5 The dying tiger and feeding vulture
-Imperial Garden-
The sweet fragrance of roses accompanied Prince Ming as he sat down all by himself, preoccupied by his thoughts. The conversation with Officer Jiang replayed in his mind.
He had told Prince Ming that, though there was no solid evidence, he confirmed that Grand Imperial Princess Shu wasn't involved in the black market case. "Then, who is the real culprit?" he questioned himself.
"Brother Ming, you are here?" Prince Wu walked into the garden with two of his servants carrying a huge scroll.
Prince Ming raised his eyes and straightened his back, "Brother Wu?" He was surprised to see his eldest brother in the garden.
"I have been looking for you everywhere and here you are with your jasmine tea, viewing flowers. I guess the one that bloomed last night wasn't to your liking." Prince Xiwu joked as he referred to the concubine who was sent to Prince Ming's palace.
Prince Ming didn't reply, he instead took another sip, "Come sit," he offered. Prince Xiwu sat down and came closer to his brother. "The Imperial Noble Consort is diligently apologising to you; I heard she sent the finest one to your palace."
"I don't know, I didn't even see her." Prince Ming stated the fact, "I was busy making a schedule for sister Lin." He added.
"For her? Why?" Prince Xiwu asked curiously. "She wants to become a female minister like Princess Lan." Prince Ming answered.
"I heard she punished her," Prince Xiwu said, his lips straightening with seriousness, "I guess I would have never known of this if you had not spread the words."
"How did you know?" Prince Ming knew that his brother was capable of investigating his little tricks. "I just know." Prince Wu replied and then both of them grinned at each other.
"Come, show this painting to Prince Ming." He commanded.
The two servants came forward and unfurled the scroll, revealing a painting of an old tiger awaiting death and a vulture hovering above in the sky. Each brush stroke was visibly elegant and added vivid details to the artwork.
"She is aiming at the tiger." Prince Xiwu whispered and leaned back, hinting at the servants to give them more privacy.
Prince Xiwu was referring to the 'empress' as the 'tiger' and the 'vulture' as the 'imperial noble consort'.
"You already know how sick mother is…" Prince Xiwu tried to talk about the topic, which Prince Ming had been avoiding ever since he returned a few months ago.
"I cannot change fate." Prince Ming directly answered, knowing that his brother wanted him to do something—look for a good physician or, at the very least, look after the empress, who had been bedridden for more than three months.
"But she can." Prince Xiwu didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point too.
"She who?" Prince Ming asked, pouring himself another cup of jasmine tea and offering a cup to his brother too.
While sipping the tea, Prince Xiwu placed the cup back and said, "Poison Master."
"Poison Master? She?" Prince Ming questioned, curiously, that though he pretended to not care about his mother, the empress, he had been looking for a physician who could heal her and Prince Xiwu had learned of his futile efforts and thus came seeking his help.
"Yes, Poison Master, I heard there is a poison master, who can cure the mother's illness. Some physicians recommended her, but I don't know who she is or where she is. That is why I am here to trouble you."
"I am busy." Prince Ming looked away and grinned silently to himself.
"I know how busy you are, drinking tea and wandering around like a total maniac, I don't want to listen to anything. You must help me." Prince Xiwu folded his arms and commanded.
Prince Ming glanced at his elder brother, and took few more sips, gulping down the whole cup again, he turned to him and said, "Okay, I will try, but just for your sake."
"Good." Prince Xiwu relaxed with a melancholic smile and left.
Prince Ming was alone again. His thoughts from the past and the piercing arrows replayed in his mind, and the wounds began to turn green.
The sharp and cold voice reverberated in his ears, "You should have died at the border."
"Why did you return?" Her words sliced through his chest, tearing at his heart.
"Evil Monster!" She had hurled names at him that lingered, yet he pressed on, determined to find the poison master who could cure her illness.
…..
-Secret Underground Adobe of Prince Ming-
"Your Highness, Officer Jiang, has found a lead on the poison master." Officer Pei reported as both of them entered the study room, where Prince Ming was reading a secret report from Master Hui.
Prince Ming hurriedly burned the letter and turned to his two loyal aides, "What did you find?"
"Here..." Officer Jiang presented a token adorned with the characters 'Duyi' engraved upon it, beneath which 'Jiang Jun' was meticulously carved.
"What is this?" Prince Ming raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Your Highness, this is a token from Duyi Pharmacy issued under my name." Officer Jiang excitedly shared, "I paid four months of my salary to get one."
"I guess you wanted to report about the poison master." Prince Ming reminded him.
"Yes, Your Highness, I searched for days and learned that Poison Master Duyi is the only poison master in our kingdom. She is skilled in curating poisons and making medicines that can cure the rarest of diseases." Officer Jiang answered.
"Oh? How come I never heard of such a person?" Prince Ming asked as he studied the token. "Your Highness has been serving at the northern border; thus, as you may not know, Duyi Pharmacy is famous among high-ranking nobles and even poor people."
"As from what I heard, she never makes a public appearance, yet the branches of Duyi Pharmacy have now reached the capital." Officer Pei spoke.
"How do we reach her then?" Prince Ming asked, intrigued.
"It is hard to make an appointment with her, and she doesn't take any cases unless her physician fails to cure a person. But one can write a letter to her stating the problem and send the letter to her pharmacy, she replies back with the prescription." Officer Jiang explained.
"What if one doesn't know how to write or fails to express the details in the letter?" Prince Ming was questioned.
"There have been only two letters that required her attention. Most of the time, the skilled physician takes care of the patient." Officer Jiang answered.
"Then send a letter to her, stating the empress' problem, let's see how she replies." Prince Ming stood up and walked out of the room.
"Prince Ming, you vile spawn, you dare to imprison me, I am a princess! An imperial princess! How dare you treat me like this!" Prince Ming's aunt, Princess Fei, yelled as he passed by her prison.
"Why, aunt? I am also a princess, I even have a title, he beat me, at least you are spared for now." Prince Ming's cousin yelled.
"Shut up!" Prince Ming growled at them and left his secret adobe.
"Hey, stop His Highness, ask him what to do with the Black Market case now." Officer Pei yelled and Officer Jiang ran after him right away but didn't find the prince.
"Prince Ming left…?!" Officer Jiang was confused. "He left? At what speed?!" Officer Pei asked.
"It is as if he disappeared into thin air." He replied, scratching his head, surprised.
"Hey, Officer Pei." Officer Jiang returned to the room and called his comrade. "What?" He replied, frustated because he couldn't find out who the real culprit behind the Black Market case was.
"His Highness is inviting Master Hui. Did you know this?" He asked.
"No????!!!!" Officer Pei's eyes widened from shock as he heard the two words 'Invited' and 'Master Hui'.
"Why?" He questioned, his jaw nearly dropping. Officer Pei was well aware of the rumours that prevailed in the empire when Master Hui left. He thought the prince would never ask her to come again, but he diligently sent invitations, but she rejected all of them.
"To tutor Princess Lin." Officer Jiang replied with a mischievous grin, as if the purpose of the invitation were different.
"Let me tell you, it's just another excuse. I hope Master Hui doesn't reject the invitation this time." Officer Pei said he was rolling his eyes out of exhaustion.
