Butterfly Courtyard, Jing Palace

What to do? I can't just tell Papa, or Mom that I'm being poisoned. They would wonder how I knew. Plus, my pronunciation sucks. I understand a lot more than I can say. I simply don't have the words to do that. Biting her lip, Lucy ignores the toys Miss Selena had set beside her. {Is Little Mistress sick?} Selena's worried thoughts intrude. Lucy idly blocks her. Selena's thoughts slip through often, as their souls are connected. Lucy had yet to purposely read Selena's mind but heard nearly as many thoughts from her as she did from Father.

Remembering him, a flash of guilt comes at her. It really wasn't good to keep reading his mind, but. Lucy sighs. Father's just too moody. How am I to know my limits otherwise? One minute, Papa was angry wanting to scalp a maid, the next minute he was content over a good meal. Plus, Papa is really violent. During her small life, 13 people had been killed in front of her. I'm becoming pretty numb to it, honestly.

"Lord Meng and Lady Jun are here, Concubine Meng. They have brought their son to visit. Do you wish to see them?" Tammy asks. Lucy glances at the maid, who poisoned her three days ago. She looks so obedient, and honest. Mother smiles. "Yes, bring them in" Mother stands, laying aside her embroidery. "Lucy come here. Your Uncle Ru and Aunt Mei are here to visit us" Mother says. Lucy stands, kicking aside her blocks, going to stand by Mother's side.

"Yo, little sis. We have arrived" Uncle Ru shouts, as he rushes in. A woman in green followed him sedately. She held a small bundle in her arms, a soft smile stunning Lucy. Wow, she's pretty. THat should be Aunt Mei and my cousin.

"Say, Mei did you recover well during your seclusion?" Mother asks as she swiftly takes the bundle. Lucy blinks. That was almost like a professional thief there, Mama. Look, Aunt Mei didn't even have time to react. "Yes. It was quite peacefully. Even Mother-in-law stuck to short visits" Aunt Mei says, as she kneels in front of Lucy. "Hi, there baby. I'm Aunt Mei, want to come here?" Aunt Mei asks, holding her arms out toward Lucy. "She doesn't really-" Mother stops, as Lucy goes to Aunt Mei, who smiles with triumph. "She doesn't usually like strangers," Mother says, thoughtfully.

"Why are you ignoring me?" Uncle Ru asks, standing by the side. "She must know I'm her Auntie," Aunt Mei says, lightly pinching Lucy's cheek. "Ahh, so cute. Her eyes, so adorable" Aunt Mei says, still ignoring her husband.

As Mom and Aunt Mei begin to chat, Lucy looks at Meng Long, his tiny body giving her flashbacks to being swaddled, stuck in a bassinet. Ah, so boring. Lucy shudders, thankful she could walk now.

On the plus side, my inner sky was wonderfully maintained, as I didn't have much else to do. Lucy yawns, leaning against Aunt Mei's shoulder, looking up to watch the clouds float by.

Begining to drift off, Uncle Ru finally gets his chance to speak. His words jerking Lucy wide awake. "Has Prince Jing found who poisoned Lucy during her Acknowledgment Day?" Uncle Ru asks. Lucy jerks up. That's right. Father knows I got poisoned that time. Ahh, I'm so Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Father knows I was poisoned already. All I have to do is let them know I've been poisoned again, and Father will investigate. Lucy rolls her eyes. So dumb, worrying about letting Father know that Tammy, Bin, Liz, and Wanda are poisoning me. I just have to delay purging my poison until Physician Liu examines me. Simple. I'm so dumb. Lucy pouts, folding her arms staring at the sky.

Since Lucy immediately burnned away, any poison she was given. It was impossible for Physician Liu to find traces of it. So of course, no one knew that her maids were poisoning her. Lucy wants to slap herself. Really, really stupid. Lucy despises.