The Palace (2)

He smiled looking to her. He got up off his bed walking up to her. Looking down to her, he smiled rubbing her head.

"I want you to be my ears of the palace. I want you to keep rumors and information given to me. Make sure that you tell me with no lie. I am entrusting you to be my ears." He told her, she nodded still quite shocked that he would be asking her.

"I will do my best as the emperor's ears and shall inform you of any information that I find." She said to him as he smiled looking down to her.

"What is your name?"

"My name is Du Chun Hua." The maid answered being the one woman who once worked at the brothel.

Hua Jun Jie had then knocked on the door, the emperor separated from the maid. He backed up, Hua Jun Jie went up to the emperor. Looking to the emperor, he then looked to the maid whom seemed familiar.

The emperor had gotten an interest in a maid. He bowed to the emperor. "Your highness I'll be taking my leave. I have been here for rather a long time."

"Go ahead. I will await for your next visit here. Do bring your wife though. Meeting your family would be generous." He included, Hua Jun Jie repaid his respect as he left. Walking out, he then thought it through as the maid he looked at, reminded him of the dethroned empress when she was younger.

He then knew now why the Emperor specifically chose her. He saw it odd, he decided to investigate further on her background. "Eunuch?" He called the emperor's loyal comrade as he bowed to him.

"What does Jun Jie wish for this servant to do?" He asked.

"I would like you to investigate on that maid. There's something that I cannot seem to let go of." He told the eunuch who left after.

Making his way back to the manor he was greeted by his wife and concubine. "Husband, you are finally home. Why didn't you take us with you to the palace?" His wife, Huai Qing Ge.

"There was no need to take you both. You are pregnant anyway so a pregnant women shouldn't be going around to much." He said leaving both of his wives together.

Going to his office, he looked over his papers, he then remembered Huai Li Qi. Huai Qing Ge had eyes of gold-yellow. He sighed as he didn't love any of his wives. He still could only love Huai Li Qi.

Taking out a pebble jade, it was the only thing to remember of Huai Li Qi and her mother. He held it as Xu Lin had sold hers already. He kept his, he didn't want to sell something that was no longer found or created. His town flourished still by business trades but it didn't flourish as well anymore once the jewelry designers they once had were no longer around.

Their town was once known to be the best but soon fell as both mother and daughter disappeared from the history of their town. Her mother was executed in the town center and her daughter had fled but said to be dead. He had met her not to long, he had ordered his men to search the perimeter again as she could occur soon. He couldn't believe that she had followers that were skilled in swordsmanship. He needed to make sure that they didn't disturb his conversation with her this time. He needed to find where they went.

"Jun Jie!" He heard his father. His office door opened, looking to find his father was looking for him.

"Father, what brings you here?" He looked to his father who sat down but his father pulled him along outside.

"We are going to the new Brothel open. It had amazing decorations and features. Come!" His father dragged him as his wives had no idea about where he was going.

Going off to the brothel, he never saw so many designs of beauty and dances. Courtesans danced around with the music as they served food and drinks to the men.

His father dragged him to a table, they were given a table outside to view the night. "Father you dragged me here for this. I'm married and mother would be very disappointed in you." He told his father who only laughed at his son.

"Jun Jie, your mother always knew I came to these but she doesn't say anything. She respects her husband's choice." He told his son as courtesan were now serving them.

Taking the food and wine from them he was very careful on how much to drink. His father on the other hand was going over, it disgusted him for the actions his father was making. Getting up he then walked out of the area leaving his father at the table as he walked around looking up to the sky. He then turned to see a figure. He looked at the face as it was familiar to Huai Li Qi. He rushed over to see a clearer view when the person started to walk away entering a room.

Following the person he ran, he was hoping that it was Huai Li Qi. He needed to know.