The Wolf King and I

Chapter 31

Ngayon ko lang naalala na isang misteryosong babaing servant ang nagdala ng kahon ng dates sa akin noong araw na iyon. Who would be so stupid to poison the favored consort of the Emperor right before his eyes?

Hindi ganun mag-plot ang Empress. I know how she plays her cards from the manhwa. She will not blatantly expose herself, especially to the man she loves.

Bigla akong napatigil sa paglalakad nang dahil sa isang bagay na bigla kong naintindihan.

No, this can't be—-someone is trying to plot against the Empress?!

But who would it be?

Who would gain something out of the Empress's downfall?

"Greetings, your highness," a familiar woman's voice said.

Kaagad naman akong napataas ng tingin at ang magandang mukha na iyon ang sumalubong sa paningin ko.

It's Jia.

Nakita kong naglalakad siya sa pathway habang nasa likuran naman niya ang mga servants niya.

She bowed to me and then gave me a warm smile.

"I was on my way to visit your palace, but it seems like you're busy with something," she said with a smile on her face. "I heard you just woke up, and seeing you walking again must be a joyous moment for the Emerald Palace."

Pero wala na akong oras para makipag-kwentuhan sa kanya.

"Jia," naiiyak na pagtawag ko sa kanya atsaka ko hinawakan ang dalawang kamay niya.

Gulat naman siyang napatingin sa akin pero bago pa siya makapagsalita ay inunahan ko na siya.

"Ang laki ng pasasalamat ko sa'yo dahil narinig ko na ikaw ang tumulong sa Emperor sa paghahanap ng antidote na para sa akin. Alam ko na napakabuti ng puso mo kaya ikaw lang ang malalapitan ko ngayon." Nagmamadaling wika ko. "Please, let us help the Empress."

Matapos kong sabihin iyon ay nakita ko ang pagkawala ng masayang ngiti sa labi niya. Binawi niya ang kamay niya mula sa akin bago siya nagsalita ulit.

"It seems like your highness is misunderstanding something." She spoke. "It was the Empress who was found guilty of poisoning you. The servant who brought the red dates had already spoken. I don't understand why you would help the person who almost killed you, your highness."

"Hindi," sagot ko. "I can feel it, Jia. May mali eh. Hindi ko mai-explain kung ano ang mali pero hindi talaga nagtutugma ang lahat."

Napayuko naman siya bago nagsalita.

"I understand your sentiments, your highness." She spoke. "It is my wish to help you, but I'm just a low-ranking concubine. I do not wish to be a part of something that may put me and my homeland into turmoil. The Emperor is mad, and I can see that there is nothing we can do about it. All fingers have already been pointed at the Empress. It's too late to save her. Please forgive me, your highness."

I understand her.

Hindi din naman sila close ng Empress para tulungan ito. Iniisip lang ni Jia ang kapakanan ng rank niya at ng empire na naiwan niya. Whether we like it or not, our actions within this empire will greatly affect our homelands.

This is the curse of being a Princess tribute. Upsetting Qin will cause the downfall of our homelands.

At tama siya, bakit ko ba tutulungan ang Empress?

Ano naman sa akin ngayon kung ma-dethrone at mamatay ang Empress? She's just a fictional character. She's doomed to be executed by the man she loves the most anyway. Mapapaaga nga lang pero ganito din naman ang kahihinatnan niya.