Not Your Typical Villianess

Chapter 185 – Wild Ambitions 1

The main courtyard, Duke Wu's mansion.

Zhu Fengyin sat at her dressing table while her newly promoted maid Xiaonuo ran a fishbone shaped comb through her hair. She had promoted Xiaonuo a few days ago because of how well she handled the situation when she nearly miscarried her child. She didn't mind that Xiaonuo wasn't trained as a lady's maid, with some directions Xiaonuo can become a capable Lady's maid.

As Xiaonuo brushed out Zhu Fengyin's hair and began styling her hair into a loose braid, Aunt He rushed into the room. Zhu Fengyin opened her eyelids and glanced at the panting older female, "be careful not to gall aunt. wat is the matter, Aunt He, why are you in such a hurry."

Aunt He bent forward, her hands resting just above her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Zhu Fengyin glanced at her and smiled, in the weeks they had stayed together. One thing she had picked up after getting to know this first rank Lady's was that Aunt He was such a drama queen. She would put on such an elaborate show just because of one little news.

Once her heartbeat was steady and she was no longer breathing so hard, Aunt He stood. She sighed on seeing, Zhu Fengyin's relaxed expression. To her it was a good sign, according to madam Lu's instruction, she was to observe Zhu Fengyin's mood before relaying the sad news to her. Zhu Fengyin looked calm enough to her, she walked forward and stood by Zhu Fengyin's side. 

She looked down at Xiaonuo's neat braids and sighed, she said in an exhausted tone, "Your handwork is very neat, Xiaonuo. Too bad that it cannot stay, we have to style our madam into something more formal".

Xiaonuo glanced from her fully completed braids at the right half of Zhu Fengyin's hair and the hair completed second half to the right, to Aunt He in confusion. "Formal hairstyle? Are we going out again?"

To which Aunt He nodded and then glanced at their eldest madam in concern. She didn't like to be the bearer of bad news but in this case, they were left with little chance. She bent her knees down a little as she said, "There has been an accident at Minister Zhu's house, madam. A fire broke out and the eldest young master, Zhu Faye perished in the fire. The minister's family is in mourning."

Without raising her gaze, Zhu Fengyin opened her eyes. "Zhu Faye died in a fire? How surprising, I am heavy with child, it is not convenient to run around. I will go pay condolence to madam Zhu tomorrow, prepare a good gift to present. It must not be too flashy, our Faye was so young."

Aunt He watches her expression, eyes wide. She was not expecting such a calm reaction from her madam. Even someone as reserved as their eldest madam would show a little bit more concern. 'I guess our young mistress's suspicion was correct. Eldest madam had something to do with Zhu Faye's death but when we were at the ministers house young master Zhu was still alive.'

Aunt He's impression of Zhu Fengyin increased at this moment. While she wasn't a fan of killing people recklessly, she did not hold it against Zhu Fengyin because Zhu Faye had tried to hurt Zhu Fengyin and her baby a few times. Aunt He nodded and went off to arrange everything and left. 

Zh Fengyin smiled as she watched the older woman leave, "I am a little thirsty, Xiaonuo. Please get me a cold beverage".

"Yes, madam," Xiaonuo replied and retreated. 

Zhu Fengyin waited a few seconds before calling her private guard Chonglin out inside. She had seen him sneak in as she addressed Aunt He. Chnglin must gave something to report, plus she also had some questions for him, "Shouldn't Zhu Faye had died three days from now. How come he was in a fire?"

"The poison, I forced down the young master's throat should have kept him bedridden for three days then finished him off by the fourth day but our spies reported that uncle Lu went in two hours after you left and had a word with the young master. Minister Zhu must have arranged for Zhu Faye to be killed before leaving for Ningzhuo." He took out a letter from his robe and handed it to her. "This was based on to me at the market today by a servant from the minister's courtyard".

Zhu Fengyin took the letter from him, flipped it around and saw her name written in neat letters. It was her father's handwriting, near and bold. It had always amazed her that father wrote like a General. His handwriting was firm, each letter written boldly. She unsealed the letter and unrolled the letter. A small name tag fell out of the letter, Chonglin picked up the name tag and handed it back to her. "Thanks," she said holding on to the name tag and reading through the letter.

****

'Fengyin 

Father wasn't able to protect you as I should have and for that, I must apologise. I have taken care of the rotten egg but I fear that things haven't gotten better. I don't have much time to stay with you in this life but I already made the necessary arrangements. The Sixth Prince plans to rebel, now that things aren't going according to the plans made by Faye. He will be desperate and a desperate man is the most dangerous to be around. I already arranged with General Lu and the Duke but in a situation when our plans fall apart and the Lu family's life is in danger ant word to her highness the Empress to reveal the truth.

One more thing, do not trust the Crown Prince. The apple doesn't fall far away from the tree, his highness's present company will lead to his ruin."

Love

Dad

*****

Zhu Fengyin put the letter into her sleeve together with the name tag. She felt tears roll down her face at the finite way her father spoke, almost like he was going to die. She wiped the tears away with the back of her hands and glanced at her waiting guard.

"Chonglin, was A'Bao also killed in the fire?"

"No, mistress"

"Looks like the heavens is on our side, get him and keep him at Yun'an temple. I need to have a word with him, inform the abbot that we might need to get some men into the capital. Have you heard anything from Liya?"

"Her highness sent word that they would be at the capital in two days."

"Good, once the arrangement is made let me know".

"Yes"

********

Imperial Consort Shi's palace

"Your Highness", the palace maids and eunuchs stationed at his mother's palace chorused as the Sixth Prince walked into his mother's palace. He was surprised to see his mothers maid standing guard at the door. "Why are you here, Nanny. Where is my mother" he asked? His eyes narrowed when he saw her jump and look away immediately. 

She looked very guilty and kept shifting to cover the door with her body, "Where is my mother!" He shouted. His Nanny jumped and walked forward, "your highness, the Imperial consort cannot receive any guest right now because she is asleep. Please come back tomorrow".

He glanced down at the elderly maid that had followed his mother for decades. There was great fear in her eyes, her unsteady gaze said it all. " what aren't you telling me? Why are you here while my mother is inside? Answer me!!

The nanny jumped at his harsh tune and took a step back until she was just a few steps away from the door. When she remained silent, Zhongshan Cheng pushed her aside, pushed the door open and walked into the room. He stopped at the sight in front of him, the smell of blood was thick in the air as his mother knelt in sharp nails. 

"Mother!" He shouted and rushed towards his mother. He knelt beside her, "mother! Why are you like this".

He tried to pull her up but Imperial Consort Shi pushed his hand away, "no! Chang'er, let go! You cannot help me, it was his Majesty that ordered this. If you do this, it can be seen as challenging his authority. Just let me be, it is only for a few hours, he will let me go by night time"/

Zhongshan Cheng tried once more to help his mother up, "this isn't right, why is he doing something like this. Even if grandfather committed treason, he still can not treat you like this. You are the mother of a prince, he should treat you with respect!"

"A'Cheng, his Majesty already gave me face by sending away all my maids and grounding me in here. Do not let your emotions get the best of you, we have to follow our plans to the end. Your grandfather already sacrificed himself for our future. Do not let his sacrifice go to waste", she pulled him closer and whispered, "attack the capital now that all the capable military officials are away from the capital. His majesty got rid of all his shield, now it is only him and the lame Crown Prince. Instead of causing a huge scene here, Attack now and claim your throne. We have the element of surprise, once the old fool and the Empress a taken care of. Northern Wei will be yours to rule".

The Sixth Prince looked at his mother's calm expression and sighed, "what about the Lu Family".

"Don't worry about them, we can get rid of them after you have taken the throne.