The Emperor's Prisoner
Episode 71

As Li Jihyun said, Fen came to her room in the morning. He could not wait to hear from his employer. The fear that last night enveloped his heart instantly vanished replaced by worry. Along the way, he did not stop praying.

It did not feel like his steps had arrived before Li Jihyun's room door. He took a breath and knocked on the door slowly.

Geck! Geck! Geck!

The sound of knocking was heard echoing in the hallway that passed by one or two maids. There were no guards at the door of the room. "Who?" ask for a voice behind the door.

Fen gulped. "This is my noble Fen the great concubine."

Li Jihyun who was sipping tea immediately put down her cup. His eyes looked at Lien who was standing not far from him. "Open the door," said Li Jihyun who was immediately embraced by Lien.

The man stepped towards the door. He opened the door wide and looked like Fen was standing. Fen lowered his gaze as their eyes met. "Come in. Her majesty the great concubine asked you to come over," said Lien flat and slightly taut. Lien turned her body haughtily and walked first. Fen followed from behind. Without even daring to speak.

"Your great concubine Lady Fen has come" said Lien.

"I'm Fen greeting his highness the great concubine," said Fen bowing respectfully.

"Please sit down Fen," said Li Jihyun smiling sweetly. Fen was a little surprised until his body froze. The girl still did not move from where she stood.

"Your great concubine told you to sit down" said Lien after a long time the lady had not sat down. Fen flinched in shock. He looks flabbergasted. His eyes were accidentally glared at Lien. Highlight Lien's sharp eyes frightened Fen.

"I'm sorry, your majesty." Fen hurriedly sat directly across from Li Jihyun. His head was still bowed while twisting his fingers restlessly.

Li Jihyun smiled. "Thanks to your head Fen," said Li Jihyun who spontaneously surprised Lien and Fen. The two ladies looked at him. Fen raised his head obediently but his gaze remained down. "Why don't you see me, Fen? Is my face scary?" li Jihyun asked with a soft laugh that sounded joking.

Fen quickly shook his head. "Not your highness. You are so beautiful" said Fen. Li Jihyun laughed again.

Lien who watched Li Jihyun's attitude fell silent. Just yesterday the girl tortured Fen's employer to a pulp. Even being locked up in a basement that only Lien and Jing knew about. The woman's condition is very sad. The coldness and hunger in the dark room must have tormented the woman. Imagining that Lien immediately shuddered in horror.

But his mind still asked the kind manner Li Jihyun showed. The girl in front of others was so good that her reputation was screeching. Even he was very obedient to the emperor whom he had previously often opposed. Lien shook her head. Somehow he would report this incident to the emperor. To make Jing protest over his actions of protecting Li Jihyun's secret. But after thinking it was better for him to side with the person who was in their favor. Especially after witnessing the death of his two friends who were punished by the emperor at Li Jihyun's request.

It was as if they were only chess pieces to Long Jian. Slowly the loyalty they built began to falter. The Li Jihyun they served had never treated him badly. Except Fahrani and Bai started looking for trouble first. The two men thought they would survive the punishment but instead had a tragic death. The caning took the lives of the two women. Having thought it was not bad to be a follower of Li Jihyun.

"Lien bring me some more tea" Li Jihyun told Lien of the daydream.

"Lien the lady-in-waiting came again," Jing's chirp surprised Lien. The girl clucked slowly. Jing suddenly appeared from behind.

"Can't you not surprise me?" lien rubbed his chest. Jing scratched her non-itchy head. The two ladies walked towards the kitchen.

"sorry. I didn't intentionally," Jing said guiltily. Lien sighed softly.

"She wants to meet her employer" Lien opened the kitchen door. There were a lot of other maids there to make Jing cancel. They help the head of the kitchen cook.

One of the ladies approached them. "What do you need to do here?" tanyanya politely. The middle-aged woman lowered her body.

"Her Majesty the great concubine asked for more tea" said Lien politely, who was taken by the woman.

"I'll get ready," he turned around and walked over to the head of the kitchen. While the other lady-in-waiting resumed their respective work. Occasionally their eyes glanced at Lien and Jing who were standing near the door.

"I envy them" whispered one of the ladies-in-waiting slicing a turnip. There were three ladies gathered.

"Yes. They could serve the imperial family more closely. Their salaries must be high" he said in a whispering voice. Their heads turned towards Lien and Jing.

While the two women just let out a slow breath. "If they knew what kind of employer we serve," whispered Jing, whose stomach was immediately elbowed by Lien. The dayang was restrained. Staring resentfully at Lien. Damn it, he said in his heart.

Soon the tea they were waiting for came. The middle-aged woman brought it with a heart. Then handed the tray containing the two cups of tea to Lien. Lien nodded at a glance taking the tray.

They turned around and left the kitchen. Jing turned a glance towards the kitchen. A loud voice sounded. They work hard and compact. He smiled thinly. "What makes you smile like that?" ask Lien curiously. Jing put his shoulder to a glance.

"I just don't think it seems like a bad thing working in the kitchen" Jing said. Lien exhaled a rough breath.

"I think that's a good idea" said Lien, agreeing with Jing's words. The woman chuckled. Their steps were getting closer to the door. But only 20 steps of their foreheads shriveled in astonishment. From a distance there were ladies and guards standing in front of the door. They exchanged lyrics and nodded. There was only one person who had come to this side that was Long Jian, the emperor of Qing Long.

The two men quickened their pace until they met with eunuch Bo. Their heads are down. "You two are noble ladies and gentlemen, great concubine?" ask eunuch Bo as soon as he meets them.

There was a bruise on his forehead as well in some parts of his face. Eunuch Bo who was famously competent in serving the emperor was not to be punished. Just because of a trivial matter. Luckily the middle-aged man was briefly sentenced to prison. Otherwise, his fate would be the same as the others. "Yes eunuch Bo," they answered in unison.

Eunuch Bo mangut. He cleared his throat for a moment. "Both noble ladies and gentlemen the great concubine entered the room," cried eunuch Bo slightly startling them. "You two please come in" he said. The two guards standing immediately opened the door. Lien and Jing looked at each other. Though hesitant, they must step in.