Chapter 2 — Saving the Emperor One Sugar Cube at a Time

Her words are nothing more than bewitching venom. Drag her away, this dowager empress refuses to hear another syllable from her lips.

It was over. Even the dowager empress had abandoned all trust in me. A guard's heavy, merciless hand clamped down on my collar. Do not listen to that quack's nonsense! Go and get sugar! The Imperial Kitchen! A fresh batch of the finest rock sugar was presented as tribute yesterday; it is sitting on the second shelf on the east side! Charge forward, this is your only chance at survival! No, I could not surrender to fate yet. The very moment the two guards hoisted me into the air, I cast all caution to the wind and drove both feet hard against the back of one man's knee.

A cry of pain ripped from his throat.

The guard winced, his grip loosening just a fraction. I seized the fleeting opportunity, mustering every ounce of dormant strength within my frame. The rough hempen rope, already somewhat slack from my relentless writhing, finally yielded enough for me to wrench one hand free.

Stop her!

The empress shrieked in mounting terror. Before I could even tear the remaining restraints from my body, dragging half a length of frayed rope behind me, I hurled myself directly into the path of the imperial physician blocking my way, sprinting like a madwoman straight out of the grand hall.

Seize her! Dead or alive, it matters not!

Xiao Chu Yu's furious roar echoed behind me, instantly followed by the chilling metallic ring of the imperial guards drawing their blades from their scabbards.

A sudden, biting gust of wind slashed across my spine. Relying purely on animal instinct, I pitched my body violently forward, rolling and scrambling to evade a fatal blow. The razor-sharp edge grazed my scalp, shearing off a thick lock of hair.

Stop her!

Daring not to glance back even once, I drove my trembling legs harder toward the Imperial Kitchen. The dark, cold flagstones beneath my feet were unyielding and slick. My foot caught awkwardly on the hem of my skirt, sending me crashing violently to the ground. My knees and palms instantly split open, warm blood mingling with the grit of the earth, fusing stubbornly into my flesh with a pain that pierced straight to my soul.

Get up! Turn left! Only fifty paces remain!

Swallowing the searing agony blooming in my throat, I forced myself up on hands and knees, scrambling forward once more.

With a resounding crash, I slammed straight through the heavy doors of the Imperial Kitchen, startling a drowsy eunuch into a shrill shriek as he scrambled backward. My gaze locked onto the red-lacquered wooden shelves standing on the east side. I lunged forward, one hand aggressively flicking aside the lid of a blue porcelain jar. The aged rock sugar lay undisturbed within. My eye sockets burned hot, and scooping up a generous handful, I clenched my fingers into a tight fist.

Got it!

An imperial guard had finally overtaken me, his massive arm suddenly tightening around my throat while his free hand clawed at my clenched fingers, attempting to pry them open.

Get away!

I parted my lips and bit down savagely into his forearm. A howl of agony tore from him, and his grip instantly slackened. Taking advantage of his retreat, I ducked my head, slipped clean out of the encirclement, and stumbled wildly back along the path I had come. Before long, drenched in blood and battered in body, I burst directly back into the Dragon Diadem Hall. The assembly recoiled in horror at my ghastly appearance. Xiao Chu Yu flew into a towering rage.

Useless trash! Execute her on the spot this instant!

Two long sabers crossed in the air, descending swiftly toward me. Ignoring all else, I threw myself to the floor, sliding across the polished tiles until I came to a halt right before the imperial bed. Before a single soul could react, I forced open Xiao Qi Yuan's rigidly clenched teeth and thrust the chunks of rock sugar straight into his mouth.

Vile wretch! What poison have you just fed His Majesty?!

O Xue Chu shrieked, pointing a trembling finger straight at my face. Dowager Empress, this wretched creature is clearly acting on the orders of another, employing her heterodox sorcery to hasten the collapse of the imperial dragon body! His Majesty's heart meridian was already exhausted, and now to stimulate him with such cloying sweets—even immortals would find him beyond salvation!

The empress's eyes flushed red as she burst into tears, wailing aloud. Mother, we can never forgive this vicious creature!

Xiao Chu Yu ripped the straight sword from his waist, leveling the point directly between my brows. He ground his teeth in pure hatred.

Rebellious traitor, I shall send you on your way this very moment!

The dowager empress stared blankly at Xiao Qi Yuan, who remained completely motionless upon the imperial bed, his complexion the color of ash. Wearily, she raised a single hand and uttered a solitary word.

Kill.

Staring in numb disbelief at the unresponsive form of Xiao Qi Yuan upon the bed, the last shred of desperate confidence within my heart crumbled entirely. Was it useless? Could rock sugar truly not save him? Were those floating commentary visions merely deceiving me? Having gambled my very life on this single throw, was I destined to perish here after all? Despair washed over me like a towering tide. I closed my eyes in resignation, awaiting the cold stroke of the executioner's blade.

A soft, muffled cough broke through the chaotic noise of the grand hall. The sword tip pressing against my brow suddenly shivered. Astonished, I snapped my eyes open, following the gaze of every person present toward the bed. There, upon the imperial couch, the emperor who had seemingly ceased to breathe had somehow opened his eyes.

The sword slipped from Xiao Chu Yu's fingers, clattering sharply against the golden brick floor. The Dragon Diadem Hall fell into a breathless hush for a single heartbeat, only to erupt the next moment into deafening cheers.

His Majesty has awakened! Long live His Majesty!

Several elderly ministers with hair of snow, fiercely loyal to the throne, scurried forward on hands and knees to the foot of the bed, weeping tears of profound relief as they kowtowed until their foreheads struck the floor with heavy thuds. The imperial physicians stood frozen, jaws agape, staring at the bed in sheer, unadulterated disbelief, joined by the palace servants who had moments before attempted to suffocate me with a gag.