Next Day

           Aching in a burning sensation around my shoulder, I rolled to my other side facing the wall as I heard footsteps enter.

“A’Li,” I said, assumed that the person who came is her, “Can you prepare me water to bathe in? I feel gross right now”

“Crown Princess” a female voice said that belonged to Consort Xue. I energetically sat up as a sharp burst of pain slowed me down when I turned to face her.

“Consort Xue,” I climbed off of my bed sitting upwards, “What makes you come here?” I ask, slipping on my shoes.

“No need with formalities, Crown Princess” Consort Xue spoke in a nice and proper voice, “I was concerned about your well-being and decided to drop by to give you medicines to help heal your wound” she smiles.

Reaching for my outer robe, “Thank you, Consort Xue” I said, pretending to show respect for her.

“If Crown Princess doesn’t mind, please join Crown Prince and me for tea this morning” she asks before turning to leave.

“Thanks, but I have other matters to attend” I faked a smile as she bows her head slightly before she’d left.

I adjust my outer layer tying the belt on as I walked over to the table of medicine gifts. I scoff as I inspected the medicine. At the same time, A’Li enters with my breakfast.

“Morning, Crown Princess” A’Li greeted me setting the tray of food next to the medicine, “Who brought you all of these?” she asks.

“Consort Xue who’s trying to be kind to me” I said sitting down on the stool, “Send them to the village and distribute them among the villagers. I have no need for them, but make sure to inspect them first” I ordered.

“Yes, Crown Princess” A’Li said, wrap the gifts with the red bag while I moved the tray closer to me.

“Have you found out anything about what I told you to look into?” I ask, taking a sip of the chicken soup.

“Yes, I did. I had to torture a maid into confessing this morning and she told me to meet her later at the Valley of Flower when the sunsets”

“Good,” I said, “What about the assassinator of last night?”

“We didn’t catch him”

“Him?” I ask while arching an eyebrow.

“Yes, a man”

‘How do they know if the assassinator is a man?”

“I am not certain either, but according to the assassinator’s fighting style it doesn’t display a woman’s power”

I thought for a bit before saying anything further. My mind scatters back to last night, trying to recall when I strike the assassin, he immediately flew back. But something about that is confusing because if the assassinator is a man then he could’ve dodged my attack and wouldn’t have felt the force since my martial arts isn’t as advanced. But if the assassinator is a woman, then of course she would have felt the force of the attack. Staring into the air, thinking deeply as I ate made my mind uneasy and conflicted. A’Li looks at me weirdly and decided to walk out, but I stopped her.

“A’Li!” I shouted, “Can you handle my palm attack?” I ask as she looks at me strangely.

“Not to offend Crown Princess, yes I can”

I thought deeply again without saying anything.

“Is something wrong, Crown Princess?” A’Li asks.

“No,” I answer as I finished my breakfast, “Prepare me water to bathe”

“Yes” A’Li said as she left my room carrying the tray out.