Chapter 5 — I Won't Save You in This Life Again

That day, I was sequestered within the kitchen of my pocket dimension, busy tending to a batch of roasted chicken in the oven. Suddenly, the voice of my younger stepsister drifted in from the outside world.

Sister, where have you hidden yourself? It has been such a long time since I last saw you. Have you finally withered away from hunger?

I quickly smeared a smudge of flour across my face and stepped out to confront her. The moment she caught sight of me, she paused, her eyes widening in surprise, before she regained her composure and covered her mouth to suppress a giggle. Ha, has the summer heat driven you into hiding within your own dimension? Honestly, I have stepped into your space before. It is nothing but mountains, grass, and barren deserts; there is absolutely nothing to eat there! Look at me, sister!

As she spoke, she withdrew a large, aromatic flatbread from within her robes, deliberately waving it beneath my nose. Do you want a bite? If you crave it, kneel down and beg me! Plead with me, and perhaps I shall grant you a mere morsel.

I stared at her, my expression icy. In my previous life, I had shared every scrap of food I possessed with her, often giving her the larger portion out of fear that she might go hungry. And how did she repay me? By using a crust of bread to humiliate me. Seeing my silence, her expression grew even more smug.

Sister, look at your pale, gaunt face. You must be suffering from severe malnutrition, must you not? There is no shame in admitting you are starving; after all, I do not wish for you to die too quickly.

With that, she perched herself upon a nearby lounge, tore off a small piece of bread, and tossed it at my feet as one might throw scraps to a stray dog. Pick it up and eat it. Do not say that I, your sister, do not care for you! Surely it has been ages since you tasted something so delicious, right?

I ignored her arrogance, sat on the opposite end of the lounge, and pulled a succulent roasted chicken leg from my sleeve. Keep your pathetic, tasteless bread for yourself. I shall dine on this instead.

My stepsister jolted to her feet, glaring at me with raw indignation. Where did you get that? The famine has ravaged the land for a year; the frozen meat in the cellars was consumed long ago. How could you possibly still possess fresh poultry?

I feigned an air of mystery. There are wild chickens in the forests of my dimension. Did you not know?

She stood frozen, dumbstruck. You managed to capture a wild chicken? A flicker of greed crossed her face, and her tone shifted into sycophantic wheedling. Sister, could you spare a portion for me? It has been so long since I tasted meat! Look at my face, it has turned sallow and thin. Even the Emperor no longer takes pleasure in looking at me.

I mimicked her earlier gesture, tossing the half-eaten chicken leg onto the floor and pointing at it. Here, pick it up and eat. Do not say that I, your sister, do not care for you!

You! She turned a deep, furious shade of red.

Yet, the intoxicating aroma of the roasted meat seduced her senses, and she could not stop the saliva from pooling in her mouth. She hesitated for only a second before pouncing like a ravenous beast, clawing the chicken bone from the ground and chewing on it with feral intensity. Once she had finished, she wiped her mouth with her sleeve and retorted with forced arrogance. Do not be so smug, sister. You merely stumbled upon good fortune this time with your wild chicken. I recall there are black bears in that forest; perhaps next time, you shall be the one being devoured!

I shrugged indifferently. You should be more concerned with your own plight.

Hmph! I currently hold the favor of the Emperor, so there is nothing for me to worry about. Even if you manage to survive until the end, the title of Empress will always belong to me. What could you possibly use to compete with me?

She swished her skirts and stormed off.

I returned to my dimension, opened the refrigerator, and treated myself to a popsicle. Meanwhile, my stepsister made a beeline for the Ziyang Palace. The doors were tightly barred, and not even a guard remained. The prolonged famine had brought chaos to the realm, and the servants had long since fled the palace in search of survival. As she reached to push open the door, she froze, catching the sound of an intimate conversation from within.

Your Majesty, how is it that you still possess such abundance of food?

Naturally, because you are always in my heart.

Thank you, Your Majesty!

What followed were sounds of carnal indulgence. My stepsister erupted in fury, hands on her hips, and kicked the doors wide open. You harlot! You dare to seduce the Emperor while my back is turned! I will beat you to death!

She charged inside, dragged the beauty from beneath the Emperor, and struck her face twice. The woman clutched her swollen cheek, weeping to the Emperor for salvation. He stepped forward to pull my stepsister away, a flicker of irritation crossing his eyes, though he kept his tone conciliatory, mindful of the potential value her dimension held. Enough, enough. She is but another consort; one more life is of no consequence!

My stepsister’s eyes filled with tears. But you promised me that I would be the only one you favored!