Chapter 6 — The Secret the Empress Dowager Concealed

On the front of the medallion, a minuscule character was engraved. I leaned in close to discern it. It was the character for "Inner." Xiao Zhi's voice was heavy.

"They are from the Imperial Palace."

The words "from the Imperial Palace" caused the prison cell to fall into absolute silence. The blood on my hands had yet to dry, and the short blade felt slick and sticky where I gripped it. My mother hurried over, taking my wrist. She asked no questions, simply prying the dagger from my grasp.

"Don't hold it so tightly."

Only then did I realize my knuckles had gone stiff. Xiaoman lunged forward and threw her arms around me, sobbing. "Sister, you scared me to death just now."

Wencheng joined us, moving in closer. "Sister, to think you actually dared to hold a blade."

I looked at him. "And you, you were bold enough to shout about the throne being lost just moments ago."

Wencheng's face flushed crimson. "I was only showing a bit of wit in a desperate situation."

My father approached, still wearing a headful of straw from the prison floor. "You had the desperation, but the wit was severely lacking."

Wencheng was indignant. "But didn't you summon them here?"

My father looked toward Xiao Zhi. "I did not summon His Majesty. I summoned the Regent."

Xiao Zhi paid no mind to my family's bickering. He handed the black medallion to the lieutenant behind him. "Seal the celestial prison. Not a single jailer, member of the imperial guards, or Ministry of Justice official currently on duty is to leave tonight."

The lieutenant bowed. "Understood."

Xiao Zhi turned his gaze to my father. "Xie Guihong, you knew someone would come to kill her, yet you did not warn His Majesty?"

My father brushed the stray bits of straw from his hair. "I did tell him."

"When?"

"On the execution grounds."

Xiao Zhi’s eyes grew cold. My father hastily added, "I said quite a lot. His Majesty simply failed to understand."

My mother rubbed her temples. "Xie Guihong, that you have managed to stay alive until this day is truly a miracle."

Xiao Zhi stared at him. "You were using Xie Ming Duong as bait."

My heart sank. Xiaoman snapped her head up. "What bait?"

Xiao Zhi replied, "The scandal regarding the late Empress's jade caused such a stir at the execution grounds. Whoever is lurking in the shadows, if they fear that Xie Ming Duong is still alive, they would move immediately to kill her." He looked at me. "Your father was betting on this very move."

I turned to look at my father. He did not dodge my gaze. For once, his face lacked its usual mocking levity. "Correct."

My mother slapped him hard across the face.

The sound echoed through the cell. My father's head tilted to the side, his lip split. He did not argue back. My mother’s eyes were rimmed with red. "She is the daughter we raised, not a pawn on your chessboard."

My father spoke softly. "I know."

"You know, and yet you still dared?"

"Because if I did not, she would have died even sooner."

My mother opened her mouth to retort, but I spoke first. "Mother."

She looked at me. I shook my head. It was not that I felt no resentment, but I understood the situation all too well. From the moment we stood on those execution grounds, our family had lost any path to a clean life. My father had thrust me into the eye of the storm, but outside that storm, a blade was already pressed against my throat. Xiao Zhi glanced at me. His gaze was distant, yet it felt as if he were interrogating me anew.

"Xie Ming Duong, I will bring you into the palace tonight."

My mother instantly blocked my path. "Absolutely not."

Xiao Zhi spoke firmly. "The assassin's medallion originated from the Inner Court. Only by entering the palace to face the Emperor can this matter be suppressed." My mother laughed coldly. "Suppressed? Or is it to make it easier for those inside to finish the job?"

Xiao Zhi did not lose his temper. "That is why I will personally escort her."

My father added, "My lady, let her go."

My mother glared at him. "Shut your mouth."

My father complied. I looked at Xiao Zhi. "Can you guarantee that I will not die, Prince?"

Xiao Zhi answered, "I cannot." Xiaoman gasped in shock. I, however, let out a hollow laugh. "The Prince is surprisingly honest."

Xiao Zhi watched me. "I can only guarantee that if anyone attempts to kill you, I will strike them down first."

It was not a comforting thought, but it was practical. I nodded. "I will go."

My mother took my hand. "Ming Duong."

I squeezed her fingers. "Mother, if I hide in this prison, someone will still come to kill me. By entering the palace, I might at least see who is truly afraid that I am still alive."

Tears streamed down my mother’s face, but she quickly wiped them away. "Go, then." She smoothed back my disheveled hair. "Do not be afraid."

An incense stick of time later, I changed into clean prisoner's robes and was led out of the celestial prison by Xiao Zhi. The night was profoundly dark, yet the palace gates were ablaze with light, as bright as day. I sat in the carriage, listening to the rhythmic clatter of armor outside. Xiao Zhi rode his horse alongside, saying nothing. I lifted the carriage curtain slightly.

"Prince."

He glanced over. "What is it?"

"The assassin said, before he died, that I looked very much like her."

Xiao Zhi’s hand on the reins faltered for a heartbeat. "Who?"

"I do not know, which is why I am asking you."

He remained silent. That silence was, in itself, an answer. I pressed him. "The late Empress?"

Xiao Zhi looked toward the approaching palace gate. "If you wish to survive, once you enter the palace tonight, do not bring up the late Empress."

"Why?"

"Because in the palace, the one thing they have in abundance are people who died because of her."

I lowered the curtain, my heart pounding faster with every breath. As the palace gates swung open, the Eunuch Chang was already there, waiting.