Her soaring merits for saving the Dynasty and the Emperor only earned her this forgiveness?
An abandoned palace to die in, trapped for His Majestyâs personal use.
He⦠was still this cold and selfish.
Madam Feng smiled quietly, her expression determined and vague. She looked up as she replied: âAs Your Majesty commands.â
âMingying.â Happiness flashed in the Emperorâs eyes and he took her hand, stepping out from behind the curtains. âCome⦠let me look at youâ¦â
He set a hand on her shoulder and turned her to the bead-curtained jade bed, incense lingering around them.
He grasped her hand, finally claiming that warmth and tenderness he had longed after for so many years.
She leaned into his embrace, waiting for the final end to this life of pain and suffering.
The Tian Shen Emperor sat with Madam Feng in his arms, looking down at that gorgeous face, his gaze intoxicated. Finally, his fingers brushed down to the opening of Madam Fengâs robes.
âYour Majestyâ¦â Madam Feng said quietly, dodging a touch away.
The Emperor paused, darkness coming over his brows.
âThe light⦠itâs embarrassingâ¦â Madam Feng said, her face flushed as she pointed to the woman-shaped candle.
The Emperor smiled and lifted his hands, letting Madam Feng rise and blow out the light.
Darkness fell, the sun blocked by thick curtains, and the Tian Shen Emperor lay back lazily, waiting for the woman to return to his side.
âPeng.â
A loud, muffled sound filled the air beside him and the bed shook a little.
The Tian Shen Emperor stirred from where he lay, eyes closed, feeling the tremor even in his daze.
âWhat happened?â
Silence; all the servants had retreated outside. He sniffed the air, smelling a strangely familiar tang of metal, and then his heart lurched.
âMingying!â
The Emperor jumped to his feet, absently noticing the wetness in his sandals as he turned to the shadowed figure lying on the ground, dark liquid spread around her on the golden floor.
He leapt over, pulling aside the heavy curtains as he passed. Daylight rushed in, revealing the glaring red pool.
âYour Majestyâ¦â Madam Feng croaked weakly, her slender fingers dripping with blood as she reached up out of the pool of blood.
The Tian Shen Emperor stared in shock, his eyes sweeping over everything. The great, gold foot of the bed stood next to her head, scarlet blood marring the metal. Just now⦠she had banged her head mercilessly, holding back no strength.
Realization filled the Emperor with anger and disappointment and confusion. He stepped away from the spreading blood as he spoke, dazed: âWhy⦠why? Do you hate me this muchâ¦â
âNoâ¦â Madam Feng forced out, reaching towards him, her expression sad and lonely. Blood ran from her head, matting her hair and covering her ear, and her face was filled with sorrow.
âYour Majestyâ¦â She began again, tears filling her eyes. âMingying bled badly after giving birth and has lived a poor life without food and clothing⦠I have the womanâs disease⦠this body⦠how⦠how could it serve His Majesty⦠Mingying worships at Your Majestyâs feet⦠How could I let my dirty body⦠profaneâ¦â
The Tian Shen Emperor stared, tears rushing from his heart into his eyes and pouring forth.
âMingying!â He gasped, finally stepping forward and grasping her hand. He kneeled in the blood, tears falling down his face. âWhy did you not say⦠the Imperial Physicians can look at you⦠and even⦠even if itâs incurable⦠Iâll never lose my love for youâ¦â
He turned his head and yelled: âSummon the Physicians! Get them here now!â
The servants waiting outside scrambled away in their hurry as the Tian Shen Emperor clutched his woman in his arms, a spreading emptiness filling his heart.
âI⦠disloyal and unworthyâ¦â Madam Feng forced out as she lay her hands gently on his, lifting up her sad eyes to look into the Emperorâs. âI⦠only bring Your Majesty trouble⦠Princes⦠hungry for throne⦠Your Majestyâs steps⦠hardâ¦. These years⦠worried for you⦠anxious⦠Mingying cannot⦠cannot live⦠and bring troubleâ¦â
The Emperor stirred. He thought of his ferocious, power-hungry sons and knew them to be tigers. The Fifth Prince had just committed suicide after his rebellion, and the Tian Shen Emperor knew that Madam Fengâs fears were real. His heart stirred with emotion and he breathed choking breaths as he said: âIâve worried you⦠your care for me⦠what a pity that youâ¦â
âTwenty years ago⦠Mingying would die for His Majestyâ¦â Madam Feng replied, her smile warm and gentle like a white lotus blossoming in a lonely palace hall. âEven if⦠walked the wrong path⦠finally Mingying can die⦠for Your Majesty⦠happy⦠truly⦠happyâ¦â
The Tian Shen Emperor held her close as the warm blood poured and pooled, her life dripping away as she pushed out her moving words. As pain filled his heart, the Emperor knew that she had died for him; she truly cared too little for herself and too much for him, just like she had ⦠twenty years ago.
âTwenty yearsâ¦â Madam Feng murmured, a small smile on her lips, happiness clear on her face.
âTwenty yearsâ¦â The Tian Shen Emperor repeated, tears blurring his eyes.
Time swept by in a quiet daze and the white hair seemed to turn black and the aged marks fade. He looked down and saw the bright-eyed, raven-haired young woman wielding her sword like a bolt of lightning cutting through the battlefield, protecting him from an assailantâs spear.
âMaster! Iâm here!â
When he had opened his eyes, her smiling face looked down at him, her crimson armor drenched with blood. She paid no mind to the long arrow piercing her shoulder as she helped him up and forced her way out of the enemiesâ encirclement.
A truly fierce and miserable battleâ¦
He was too injured to fight, so she held them off on her own, the thin young girl carrying him as she bravely faced the enemy; he could barely lift his head to watch as she cut down one sword after another, her blood mingling with the enemies as she pushed forward little by little, her feet squishing in flesh and crunching on shattered metal as they pressed through the raging battle⦠Blood flashed before him, hotter than tears⦠and he had sworn then that if they lived, he would⦠it would be his turn to take care of herâ¦