Under the Bamboo Parasol

The woman sipped her tea slowly and looked over the reports, which held the information of the profits made from the stores, and the current political situation. She scanned all the reports when she got to the name Ruan Qin Wang, her eyes went cold it was a name she had always tried to forget for the past twenty-three years.

There were times when one tried their best to forget memories that had fallen for grace, but they just continued to linger around in the realm of thought.

When that happened, it would be even more impossible to forget.

She placed the report down and said: "Tell me about Ruan Qin Wang." She said in a voice almost lacking emotion, but when one listened intently, they could find traces of anger, hatred, and sorrow all mixed up in that sentence.

The girl in red looked up as if she understood the madam.

"Reporting to madam, Ruan Qin Wang is the imperial uncle of Qing Cheng. He has not involved himself in the court's matter for twenty-three years. He has just recently returned to the capital after staying in seclusion for twenty years. It seems he has really given up on vying for power. Canglong TianYi is the crown prince of Qing Cheng. He favors the crown prince, as he does not have his own children, a proper consort, or concubines. He is in his late forties this year. His right arm is crippled, but he can use the sword with his left arm." The girl in red said in a calm tone, she was merely summarizing a lengthy report.

When the madam heard that his right arm was crippled, she an uncomfortable feeling welled up in her heart, she couldn't help but ask "Do you know what happened to his right arm?"

"Yun'er is not very sure, it happened twenty-three years ago. There are rumors that say he did it to himself. But madam, maybe he regrets what he did and is paying for his crimes." The girl in red said in an indifferent tone.

[Maybe he did it to himself? To pay for his crimes? ] This was the biggest joke she heard in her life.

He had always been filled with arrogance, there was a time when he was as powerful as the emperor. There was no way he would fall in love with a woman. He had always been this way until the emperor had to decree for his marriage.

The "lucky person" that ended up getting paired with him, was… her.

That day she had received the imperial decree was still fresh in her mind. It was an event she believed she would never forget in this lifetime.

She then said in a harsh tone "Feng Yun, what happened between us is irreconcilable. So what if he crippled his own arm. This is a debt that he will never be able to pay."She stared at the report, and at the name Ruan Qin Wang once more, she could smell the freshness of the ink that had been freshly written only but a day before.

There was something about it that made her wish to tear up all the reports. But she very narrowly contained herself from doing such a thing.

She then said in a gentle voice "Yun'er send someone to look into him more, and send more reports. You may leave, I want to be alone."

"Yes, madam." Feng Yun says as she disappears from sight, it was as if the person never existed.