Chapter 1 Prologue (Phoenix Reborn) (2/2)

was holding a sword in her hand. Yun Shang took a deep breath when her sister pointed the sword at her face. ”Oh, my! I have no idea what's wrong with me today. Your face is as beautiful and delicate as a flower. I really want to know what would become of it if I made a few cuts.”

Yun Shang was upset. In spite of the scoff and sneer in Hua Jing's eyes, Yun Shang pleaded, ”You can do whatever you want to my face, sister. Just let me live.” Her voice was as hoarse as a raven's.

Hua Jing blinked and raised the sword. Its point swept across Yun Shang's face. Yun Shang felt a burning pain. With it grew an overwhelming hatred in her heart. But she thought of her baby. She clenched her teeth to check the ”hiss” that threatened to escape.

Hua Jing quickly tired of her game, ”Not even a whimper? How boring!” She cut the rope binding Yun Shang's hands, and returned to the bed.

As quickly as her sore feet would allow, Yun Shang dashed toward the door. But she slipped and rolled down the stairs. At the base of the turret, she rose and ran out the gate, paying no attention to her injuries.

Her baby was lying on the ground. He was quiet. There was blood flowing from his head. The rain washed the blood away in tiny trickles as quickly as it pooled around his little head. Yun Shang gently scooped up her baby. ”It's all right. It's all right. My little Huan'er is fine. Mommy will take you to see the Imperial Physician. Just you see. Mommy will take you there right now. My little Huan'er you will be fine...” Holding the baby in her arms, she rushed out of the courtyard.

”Is she really going to see the Imperial Physician?” Mo Jingran who had been standing by the window watching Yun Shang's fading figure seemed worried.

A soft, warm body leaned against his. ”Don't be afraid, Jingran. You already have the Princess' Mansion under your control, don't you?” She cannot leave. Even if she manages to enter the Imperial Palace, she can only seek help from the Empress as His Majesty is not in court. However, as the Empress is my mother, not hers... ”

Mo Jingran turned round, and, lifted the woman in his arms. He carried her to the bed.

”Aha...” Hua Jing shouted, ”Jingran, you are so bad...”

”Your Majesty, Princess Yun Shang is here. She is covered in blood...” A court maid scurried into the inner chamber, and reported to a graceful noble woman who was sitting in front a bronze mirror selecting hair pins.

The Empress frowned, ”Didn't Jing'er* say that Yun Shang is under house arrest at the Princess' Mansion?”

(*TN: In Chinese, the suffix 'er is added to show affection towards another person) How can she be here at my palace?”

The Empress barely finished speaking when Yun Shang's sobs and please could be heard. ” Mother, mother, please save Huan'er. Please save Huan'er.”

The Empress turned back to catch a glimpse of the thoroughly-wet woman rushing into her chamber. There was a terrifying scar on her face. It was so deep that she could see the bone. The young woman opened her cloak to reveal a baby who had long since drawn his last breath. His blood dripped everywhere.

The Empress shot Yun Shang a disapproving look. ”Save what? He is definitely beyond help.”

”No, mother. Huan'er is fine. Please save him. Mother, please send for an Imperial Physician to save Huan'er.” Yun Shang knelt and kowtowed several times before the Empress.

The Empress winked at the court maid waiting at the chamber door. ”Xiu Xin, go and fetch the Imperial Physician. On your way there ask someone to send a cup of wine for Princess Yun Shang. She needs to be warmed.”

The court maid left in a hurry. She returned quickly with a cup of wine in hand. The Empress spoke with the young Princess in a gentle tone, ”Take a seat, Yun Shang. I have sent someone for the Imperial Physician. You should drink some wine to get warm. It would be quite awful if you fall ill before Huan'er recovers. You must take care of him.”

Yun Shang nodded and sat down. She muttered to herself, ”That's right. I cannot fall ill. There wouldn't be anybody to take care of Huan'er if I am sick. Nobody…” With those words, she reached her blood-stained hand for the cup. She raised her head high and drank the liquid without hesitation.

The Empress revealed her most heinous grin ”Good girl. What I hate the most is people who stain my Qiwu Palace. How dare you bring a dead kid here. What damned luck…”

Yun Shang was astonished. She was confused at the abrupt change in the Empress's tone. Before she could understand what changed, a sudden pain coursed through her belly. It was so acute that she could not even stand straight.

”Your Majesty. It seems the medicine is taking effect.” The soft voice beside her seemed familiar. Yun Shang turned to look. Lian Xin! Was she also in the service of the Empress?

”Mother...” Yun Shang frowned, ”Mother...”

”I am not your mother. Your mother has been dead for a long time now.” The Empress spoke in a tone so cold, it scared Yun Shang. ”It was not my intention to kill you, as to live is more painful. But it's a pity that your have smudged my Qiwu Palace.”

Yun Shang could not help burst into laughter after hearing the Empress. Even though waves of pain coursed through her belly, she spoke. ”I'm indeed the most stupid woman in the world. I trusted you, trusted Hua Jing, and trusted Mo Jingran. It never occurred to me that the people I trusted would treat me like this. How evil you are...” She let out a bitter laugh before continuing. ”I, Yun Shang, would rather die than forgive you... Never forgive.”

She spat a mouthful of blood before falling to the ground, ”If there is an afterlife, I will certainly find all of you. I shall have my revenge, revenge...” It was only after she breathed her last, that the baby fell from Yun Shang's hands.

A court maid stooped to check Yun Shang's breath. When she felt no air escaping, she said, ”She's dead, Your Majesty.”

The Empress laughed, and turned around. She picked up a phoenix hair pin. She placed it in her hair and swiveled to see its reflection in her mirror. ”Dead? Then drag the body to the thick grove on the western outskirt. Feed it to the dogs...”