Main story/8

## Chapter 8: Defuse

Rewards no. 11
Spring Sword
Spring Cap
Rewards no. 22
Spring Shoes
Spring Robe
Rewards no. 33
Star 5 Debris

## 8-1 Under Attack

The woman in white rushed towards you with a dagger. No matter how calm you usually were, you were too terrified to move at that moment.

The woman in white
Bitch! You killed my child! Give me my child!
Yaner
Watch out, my lady!
Yaner's anxious voice brought you back. But she was already getting close to you. You had to grab her wrist to stop her before she injured you.

Player
(I saw this woman last life. She was just a fool. But why does she go crazy today? And the dagger...)
Yaner was afraid that you may get hurt, so she held the woman tightly from her back. It was easier for you two to take her down. But you couldn't stop her for long.

Player
Yaner, she is hysterical. We can't mess with her for too long! I saw a discarded palace over there. We let her go and run into the palace together!
Yaner
Yes, my lady!
You and Yaner made eye contact and pushed her to the ground. Then you ran into that chamber.

Player
(Panting) Whew! Finally, we can catch a break.
Yaner
(Shivering) She... she keeps knocking on the door.
You latched the door to lock her outside. However, she began to throw herself at the door, yelling and knocking. Pound...Pound...Pound... The scary sound echoed in the quiet dimly lit room.

? ? ?
If you don't stop her, she will keep knocking forever.
Pick an option
Accept her advice and look at her
Doubt it and find another way
### Option A (8-1)

*Foxy +5*
You looked in the direction where the calm voice came from and found a lady in the corner. You didn't notice her earlier due to the dimness.

Yaner
(Shocked) Ah!!!!!! Ghost!!!!!
### Option B (8-1)

You had been in the palace for a long time. You knew you should't talk to a stranger or believe them. As you had seen many tricks when you came here at the beginning, you ignored her.

Player
(Embarrassed) Although she is crazy, she is the emperor's concubine. We shouldn't ...

The door was banged open before she answered. Viciously, the woman in white attacked you with her dagger.

Cutscene
Out of vigilance, you didn't accept the strange woman's suggestion. Instead, you tried to figure a way out by yourself. Suddenly, however, she stabbed you. With no time to react, you fell in blood.
Dead
Only good emperors listen to others' suggestions, many literatus travel across the nation.

## 8-4 Discard Palace

You covered Yaner's mouth before she screamed. You patted her back to soothe her. Then you turned around to talk to the lady in the corner.

Player
The woman out there has lost her mind. The door won't hold very long. If you want to stay out of this, you need to tell me how to stop her.
???
It's easy. You can stop her with the stuff on the table.
You turned to look where she pointed at. It was a stick.

Player
(Surprised) You mean...?
???
Knock her out with the stick. Once she goes mad, she will attack others. If you want to get rid of her, you have to.
She began to throw herself against the door. Suddenly, you heard a crack, and the door was open. You were so scared that you took the stick and hit her. Then she fell down.

???
(Snort) You are bold indeed.
The lady in the corner stood up. Her handsome face came into view. Though she lived in a deserted room, she dressed properly. She neatly helped the crazy woman lie on an old wooden bed.

Player
You...know her?
???
She and I entered the palace the same year, so we are like old acquaintances.
Choose an option
Ask more about her
Thank her and ask no more
### Option A (8-4)

*Foxy +5*
You never saw her in the Limbo Palace last life, so you were very curious about her.

Player
Why do you... end up here?
???
(Forced smile) She was adored by the emperor before. Unluckily, she was framed when she was pregnant. She delivered a stillbirth. She has become crazy since then and almost hurt the empress. And me...
### Option B (8-4)

Player
We came here by accident and were almost killed by them. Thank you for saving us. I appreciate it very much.
???
No worries. It's a bad day for both of us. I don't want her to be used as a weapon.
### Conclusion

Before she finished her sentence, a nanny who looked shrewd came in while scolding someone.

Nanny
The crazy woman sneaks out at midnight for trouble again. How annoying she is! I'm sorry for my negligence, my ladies. I will bring her back right now.
She knelt down to commit her mistake as soon as she got in. You didn't punish her for this. She quickly tied the crazy woman up with a rope. Apparently, this was how she dealt with her every day.

???
She won't hurt anyone now. You don't have to tie her up.
Nanny
What if she does? Will you be responsible for it, Lady Lan?

## 8-6 Lady Lan

You knew who she was when hearing the nanny address her [as] Lady Lan. The emperor had a daughter and a son. Lady Lan was the prince's birth mother. She had been sent ot the Limbo Palace before you entered the palace.

Player
(It's said that she married the emperor when he was the heir and delivered his elder son. She could have had power and wealth. But she offended him. So she is grounded here, and her son is raised by the empress. She used to be a concubine, but now she ends up here. I wonder whether she regrets it or not.)
Lady Lan
Forget it. I'm just saying. If you don't want to, you can do it your way.
Though she was grounded here, she had her title and grade. The nanny disrespected her, but she was still patient. Therefore, you quite liked her.

Player
I think you should be respectful to her. She used to be a concubine anyway.
Choose an option
Bribe her with some taels of silver
Threathen her
### Option A (8-6)

*Foxy +5*
You made eye contact with Yaner, and then she took out some taels of silver from her sleeve pocket and gave them to the nanny. She accepted happily and thanked you.

Yaner
My lady Player is a concubine from Lingqi Palace. We came here by accident. And we want you to help us get out of here.
Nanny
I...
Player
(Takes a jade hairpin down from your head) If you don't believe us, you can go to Lingqi Palace with this hairpin to confirm it. But my whereabouts can be a problem. I think we should keep it a secret for the sake of both of us.
When she went to confirm your identity, you found a clean place to talk with Lady Lan.

Player
Just now, she hurt me with a dagger. Do you have such sharp things here in [the] Limbo Palace?
Lady Lan
Not if you have money. But she is a real nut when she is stable. She should not be able to plot the whole thing.
Player
You mean she is usually stable and seldom loses her mind, right?
Lady Lan
If no one talks about her child in front of her, she won't act like this. And I think you know why someone did this.
Player
(Thinks for a minute) Thanks for your answer. I will give the nanny more money and tell her to treat you better.
Lady Lan
No need. They don't really want to see me live a comfortable life.
Player
Then...
Lady Lan
If you really want to thank me, you can help me take care of a child.
### Option B (8-6)

Player
(Sneer) It would be terrible if someone tells others about what you have said and done. They will charge you for humiliating a concubine.
The nanny was terrified. She bowed down and said yes before she withdrew. Then you asked Lady Lan more about the woman in whie. After that, you thanked her and were about to go back to Lingqi Palace, when several guards broke in and surrounded you.

The nanny at the Limbo Palace was angry. So she went to the empress and reported that you assaulted other concubines. You were put in royal jail and tortured. Because of your poor health, you didn't make it before anyone came to save you.

Dead
Don't see guests before wearing makeup; Lay low when you are weak.

## 8-8 Mole

Lady Lan didn't say who it was, but her motherly look told you who she cared about.

Player
The prince is the heir to the throne. You don't have to worry about him.
Lady Lan
He is only nine years old. How long can he stay in that position? I only hope he can live a happy life instead of becoming a good emperor.
Player
Now that you say it, I will try my best to protect him.
Lady Lan
I hope you can keep your promise. In return, I suggest you not believe the empress and be careful about all the things she gives you.
Soon, the nanny came back and, with a flattering smile, helped you get out of Limbo Palace. She even walked you back to Lingqi Palace.

Yaner
You are frightened, my lady. Should we tell the emperor?
Player
No, we don't have any evidence. We will get ourselves burned if we tell him.
Weiyang
As for Wenxing, I've sent someone to check on her. She is injured but not serious. I have given her good medicine.
Player
Lure me out with Wenxing, lock us in Limbo Palace, and irritate a crazy woman to attack us. It must be Lady Jiang who came up with such an evil idea. But I don't understand.
Choose an option
How did she know which path we would go
How did she know I would come for Wenxing
### Option A (8-8)

*Foxy +5*
Player
How did she know which path we would go?
Weiyang
Maybe someone followed you all the time. No matter which path you took, you would be locked in Limbo Palace.
Player
There may be another possibility. She instructed someone to mention that shortcut. It was an emergency. I had no other choice.
### Option B (8-8)

Player
How did she know she could lure me out with Wenxing?
Weiyang
Maybe she was not sure, either. If you didn't go, she would try another way.
Player
You're right. But she was too quick. How can she be so well-informed?
### Conclusion

Weiyang
You mean...?
Player
Anyway, we haven't found the thief yet, and Lady Jiang knows me so well. We have hidden dangers around us!
## 8-9 Change clothes

Player
After what happened to us tonight, I can't help to shiver out of coldness. Yaner, help me change [into] some warm clothes.
Tips
File:Mature.png
File:Decent.png

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Yaner
My lady, you are incredible... My lady, why your face is burning.
Player
I am tired. I wanna go to sleep... (Sneeze)

## 8-11 Have a cold

You were frightened and exhausted. The next day, you felt dizzy. You seemingly had a cold.

Yaner
My lady, you had a fever. Let me fetch a doctor!
Player
I am OK. I just need some rest. Alright, you go and fetch Doctor Huang.
You didn't want to trouble Doctor Huang, but Lady Lan's warning reminded you of the coral bracelet from the empress. You wanted Huang Yuanqing to check it. When Huang Yuanqing hurried in, you saw he was sweating. He must set off as soon as he got your announcement. Seeing your pale face, he put down his medical box and checked on you.

Huang Yuanqing
You call me urgently. Are you feel unwell, my lady?
Player
(Smiled and gave him a hanky) Relax, Doctor Huang! Wipe your sweat first.
Huang Yuanqing was surprised. He took the hanky hesitantly and lowered his head to wipe his sweats up. But you still saw his blushed face.

Huang Yuanqing
Please forgive my rudeness, my lady.
Player
No worries. You are one of us. You don't have to care about those rules.
You had written to your father and confirmed his story. After observing him for days, you were sure he was upright and trustworthy. So you treated him more kindly.

Player
There's no important issue today. But I want you to help me to check this coral bracelet. Can you find any problems with it?
After what happened last time, he became serious. He observed the bracelet carefully. But he couldn't find anything.

Huang Yuanqing
Please forgive me, my lady. I haven't found any problems with it...
Hearing that, you felt a little surprised. Were you getting too suspicious this time? But you knew that the empress wouldn't do anything pointless.

Ask him to check again
Player
(Thinks for a moment) I will ask Yaner to give you a bead of the bracelet. Please check it again after you go back... (Coughs)
Huang Yuanqing
Yes, my lady. You catch a cold. Let me prescribe some medicine for you. And you need to take a rest.
Now he became a serious doctor. He seemed unhappy with your negligence.

Player
Actually, it's not...
You couldn't say the word "serious" out, as he was staring at you solemnly.

Huang Yuanqing
(In a firm tone) I will prescribe some medicine for you. You shouldn't worry too much and need to have a rest today.
Player
(It's weird! When a gentleman like Doctor Huang becomes professional, I dare not say no to him.)
After arranging everything, you finally relaxed. Unfortunately, you had a fever that night.

*Innocent +5*
## 8-12 Get up

Player
(Coughs) Don't worry. Let me get changed first.
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Weiyang
(On her knees) My lady, it's my fault. I deserve to be punished.

## 8-15 Decoction

As the old saying goes, agues come on horseback, but go away on foot. Thanks to Doctor Huang's professionalism, you began recovery within days.

Yaner
Without Doctor Huang, your symptoms may get worse.
Player
(Pouts) Yaner! How could you speak for him?
You hadn't fully recovered, so you felt cozy when surrounded by these people you trusted. You didn't realize that you were acting like a child.

Huang Yuanqing
Yaner isn't partial to me. She cares about your health. You are so independent that you often try to handle everything by yourself. But you make people who love you worried. Like this time, we can't share your pain though, we would feel better if you let us take care of you.
Huang Yuanqing's sincerity, gentle tone and clear eyes demonstrated his compassion as a doctor.

Player
You are right. I won't be so stubborn and make you worried. I am just afraid of bothering you too much.
Huang Yuanqing
(Smiles bitterly) I am nobody in the Royal Hospital. How is it possible that I am entrusted with some important tasks?
Player
(Comforts him) You are a great doctor. They will discover your talent one day.
Yaner
Let's leave these unahppy things behind. Doctor Huang has brought some herbal food he made. Don't you want to try it, my lady?
Yaner brought you a bowl of herbal soup which looked tasty. When she was feeding you, Chunxiang rushed into your room in a panic.

Chunxiang
My lady! Jinzhi is here!
Immediately, Jinzhi burst in with something in her hand. Through the curtain, you could only see a shadow.

Jinzhi
The empress is so kind. She sent me to bring you some restoratives when hearing that you are unwell. Now you should take care of yourself. Don't bother the emperor. The empress said you shouldn't see the emperor lately in order not to spread the flu onto him.
The empress' order was trying to ground you. But you caught a cold indeed. You couldn't retort.

Player
I will keep it in mind... (Coughs)
Jinzhi
Good, hmm.
After Jinzhi left, you heard vaguely that Weiyang was questioning servants outside. When she returned, she looked grim.

Weiyang
(Kneels) I'm sorry, my lady. I fail to keep maids in order. I deserve to be punished.