Fated Book 2 : The Crown Prince's Golden Consort

it was a bright summer day the sun was shining the birds were singing the temperature was cool. The day was very pleasant for picnics.

Lu Xiaolian and Zhongshan Huang were seated in the garden having some snacks and fruits while they watched a traveling theatre troupe perform. After a very eventful few months, they were due some downtime.

Lu Xiaolian and Zhongshan Huang was dressed in lighter clothes for the Summer. Thanks to his presumed injury he was exempted from court.

they were seated in a pavilion at the centre of the Manors garden surrounded by beautiful flowers trees and artificial ponds with fishes. the day hurtful started with then feeding the fishes before they walked over to the pavilion and took their seats.

the theatre troupe has been invited to perform so a stage was set as soon as they were seated the theatre troupe began their performance.

the kitchen had preferred unprepared light snacks drinks and some fruits so they were set on the table and as they watched the performance,they eat some snacks and fruits.

when is servant girl from the inner courtyard run over and kneeling at the ground said

"Your highness Your Highness please come there's been an emergency. Madam Xu just attempted to kill herself"

"What how is that possible. Bie Liu send for the doctor" Lu Xiaolian said worried.

Xu Mingzhe had been silent for a while and now she commits suicide there was more to this than meets the eye but for the meantime she had to save her life.

It wouldn't be good for her reputation and that of the royal family if Xu Mingzhe succeeded in commiting suicide. It would once again put the royal family in a bad light and pained her as a cruel main wife. .

'No this won't do Xu Mingzhe had to be kept alive and at peak health' Lu Xiaolian thought as she gently walked over to the Xu Mingzhe courtyard. Due to her current condition she had to be very careful not to disturb the foetus so as to avoid having a miscarriage.

"Your highness" the maids chorused as Lu Xiaolian walked into the room.

The imperial doctor had finished the acupuncture treatment and was packing up his acupuncture pin set when Lu Xiaolian walked in followed by her two personal maid servant.

The maids greetings drew his attention to her arrival. He was about to say his greetings when she raised her hands to stop him and walked closer to stand next to him.

"How is she doctor" she said facing Xu Mingzhe who was unconcious.

She looked very pale lying on there. The was no sign of the proud beautiful eldest daughter of the prime minister in her place was a pale haggard ghost of her old self.

It was expected that Xu Mingzhe wouldn't easily get use of her present situation but this change was much drastic than she thought.

it was as if the life had drained away from her. Xu Mingzhe was far too proud to resort to suicide. No there was a lot more to this than was clear. Lu Xiaolian took not to have Yao Yao look into this.

"She's now stablebYour highness. it's a good thing that she was discovered on time any longer and her situation would have been much more worse. I have already written a prescription, she just took a dose

She will be unconcious for some time but when she wakes up she has to be fed to replenish her strength. Start with some more liquid food and go further from then" The Imperial doctor said closing his medical bag.

"Thanks Doctor Zhu. Steward Liu please see the doctor off " Lu Xiaolian ordered.

"Yes your highness" Steward Hu said and escort the doctor away.

"Yao Yao have these servants sent over to the workhouse and have a few more sensible maids sent over" Lu Xiaolian said looking passed the cowering maids kneeling by the side until she got to Xu Mingzhe's personal maid Xu Min who stood by the side.

"Xu Min " Lu Xiaolian said sharply.

"Yes your highness".Xu Min, Xu Mingzhe personal maid answered in a low shaky voice.

"How could you let this happen, do you not know your responsibility" Lu Xiaolian said berating her angrily.

"I'm sorry your highness. I failed to perform my duties, I deserve to be punished" Xu Min knelt quickly her knee hitting the ground hard.

"Yes you do. how to you serve your mistress. How could such a thing could happen at your watch that it would be a second rank servant that reported the matter to me" Lu Xiaolian said eyes narrowed looking down at her.

"your highness I was wrong" she cried out loudly.

"foolish You had better take better care of your mistress is else...." Lu Xiaolian said.

"Yes your highness" Xu Min said tearfully.

"I want madam Xu very healthy. I don't care if you have to tie her up to keep her alive. I had better not get any reports saying otherwise" She said looking down at Xu Min and tye two remaining second rank servant.

"Bie Liu let's go" she said and walked away.

She had just returned back to her room when she was informed that the Prime Minister and Madam Xu had paid them a visit.

"What ! that's way too quickly" she said seeing forward her hands clenched tight.

"Mistress is right, the prime Minister's visit is too quick. Almost as if all this was planned, now that I think of it the maid that reported this seemed a bit strange. She didn't look familiar at all, I was in charge of picking out the maid for the cold courtyard and I don't remember seeing her face" Bie Liu said.

"have the guards secretly detain the maid and question her. I want to get to the end of this" Lu Xiaolian said eyes Sharp. The Xu family were once again up to their old tricks.

"Yes Mistress" Yao Yao said and quickly left the room.

"Bie Liu help me undress I need to get some rest all this walking has gotten me tired" Lu Xiaolian said taking a seat in front of the dressing mirror.