THIRD PERSON POV
As the royal couple went back to their room, another figure was seething in her own room. Chairs broken, tables turned upside down, vases and tea cups laid on the floor broken, sheets and dresses torn apart. The room was in chaos as if a tornado swept through it. The woman responsible was still tearing things apart wherever she could find, leaving nothing behind. Everyone except her pet was shaking outside her room, wondering when she would stop her tantrum. She shouted and screamed her lungs out until finally, she slumped down on the floor with a crazed look in her eyes. Everything around her a mess, whether they were precious items or not, she didn't care. Hate and anger was filling her up. Her pet slithered towards her, stopped and stayed in front of her.
"My dear mistress. If you have calmed yourself, shall we think through our next plan?" Ling spoke to Hui Lei, not bothering with the thrashed out room.
Hui Lei glared at her pet. She was furious that the Emperor picked that man over her, a woman. Just thinking about him irritates her to the point of wanting to claw the new Empress's eyes out and watch him bleed to death.
'Why? Why!? WHY!? WHY MUST IT BE THAT WORTHLESS MAN!!!' Hui Lei thought to herself.
The one that was supposed to wear that red dress was her. The one that was supposed to sit inside the red sedan and take the Emperor's hand was Her. The one that was supposed to walk and stand beside the Emperor was HER! THE ONE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE EMPRESS ISÂ HER!!
Hui Lei screamed again out of anger while Ling watched his Mistress with glee. Oh, how he wanted this woman. Unfortunately, he can't have her yet. Just a little more push.
"Mistress," Ling called out. Hui Lei looked at him with rage. "If you don't mind, I would like to give you a suggestion on eliminating the Empress."
Hui Lei smirked. "What amazing idea have you come up with my dear pet."
"Let's ask someone to observe the Empress's every action and character. Once that is done, they will have to take his place after the Empress has been secretly kidnapped. The fake Empress is then suddenly poisoned and no antidote was found to save him. During his dying breath, he wants his loyal and trusful best friend to take his place as Empress. You." Ling gave his idea.
Hui Lei smiled in joy at the idea. It was perfect. If the person chosen does well, everything would be perfect. She frowns thinking of who could do it. Then, someone's image popped into her head.
"Ling, I know just the person for the job to impersonate that slut. Then, we will live in pure luxury." She said with a hint of lust.
Ling nodded. "Remember Mistress, every help I give you has its price. Don't forget that-
"That I must pay for it before my dying breath. I know. You told me that everytime you help me. Don't worry. Once I'm Empress, I will pay you with what ever that you wish for. Even though you never told me, but I'll comply with you." Hui Lei said before Ling could finish what he needed to say.
"Of course, Mistress." With that said, Ling slithered back to his bed with a dark smile.
Hui Lei quickly wrote a letter afterwards. She then stood up and went to a hidden door where a shadow guard stood behind it.
"Send this letter to Shan Wei. You would be able to find him deep within the dark forest. If a dangerous animal comes near, just show it this emblem. They would not bother you once they see it." Hui Lei whispered. She handed the sealed letter and a black emblem with a carving on it. "Make sure you send it by tonight. Also, give this emblem to him if he ask for it. If he doesn't, come back and give it to me."
"Yes, Mistress." The shadow guard bow down and left.
Hui Lei went to bed with a good feeling in her heart. 'Now, I will soon be Empress.'
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The day after the celebration, everyone in the Emperor's palace including servants and spies were moving out on their own momentarily. Everyone else was clueless about why and asked those servants of their reasons.
The Emperor and Empress were doing the deed, which was no surprise at first. The real surprise was when the winds picked up, the air around the Emperor's palace started to change, the plants grew, flowers bloom and the surrounding area of the palace was covered in greenery.
The news spread. Everyone in the kingdom now knew that the Emperor and Empress were meant to be. If they weren't, the phenomenon wouldn't be happening. The Ministers couldn't say a word about the Empress now that the phenomenon that has never happened in years actually did happen.
Hui Lei became even more furious when she heard of the news. She wanted to throw another tantrum but Ling managed to calm her and made her think of what is to come if she waited. She needed to calm her heart in order for the plan to work. So, Hui Lei sat in a lotus position and meditated while waiting for her cousin to appear.
At the end of the week, the Emperor and Empress finally came out for the morning court. The ministers and generals could only stare at the beauty that walked in beside the Emperor. They were only snapped back to reality when the Emperor released a deadly aura. As the morning court commences, the royal couple listens to the troubles that had happen during their one-week disappearance. Solutions of the people were being given by the Empress while solutions of the guards and political events were being given by the Emperor. Both were giving their ideas on how to solve the problems of the kingdom.
At the end of the morning court, the Emperor went to his study with General Li while Feng Liqin went back to the enclosed palace to clear up the trees and plants with General Ai. As he made the plants grow somewhere else, Huizhong was watering the plants while ranting about his soon-to-be husband.
Suddenly, a eunuch announced the arrival of Hui Lei. Feng Liqin immediately went to see her since it was unusual for any of the concubines to visit him. He somehow had a bad feeling.
"Concubine Hui. What a surprise to see you here. Please do come in and have some tea." Feng Liqin invited with a smile. He saw no harm on her and put the feeling aside.
"Thank you so much, Your Majesty." Hui Lei smiled her gentlest smile ever. She sat down opposite of Feng Liqin with that same smile and spoke. "I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, Your Majesty."
"Oh, it's alright. I wasn't doing anything much." Said Feng Liqin kindly. "Is there anything that I can do for you, Concubine Hui?"
"Umm. I wanted to invite you to have some snacks and tea at the HuÄ Yuán Pavilion with me and the other concubines. Is that alright with you?"
Feng Liqin showed a worried look. "Oh. Umm, when is it?"
"Tomorrow, Your Majesty."
"If it's tomorrow, I'll give you n answer tomorrow morning. I need to ask His Highness first. He might get worried if I don't tell him."
Hui Lei's smile twitched. She hated that Feng Liqin was being pampered by the Emperor. 'Don't worry, Hui Lei. Be calm. Soon, it will be you that would be pampered and cared for by the Emperor.' Hui Lei reminded herself.
"Of course, Your Highness. I don't mind. I'll tell the other concubines about your answer. I hope to receive a positive answer, Your Highness." Hui Lei then stood up to leave.
"I hope I can give you a positive answer too, Concubine Hui Lei. Have a nice day." Feng Liqin said as they parted ways.
Once the concubine left, Huizhong stepped out from his hiding. He looked at his little brother with a grim face.
"What's wrong, DÃ GÄ?" Feng Liqin asked worriedly.
"I'm not so sure that you should go, Xiao DÃ Di. I feel like something isn't right with that lady." Huizhong thought about Hui Lei. He could somehow see a bad aura coming out of her. He wasn't sure what it meant but he knew that it was dangerous for his Xiao DÃ Di to get close with her.
"I'm sure it was just your imagination, DÃ GÄ." Feng Liqin just chuckled and continued what he was doing.
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At night, after meeting with the other concubines, Hui Lei sat by the window while combing her hair. She had a smile on her face. Ling, her beast, sat by her leg while watching the shadow in the corner.
"So cousin, if you give him this poison, he would slowly be unaware of his surroundings day by day. Once I feel that he is completely unaware of everything around him, I'll kidnap him while my beast will take his place." The shadow man said softly.
"Alright cousin. Thank you for the poison. You owe me a lot after what I've done for you." Hui Lei said while taking the poison with a sinister smile.
"Anything for you, my sweet cousin. Remember that you must spend as much time as possible for the plan to work. Also, make sure that there are people around you. It will make sure that you won't be suspected for his murder in case they investigate."
"Yes, yes. I know. You don't have to remind me. I'll instead remind you that he must be kept alive."
"Of course, cousin. If that's all, I'll take my leave." Hui Lei nodded as an answer.
As the night went on, Hui Lei went to bed with a smile.
Soon. I will be Empress. Soon. I will be the one in the Emperor's eye. Soon. Very soon.