xue, you can tell me. What are you scared of?" He asked her.
Xue Yu-Yan lifted her eyes to peer at him. "Brother Nianzu, when I was with the Former Empress in her plans, I helped her with many things. I even took help from my father's loyal bodyguard and shared the map of the Palace with him. Five days ago, I saw him in the Palace and even received a threatening letter from him," Xue Yu-Yan informed him while stuttering.
"A threatening letter? What's written in that? Did Sister Xue tell Brother Jian?" Nianzu asked.
Xue Yu-Yan shook her head. "He is resting. Also, I-I cannot tell Jian Ge. That man might kill him. Also, the Emperor will not spare m-me. What if he is overhearing our conversation?" She suddenly got scared and stood up from the stool. She looked around and looked down from the pavilion to make sure there was no one around.
Nianzu told her to calm down. "It's not easy to come here, Sister Xue," He stated and solaced her. Xue Yu-Yan's breathing turned heavy and she started to panic. She fainted but Nianzu caught her. "Sister Xue! Sister Xue!" He patted her cheeks. He shouted for the Palace maids when a few came running there.
"Take the Princess to her chamber. Call the Royal Physician," Nianzu commanded them. One of them went to Jian Guozhi's chamber to inform him.
Jian Guozhi, who had just woken up when was informed about Xue Yu-Yan, rushed to her chamber. He went towards the bed and sat beside Xue Yu-Yan.
"Your Highness, the Princess is absolutely fine. She fainted because of not taking her meals and not drinking enough water," the Royal Physician informed Jian Guozhi, who glared at the servants present in the chamber.
"Did you not take care of the Princess? Do you all have death wishes?" He shouted at them. The maidservants got on their knees and begged for forgiveness.
"Zi Yi, answer me! Why did you not take care of the Princess? Why did she skip her meals?" He questioned her. Nianzu glanced at her with skepticism.
"Forgive me, Your Highness," Zi Yi stated.
"Give her fifty floggings," Jian Guozhi announced the punishment for her. The other maidservants got scared, thinking what kind of punishment they would get.
"Brother Jian, do not get angry. Princess Xue is fine as per the Royal Physician," Nianzu intervened and tried to pacify the anger of Jian Guozhi. He then looked at the Royal Physician.
"The Royal Physician may leave, so may the other servants. Zi Yi shall stay here," Nianzu stated. Jian Guozhi did not stop his Fourth Brother's order as he found the tear marks on Xue Yu-Yan's cheeks. He found it odd and again glared at Zi Yi.
The door was closed. Jian Guozhi got off the bed. "Why was the Princess crying?" He asked.
Zi Yi, who was still on her knees, shook her head. "I do not know, Your Highness," she replied.
"Brother Jian, there is something I would like to tell you. Sister Xue and I, were conversing in the Eastern Pavilion, and she suddenly fainted," Nianzu informed him. "Zi Yi, go out," he ordered her. Zi Yi stood up and left the chamber.
As soon as she left, Jian Guozhi asked Nianzu about the reason why Xue Yu-Yan cried.
"Someone is blackmailing, Sister Xue. She suddenly panicked and then fainted," Nianzu stated.
"What? Why didn't she tell me? What did she tell you, Brother Nianzu?" He asked with a confused and worried expression.
"She said you were sleeping. Also, she was scared that the person might kill you if she told you. She would not have told me if I had not insisted. Also, she was so terrified that she fainted," Nianzu stated.
"Why would someone blackmail her?" Jian Guozhi was bewildered to hear that.
"She told me that the bodyguard of her late father is doing that. He has sent a letter to her. Also, she shared the map of the Palace with him, earlier when she was in the plans of the former Empress," Nianzu pronounced. Jian Guozhi started to search for the letter in the chamber.
"Brother Jian, let's wait for Sister Xue to wake up. Talk to her. Also, whatever she tells you, Brother Jian must tell Brother Sheng. If the map of the Palace is shared, then it might be dangerous," asserted Nianzu with a menacing expression.
"But the bodyguard of her father was beheaded too," Jian Guozhi answered.
"Pardon?" Nianzu furrowed his brows.
"Yes. Who could blackmail her? I think it's someone else, who was close to him. He might want something from Xue. I will look into it and then discuss it with Brother Sheng and you," proclaimed Jian Guozhi.
Nianzu agreed with him and took his leave.
Jian Guozhi kept searching in the chamber for the letter. He searched the floor desk and finally found it. He unfolded it and started to read it. "He warned her to not tell me. Why? Xue can never hide things from me, yet he told her to," Jian Guozhi murmured. He clutched the paper and called in Zi Yi, who immediately walked in.
"Tell me what Xue did for a week? Did someone from her home come to meet her?" Jian Guozhi asked.
"No, Your Highness. However, a week ago, her highness went to her home to meet her mother. She did not allow me or anyone to accompany her," stated Zi Yi.
"You have forgotten your training, haven't you? You should follow your master or mistress all the time.. Also, from now on my order is supreme for you," Jian Guozhi affirmed.