Flu

Jinyu followed Yi down the expansive stairs of the Imperial Palace. It was not the longest trip from the Emperor’s Quarters to the suites of his concubines, after all, a man had needs, but she took this time to remove the vial of black substance from its hiding spot. She held it in her hand momentarily, analyzing its properties from just a glance before muttering something in Far Eastern Elvish. It was a cantrip of sorts that needed some vocal fluctuations, but she had done it so many times in her long lifetime that it came naturally. The consequence of said cantrip was the black fluid, vial and all, turning to black sand, which fell onto the wooden floors for the steward’s staff to clean up later.

“What are you whispering back there?” Snapped Yi, who could barely make up the last of her spell. Of course, it was just elvish ramblings to her ear.

The couple had just gotten to the lobby area of the concubines largest six suites, “I was just admiring your lovely figure, Dowager Yi. I am sure the Emperor must find the thought of having you in his Inner Palace almost irresistible.” Replied Jinyu. She looked at her hand and continued, “I hope I can provide the same level of desire…in due time.”

Jinyu’s compliment definitely let Yi’s guard down a little, but her tone lacked no less poison. “You have good tastes. Perhaps your movement to the Imperial Palace can be as fulfilling as mine.”

Yi was about to enter her room, the room of the Zhuyao, when Jimyu bowed, “I must thank you again for your actions, Dowager Yi. Without them, I may not have had the opportunity to make such a fabulous first impression on Emperor Yun.”

“What actions are you referring?” Yi paused in front of the doors, head turned toward the Elven girl.

“What actions, indeed.” Jinyu put a finger against her lips like she was telling a child to stay quiet, “Your secret is safe with me.”

The gesture pissed off Yi. She entered her large room and slammed the door, leaving Jinyu out and alone in the lobby. The she-elf smiled. From her perspective, Yi was just playing an act, and that she did not want anyone else knowing that she secretly supported Jinyu’s bid for Empress over the other families’ daughters. Jinyu entered one of the rooms, her room, and a couple of eunuch servants stood ready to obey her orders should she need anything. She was oblivious that there was a third woman in the lobby for the grand suites outside.

Song Qiu was laying on a large beam up near the extremely high ceiling of the lobby area. In her hands was a doll that she had kept since childhood that had clearly been abused quite extensively. She whispered to the doll. “So, Yi tried to poison Emperor Yun?”

The dragonkin beauty snickered. She could at least pick up that much from the steamy conversation she heard between this Liu, of the Embroidered, and Yi earlier, and now the conversation with the Elven cutie named Jinyu. “That may have just worked out for Yi if not for the haste of the House Han. Ever the caregivers of the Grand Celestial Empire.”

Nobody had even known that Qiu was in the Palace yet. She had used some secret methods of getting in that not even the guards knew about. It helped that the currently arriving Lin Mei was taking up their attention at the base of the tower. Qiu was not scheduled to be welcomed until later that evening, but her interest in the court politics of the Imperial Palace needed to be satiated sooner. This was good intel, too. Qiu would be happy to report this most recent development to her father’s agents.

Qiu, using her small size to her advantage, crawled on the beam reminiscent of a reptile stalking prey and into a ventilation tunnel powered by the powerful magics of this Yaomei and her staff to maintain comfortable living spaces for the concubines and their Emperor. As she did so, she could not help but wonder why Jinyu would keep the poisoning a secret. It seemed to Qiu anyway that the she-elf had genuine feelings for this new husband of hers. Yet she did not fault Yi in her attempt to take his life.

Qiu did not express physically the sigh she mentally made. The she-elf’s mysteries would have to wait. Right now, it was Qiu’s priority to get back down to the base of the tower, where Lin Mei was finally making her appearance on the stage of the Imperial Palace. If Qiu’s suspicions were right, the shrewd diplomacy of the Lin family would surely make things more interesting.