Fan Fiction |
by MetalAZNWarrior
The palanquins that carried Suet Ching (Rebecca Chan) and Fiona (Sherming Yiu) arrived at the gates of the Imperial Palace in the center of the Island. Suet Ching orders for the carriers to let them down and leave. Hundreds of Imperial guards and servants fall to their feet to greet Suet Ching when she emerges from her palanquin. She graciously smiles and says, "At ease."
On Gong Gong (Bowie Lam) lifts up the curtain of Fiona's palanquin and taps her pressure points to unfreeze and unmute her. He threatens, "Act naturally, otherwise..." He steps aside and raises the curtain for Fiona to get out.
Fiona finds it hard to move because her muscle ached from being immobile. She manages to get up and walks out of her palanquin. Imperial guards and servant gasps and gossip at Fiona's appearance. Suet Ching yells, "How dare you servants not greet Her Highness, Princess Fiona?"
Everyone falls to his or her feet and wishes, "May Your Highness have longevity."
Fiona stares unblinkingly at the sight of hundreds of people bowing down at her feet. In the past, she would have told them to stand up, but things were different now. Suet Ching makes her way to Fiona and places her arm on Fiona's. "Dear niece, I'm so sorry for these dogs' rude behavior."
"Are you?" Fiona snickers.
"Why, of course."
"So I'm allowed to punish dogs who treat me wrong?"
"Certainly."
Fiona raises her left hand and slaps On Gong Gong in the face. She yells, "Those who treat me well can stand up, but those who don't..." Fiona pauses and glares at Suet Ching before continuing, "Those who don't will suffer consequences."
"We dare not displease Your Highness," was the answer that Fiona received.
Suet Ching smiles, "Come, niece, we have a lot to catch up on."
On Gong Gong covers the red mark on his cheek from Fiona's slap. He is raging in bitterness.
[Palace of Gathering Essence]
Servants and guards lead Fiona to the "Palace of Gathering Essence." On the surface, it appeared as though they were doing a very personal escort. On the contrary, they were compelling her to walk.
Once they reached the palace, Suet Ching orders, "Maids, bring the finest tea to the table!" Within minutes, hot and fragrant tea was brought to the table. Suet Ching urges Fiona to sit down and share the tea with her. Fiona stands unmoving and folds her arms.
"Fiona, must I beg every time I want you to do something?"
"No, I dare not ask the Empress to beg."
"So why won't you sit?"
"I am not fit to sit with the Empress. My status is far below yours and I am not up to par with your jaded heart."
Suet Ching smiles and says, "Maids, you are all dismissed. Guards, stay away from the door. On Gong Gong, stay outside to make sure everyone follows their order. If not, bring them to me and proper... accommodations will be made."
When the doors were shut and everyone was out Suet Ching turns to Fiona and smiles, "Will you sit now? There is no one here to 'judge' whether or not you are on the same level as I am. When the doors are closed and outsiders cannot look into our lives, you and I are aunt and niece."
Fiona stares at Suet Ching in disbelief. "Even when there is no one watching, you still put on an act."
"Oh, honey, there is no such thing. We're always being watched..." Suet Ching smirks as she sips her tea.
"Empress, what is it exactly that you want from me?" Fiona exaggerates her pronunciation of "Empress."
Suet Ching grows quiet at the question. She exhales and says, "It's about your father. Doctor Yeung says that he can't be cured. He is in his deathbed and breathing his final breaths. I wanted you to come back and see him for the last time, before he..." Suet Ching can't finish her sentence because she breaks down into sobs.
"I don't believe it."
"You're still stubborn. I suppose you won't believe anything that I have to say."
"Let's see, if I stabbed you in the back and connived a plot against you, would you trust me ever again?"
"Do you think you would be alive right now if it wasn't for me?" Suet Ching raises her voice.
"What?"
"Nothing. Go see your father. You will believe me then."
[Emperor's Palace]
Despite Fiona's orders for guards and servants to not escort her to her father's palace, she knew that they were still following her from a distance. There were eyes everywhere in the Imperial Palace, intentionally or not. Fiona reaches her father's palace and opens the doors. She tears up remembering the numerous times that she had visited the palace before. Everything was as she had remembered.
Bo Gong Gong (Liu Kai Chi) is shocked upon seeing Fiona. He was wiping Island Chief (Law Kong) with a wet towel. His eyes water as he makes his way to Fiona. "P-p-princess?" he stutters, unable to believe the sight.
"Bo Gong Gong." Fiona sobs and runs to hug him.
"Princess, what are you doing back here?"
"Bo Gong Gong." She feels so relieved to finally see someone that she can trust.
Bo Gong Gong breaks away from Fiona and dashes to the doors. He surveys the scene outside and closes the doors.
Fiona takes small steps to her father's bed. She didn't want to reach him too quickly because she was afraid that she could not bear to see the sight of her father in his final days of life. She sees the outline of his body through the curtains surrounding his bed. Slowly, she lifts open the golden yellow curtains and looks at her father.
Island Chief had thinned incredibly since the last time Fiona saw him. He laid lifelessly on the bed, moving his lips, but no sound came out. His eyes, though open, were blank and dead. Fiona sits herself down besides him on the bed. She takes Island Chief's right hand and caresses it against her face. His skin was rough and dry; it had lost the gentle warmness.
Fiona cries, "Father." Island Chief gives no response.
Bo Gong Gong gently pats Fiona, offering her his sympathy. He explains, "Since everything happened, His Majesty's condition has gotten progressively worse. It wasn't just physical... it was psychological as well. With you, foo ma, and Doctor Tsui all gone, His Majesty had no one left to converse with. Ever since Suet Ching got the crown, her visits have also stopped. She uses the excuse of being 'caught up' with running the Island. I've stayed by his side, but it doesn't compare to having you, foo ma, or..."
"Before I left, he was doing well. Doctor Tsui said he could improve..."
"If Doctor Tsui was around, I'm sure he might be better now than he is."
"Who treated him after Doctor Tsui was exiled?"
"Doctor Yeung."
"Doctor Yeung took over the head of the Imperial Clinic, right?"
Bo Gong Gong nods his head, "Yes. I've heard that Doctor Yeung is one of Suet Ching's people."
"I figured that. He did testify against Doctor Tsui."
Fiona notices that Bo Gong Gong was clenching his fists. She asks, "Bo Gong Gong, what's the matter?"
"There's something that you didn't guess."
"What is it?"
"Suet Ching bribed Doctor Yeung to not treat His Majesty."
Fiona stands up and looks Bo Gong Gong in the eyes. "Please tell me you're kidding."
"I heard it with my own ears."
"Oh my god! How could she do this? First she framed me and now she's trying to kill my father, her own brother!"
"As long as Island Chief is still alive, Suet Ching cannot take over the Emperor's Palace. She wants to move in."
Fiona closes her eyes and tries to digest what she just heard. She can't stomach the news. "She is truly evil," is all Fiona can say.
"Princess, what are you doing back here?"
"I was captured by Suet Ching and forced here."
"So that's why she left the palace..." Bo Gong Gong observes.
"What?"
"Suet Ching used the excuse of 'vacationing' to leave the palace two weeks ago. Now I understand why. She left to find you."
"Bo Gong Gong, do you know why?"
"The rumors circulating the palace have been big these days."
"What is it?"
"The Imperial Court is saying that the Empress manipulated your father's wishes. They said that your father made it clear in this will, when he was still mentally capable, that he wanted you to take over the throne."
"I thought Suet Ching was already crowned?"
"She was... but the Imperial Court do not like her, so they're trying to get rid of her. Suet Ching is not in a good place right now. The people on the Island favor you, as you probably know."
"So that's it! She wants me to tell the people that I give my consent in her being the Island Chief."
Bo Gong Gong nods his head, "Yes, I think so."
"With the support of the people, Suet Ching can easily overpower the Imperial Court and remain in the throne..." Fiona looks at Island Chief. "She did it all for the crown... all for power and fortune. She sacrificed me, her niece, and her brother. She's eating away her own flesh and blood."
"Princess." Bo Gong Gong is disheartened seeing Fiona so down.
Fiona sits back down on the bed and plants a kiss on her father's cheek.
Bo Gong Gong walks over to a drawer and pulls out a rolled up piece of paper. He hands it to Fiona.
"Bo Gong Gong? What is it?"
"It is your father's final decree."
Fiona unrolls the paper and sees a decree with smeared words. She could make out some words and recognized that it was Island Chief's handwriting.
"Your father wanted to save you. He struggled to write this decree and he finished... but after the final word was written, he collapsed on the paper and smeared the ink that had yet to dry."
"He wanted to save me? Wasn't he angry with me?"
"He was."
"Then why...?"
"Your father loved you, Princess. This decree was meant to rescue you from the Imperial Dungeon and make you an Imperial maid. He said that he just wanted to keep seeing you and for you to stay by his side."
Fiona's eyes travel from the smeared decree to her father. "Oh, father." She throws herself onto him. Her tears fall onto his body. Fiona hears a faint voice in her ear. She looks up and sees that Island Chief was trying to say something. Fiona cries out, "Father!" She puts her ear over his mouth and listens carefully, trying to see what he has to say.
After moments of dead air, Fiona hears the word "daughter" coming out of Island Chief's mouth. She looks at him with happy tears.
Island Chief begins to shake and he gasps for air. Fiona panics and exclaims, "Father! Hang in there!" She turns to Bo Gong Gong and yells, "Quick! Get the doctor! Father has to be saved! Bo Gong Gong! Hurry!" Fiona watches Bo Gong Gong leave and turns her attention towards her father once more. "Father, please..."
Fiona grabs a hold of Island Chief's hands and says, "Please, you can't leave me! I'll be all alone if you're gone as well. Ah Sing is not with me. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here as well."
She feels a faint squeeze from Island Chief's hands. She gasps, "Father?"
By the time Bo Gong Gong returned with a crowd of people, it was too late. Island Chief had passed away.