Chapter 4: 3. Visit

Over the next few weeks, Tang Daiyu got used to her schedule. She made friends with another maid that served Princess Ling, An Mei. Never again had she run into Prince Han, and she was slightly saddened.

He was the first person in the palace to actually be kind to me.

Then, one day, as she was walking back from the laundry depot, Tang Daiyu noticed Prince Han. She knew better than to outright approach him, so she kept walking.

When he finally noticed her, he called out, "Oh, Qiao Yue!"

Tang Daiyu looked around, pretending that she hadn't noticed he was there. She finally laid eyes upon him again and let herself give him the briefest of smiles before bowing.

"Your Highness."

"I hope my sister hasn't given you too much trouble after that first night?"

"Just work, but she barely notices me."

He nodded and squinted at her. "You look familiar. Have we met before that night?"

Tang Daiyu froze. Sifting through her memories, she remembered a time when her father brought her along to the palace. She had talked with one of the princes back then about court affairs and the disputes with Heping. Her eyes widened, and she nearly gasped when she realised it.

It was Prince Han! It was him that I had talked to that day.

"Uh, no, I don't think so. I've lived in Chang'an my whole life, but I've never been to the palace before," Tang Daiyu lied.

"Hmm, I could've sworn we'd met before. Oh, well, it was most likely someone else."

Yes, she thought miserably. It was someone else. Someone who wasn't disgraced.

"I'm due back soon. I just finished delivering clothes to the laundry. My Lady will wonder where I've gone."

"Of course, I won't keep you any longer."

Tang Daiyu bowed quickly and walked away. She returned to Princess Ling's residence and cleaned the rooms. When she was done, An Mei walked in.

"Oh, Qiao Yue, good it's you. At first, I was afraid Hong Na would be here."

"Nope, just me. Hong Na is accompanying Princess Ling on a stroll while I'd been cleaning. I've just finished."

"Let's sit outside then. That way we can be quick to greet them when they return."

Tang Daiyu agreed, and they headed outside. The two sat down on the top stair and began to talk. When Princess Ling and Hong Na returned, they quickly stood and greeted them.

"Call for supper," Princess Ling demanded of Tang Daiyu.

She left and headed over to Yongning Hall to ask for a meal to be prepared. On her way back, she once again came across Prince Han.

"It seems we are fated to continually meet," he joked.

"Perhaps," she said ruefully. "Princess Ling has just asked for supper. I should go and tell her that it's been asked for."

"Oh, yes. My sister is quite picky about these things. The poor cooks know all about her specific eating habits."

Tang Daiyu nodded slightly before quietly excusing herself. She returned to Princess Ling's residence and reported back to her. The Fifth Princess waved her away, and Tang Daiyu went with An Mei to go eat their own supper.

~~~

About a year later, Tang Daiyu was massaging Princess Ling's shoulders when one of the Emperor's eunuchs entered the residence. The princess turned to look at him.

"Gao Zhen? What are you doing here? What does my Royal Father want now?"

"He's actually summoned Qiao Yue."

Princess Ling's eyes widened as she turned around to look at Tang Daiyu.

"You?" she asked in utter disbelief. "What does he want with you?"

Tang Daiyu swallowed, uneasy. She left her lady's side and followed Gao Zhen over to the Front Hall. Tang Daiyu noticed Prince Han leaving the hall just as she began to round the corner. He looked startled.

"Qiao Yue? What are you doing here?"

She bowed. "Prince Han, I don't know. The Emperor

wants to see me."

"Well, I won't keep you any longer."

She thanked him and entered the hall. Inside, she knelt before Emperor Jianyuan and kowtowed.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Qiao Yue, do you know why I summoned you here?"

"No, Your Majesty. I hope I haven't done anything wrong."

"No, not yet."

Oh, that's comforting, Tang Daiyu thought sarcastically.

The Emperor waved for everyone to leave. Once it was just down to the two of them, he levelled her with a stare. She flinched. Daring to look up, Tang Daiyu noticed his features soften. A little.

"I received word from Lord Shuo's household concerning your brother, Tang Bao."

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"Yes?" she said eagerly. "What is it, Your Majesty?"

"He caught a fever and is very sick."

Her eyes widened in horror.

"The physician is worried that he won't make it through the night."

She choked on a sob. "Please, Your Majesty. He's still my di di. Let me see him one last time."

"You may go to see your ailing brother, but some of my soldiers will go with you."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Many thanks!" Tang Daiyu cried, and she quickly kowtowed three times.

"Alright, alright. Go."

Tang Daiyu stood up and left with three Imperial guards flanking her. Prince Han caught her outside.

"Qiao Yue, what is it?"

She bit her lip, knowing she was treading a very thin line. "Nothing. Everything's fine."

Tang Daiyu brushed past him and started for the North Gate. Prince Han watched, confused, as the guards accompanied Tang Daiyu out of the palace.

~~~

At Lord Shuo’s residence, Tang Daiyu entered and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Shuo, His Majesty has allowed me to come and see Baobao. Where is he?"

Shuo Zhang bowed back and said, "The physician said that his sickness is contagious. It's best that you don't see him today, Tang Daiyu."

Her eyes nearly flared with fury. "His Majesty might not let me come back. If my brother dies, I could never forgive myself for not being able to say goodbye. It would be unfilial of me."

Shuo Zhang sighed. "Very well. Come with me."

He led her into the residence and over to a side room. Tang Daiyu pushed open the door and walked over to her brother's bedside. Sitting down, she held his hand in hers.

"Baobao?" she murmured.

He weakly turned his head to look at her and blinked. "Elder Sister?"

"Hi, how are you doing?"

He coughed and groaned. "I feel terrible."

Tang Daiyu's eyes filled with sadness. "I wish I could help you. But the Emperor is constantly monitoring my movements."

"Elder Sister, live for us. Avenge us."

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she closed her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Baobao. I'm unfilial. I couldn't protect you."

"Don't blame yourself, Elder Sister."

Tang Daiyu leaned down and embraced her brother.

She murmured, "I won't forget you, Baobao. You, Mother, or Father. We are Tangs; we can't be broken that easily."

She heard him sigh and nod. Tang Daiyu sat back up and watched as the life left her last family member. Then, she broke down, sobbing. Shuo Zhang walked in to see her shoulders heaving with sobs. He gently pulled her from Tang Bao's bedside.

"Tang Daiyu, please, calm down. I understand this is hard. I know what you've gone through is difficult. Please, Tang Daiyu, your family would not want you to bereave yourself this way."

She spun around to face the official. "My brother's dead! I have nothing and no one left! Don't tell me to calm down. You have your family, you have your home!"

Tang Daiyu turned from Shuo Zhang and ran. She flew out of the residence and pushed past the soldiers. They followed her back to the Imperial Palace. She marched into the Front Hall. Luckily, the Emperor was alone.

"Dead! My brother is dead!"

"You impudent woman! Do you have no respect for your Emperor? I could kill you now if I so chose!"

"Then do so!" Tang Daiyu roared back. Her hands clenched tightly into fists. "I have nothing else! Nothing to live for! You made sure of that!"

"You are still an ignorant child! You really know nothing, Tang Daiyu!"

"Announcing, Prince Han!"

Tang Daiyu's head shot up. The Emperor glared at her once before looking beyond her. She quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve and fell to her knees. She kowtowed just as Prince Han walked into the room.

"Qiao Yue? Why are you here? I thought I saw you leaving the palace."

"Pardon me, Prince Han," she said coldly as she stood. "I was just leaving."

Tang Daiyu begrudgingly bowed to the Emperor and bowed to Prince Han before turning and leaving the Front Hall. She returned to Princess Ling's residence and plopped down in a chair, defeated.

Live for us. How can I do that, Baobao? How can I right the wrongs done to our family? How can I bring honour back to the Tang family name?

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