Chapter 2 — The Day Chiêu Nhi Wore the Dragon Robe

Right at that moment, a piercing shriek suddenly shattered the quiet outside the door.

Empress Mother!

Chieu. My little Chieu. In the end, the child had found out after all. Lying flat upon the cold, filthy floor, I peered through a narrow gap in the door and caught a fleeting glimpse of her small, fragile figure. At that exact moment, the agony tearing through my soul was far more excruciating than death itself.

Chieu... go away... leave quickly...

I pleaded in a weak, breathless whisper. I was not afraid of dying, nor was I terrified of humiliation. But I could not bear for Chieu to hear these filthy sounds, and even less could I endure the thought of her seeing the mother she had always revered being trampled beneath the feet of others like a stray dog. Chieu dismounted in a desperate blur, stumbling as she threw herself heavily before Pei Jing.

Imperial Father! I beg you, let Empress Mother go!

The sixteen-year-old maiden cried until her voice was completely hoarse, her forehead repeatedly slamming against the jagged stones of the courtyard until blood streamed down her face in a blinding sheet.

The imperial physicians said that Empress Mother's body was already failing, that the oil in her lamp was nearly spent... Imperial Father, how could you possibly bring her to a place like this? Chieu begs you, let me take her place instead. Take me!

Upon hearing those four words—the oil in the lamp is spent—Pei Jing’s entire body violently shuddered. Instinctively, his gaze snapped toward the tightly bolted door. From within came the dull thud of a heavy object hitting the floor, followed immediately by my own wretched, heart-wrenching scream. A flash of profound pain flickered deep within Pei Jing’s eyes. Unable to control his impulse, he took a step forward. But Jiang Yingxue suddenly broke the tension with an impatient, mocking laugh.

Are we quite finished yet? The mother and daughter putting on a pitiful performance together, fighting for favor in front of who, exactly? It is utterly nauseating.

Pei Jing, you surely are not going to believe them, are you? These two only know how to resort to crying, making scenes, and threatening to hang themselves to get their way.

Pei Jing’s frame stiffened abruptly, and his brows knitted in irritation.

Xie Qinghuan, if you think you can use this cheap trick to win back my favor, let me tell you right now, you have calculated entirely wrong.

He whipped his head around to glare at Chieu, who was still kneeling frantically on the stone ground.

Take the princess away! Do not let her stay here to listen to such vile nonsense!

No! Imperial Father!

Chieu thrashed about with the wild desperation of a cornered beast.

Empress Mother will die! She really is going to die!

Guards swarmed forward, forcefully dragging a kicking and screaming Chieu away. Even as she was hauled into the distance, her desperate, tear-soaked cries echoed mournfully above the brothel roofs:

Imperial Father, you will regret this! You will regret this for the rest of your life!

Empress Mother, do not be afraid, I am going to find my maternal grandfather. I will bring someone here to save you—

Prone upon the filthy ground, my tears and blood mingled into a sickening paste as I dragged myself desperately toward the door. But a heavy, merciless boot suddenly descended upon my spine, crushing me ruthlessly back down into the dirt. The one-eyed ruffian, having witnessed the commotion outside, burst into an even more unhinged, mocking laughter.

Did you hear that, little empress? Your beloved man told you to enjoy yourself to the fullest!

He violently yanked a fistful of my hair, smashing my forehead mercilessly against the wooden bedpost.

This lesson in obedience—my brothers and I will make certain you remember it for the rest of your miserable days!

By the time my parents knelt outside the infamous brothel, a full hour had already slipped away. My father, Xie Yuanshen—a mighty man who had slaughtered countless enemies on bloody battlefields, shedding his blood without ever shedding a tear—had now removed his heavy battle helmet, standing stripped of his martial glory like any ordinary, broken-hearted old father as he bowed deeply before Pei Jing.

Your Majesty... Qinghuan has been frail of health since childhood; she is the very lifeline of this old subject. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and permit this old minister to bring her back home. Years ago, when this subject aided Your Majesty in ascending the throne, my heart harbored no disloyalty. Qinghuan has been wedded to the imperial house for many years and has never committed a single unvirtuous act. I implore Your Majesty to remember our past sentiments and release her!

My mother wept so violently she had collapsed into unconsciousness several times over.

Your Majesty, I beg you to show compassion and set Qinghuan free! Her body simply cannot endure this torment!

My fingers suddenly clenched into tight claws, my fingernails digging desperately deep into the gaps between the floor tiles. The thing I feared most in this world was for them to witness me in such a degraded state. Pei Jing finally seemed pierced by the weight of those two words—past sentiments—as his voice turned remarkably hollow.

Xie Qing, I was merely...

Before he could finish his sentence, Jiang Yingxue burst into a shrill, piercing chuckle.

What is this? Are you trying to use your past merits of helping him ascend the throne to pressure the Son of Heaven?

And here I thought the Grand General Protecting the Nation was fiercely loyal, but it turns out he merely relies on past achievements to coerce his ruler.

She sashayed right up to my father, stretching out a finger to poke him mockingly in the shoulder.

Old man, if you truly cared for your daughter, why did you not teach her to properly reflect upon her own ideological flaws? Such deep-rooted arrogance and improper mindset deserve to be broken, and whatever punishment she receives, she brings entirely upon herself.

Shut your filthy mouth!

My father abruptly raised his head, his eyes burning with the fierce, wild intensity of a cornered tiger as he locked his gaze onto Jiang Yingxue.

You treacherous vixen, throwing the imperial court into chaos and framing the empress. Even if this old minister has to risk his life today, I swear I will slaughter you right here and now!

As he shouted, father instinctively reached toward the long sword resting discarded upon the ground. Pei Jing’s complexion shifted drastically, and he threw himself instantly in front of Jiang Yingxue to shield her.

Xie Yuanshen! Just try laying a hand on her!

In unison, the blades of the imperial guards flashed, pointing menacingly at the father and daughter of the Xie family.

Xie Yuanshen, you show complete contempt for imperial authority! Take the princess back to the estate and reflect on your insolence! As for Qinghuan’s affairs, this emperor knows well enough how to handle them!

What on earth could you possibly know about handling things!

Chieu broke through the guards once again, lunging forward with a blood-stained imperial physician's diagnosis clutched tightly in her small hand.