Chapter 52

Imperial Concubine Wei
Wei Li Lian
Hougong

The whole hall went quiet at the news. No one had a word to say, clearly shocked and wondering what next. What did it mean for them?

Li Lian knew what it meant for her.

Death.

Nobody muttered words of congratulations to Noble Consort Qi. They just ate on in silence. It was already an accomplishment of hers that everyone liked her. So who would speak against her?

Noble Consort Qi was docile and so kind, and with this she had attained friendship with almost every woman in Hougong. Now Li Lian wondered whether the friendship between them was actually genuine or it was for the sake of ulterior motives―becoming the phoenix.

“Consort Wang.” Yuwen Hong called, among the noise of cutlery that was  accompanied by tense quietness.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” She was glad to be acknowledged, her first time since forever.

“What did you do to attain Cai Wenjin?”

“Replying to His Majesty, I wrote more than a hundred scriptures daily so that the heavens would have mercy on me and grant me an heir.”

Yuwen Hong nodded, quite pleased with the answer. Li Lian had an inkling idea where this was heading.

“You sometimes even used your blood as the ink for the scriptures?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. In my later days of desperation I used my blood as  sacrifice.”

“Hao. You did well because at the end you gifted me with such an amazing princess.” Yuwen Hong patted the head of Cai Wenjin―his way of expressing love to her―who was stuffing her face with much more food than she could handle, in her father’s lap.

Could it be that she had thrown the tantrum purposely so that she could sit there and eat foreign pastries instead of the normal Nevorian dishes.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Consort Wang smiled. It was quite intriguing how her voice was different before him.

“Imperial Concubine Wei wants to get pregnant too."

No she did not.

"Would you be kind to show her tomorrow how to write these scriptures. She must write more than ten scores (two hundred).” Yuwen Hong spoke with his gaze fixated on his daughter.

Consort Wang looked at Li Lian and devilishly smiled. “This servant will be delighted!”

This gave the harem something to talk about. They began to speculate what was going on, giving Li Lian the hateful glares.

So this was another of Yuwen Hong’s punishment. Wasn’t making another woman empress enough? Funny, this was what they called love. Because if so, she didn’t want it.

It was hurtful.

Li Lian fisted her hand, her knuckles ashen due to the pressure.

You might as well die, Li Lian.

Die, die, die.

It was beginning to sink in. She was going to die. The purpose of her life, as her father liked to call it, was over. For years upon years, she had been trained, beaten to the pulp, forced to become who she wasn’t, read books about a nation she didn’t belong to. And all for what?

Ha-ha.

Li Lian bit her lip until it spurt out blood. She was done for.

She poured a large amount of wine and downed it in one go. Determined it wasn't enough, she poured two more. She shook her head to the chills of it, banging the table with the wine cup as she placed it back.

“Cai Wenjin!” Li Lian shouted.

This had the child seat up straight from where she rested on her father’s chest.

"I'm making a dress for you. We are friends, right?"

The child innocently nodded in agreement, rubbing her ear as a nervous gesture.

“Good, good. Do you want to see who can throw a bigger tantrum than you and your father?"

Li Lian hurled herself up as everyone glared at her with eyes bobbing with shock and amusement. This was what they liked after all: her demise, her doom, and her pain.

She took the wine cup and threw it onto the floor, making it tumble on the floor like earlier.

Not waiting for their reactions, she said, “Not only that. I can also do this.”

Holding the corners of the table, she flung it over, sending her food and the cutlery to smash the floor, breaking into pieces.

Gasps enveloped the room.

“You are all shocked just because of this you judgemental pricks? I can do so much more!” She lifted her skirts and walked on the upside down table before landing onto the aisle. “All you do is gossip whilst you have no life. What do you even do to better yourself?”

Li Lian was drunk. She was drunk with anger.

She picked the discarded plate and violently smashed it onto the wall that had the women scream in fright as the pieces scattered into the air, some hitting them.

She grinned widely. "Sorry, that one I was taught by the emperor. He does it better, though." She began laughing at herself.

Looking at them with eyes of amber, she smirked. “You decided to put your destiny in the hands of a man. Isn’t that a sad thing?” She tilted her head and started throwing away the pins, wherever she felt like throwing them to.

In the corner of her eyes, she saw Yuwen Hong hand Cai Wenjin to his entourage so that his daughter could be escorted out.

“Most of you are talented, but what will become of that when your fate has been placed into the hands of the oh-so-mighty-majesty.”

Finished with removing her pins, she  started unplugging her nail guards. Who cared if her nails broke? It was so vain being in that horrid palace.

“Do you know all of your evil words are depressing? How many have committed suicide due to your words?”

“Li Lian!” Yuwen Hong rebuked her sharply.

“Don’t you dare talk to me!" she lashed angrily. "You are a liar, that's what you are!” Tears submerged her face without her knowing it. She felt a flare of disdain wash her body.

Li Lian did not see the Grand Consort walk toward her in the blurriness of her vision.

She was over this place. Nevoria is what she hated and she would rather die than live there any longer. This was not her home.

A shocking sharp sting bit her face making her fall. Subconsciously, she held her swelling cheek, heaving for air as she sat up and felt the Grand Consort kneel in front of her.

“Your Majesty, it is my fault. Li Lian was my maid. I failed to teach her well. Please, rather punish me, Your Majesty!”

Like the lava sliding out of the pits of a volcanic eruption, Li Lian screamed. Her body was on fire, her back making buckling noises. She screamed louder.

Fury seethed within her system, crippling her. All of her body twitched while her hands clawed the floor. She screamed again, now a deadly piercing scream that cursed the night.

Everyone could feel the air cackle with rage. The atmosphere turned rigid and a loud defeaning growl came from outside, the clouds snarling, though no one had seen any sign of oncoming rain earlier.

A crowd of palace guards ran in and separated the Grand Consort from her.  They had come for her and were going to have her seized.

When one of them attempted to touch her, Li Lian bit him so hard that he cried. She then took it as an opportunity to take his sword for herself, standing up due to its aid.

“Yuwen Hong! You wimp, you can’t tame me by yourself, that's why you would rather rely on these fragile guards of yours.” She laughed loudly, identical to the evil witch that everyone drew in paintings. “What does Qi have that I don’t have?”

She rounded her space with her hand outstretched with the sword so that no one would come near.

“Empress, you called me, yet it is her you chose in the end.” She kicked the guard nursing his wound for him to scram far away from her.

“Oh, I know why she is the best. She is good enough for you because it is her you can control and dominate.”

A guard made a move on her. He yelled as he raced toward her with a precise attack.

Li Lian defended with her own swipe, causing their swords to clash. She spun into the air and aimed for his neck, which she missed by a few inches.

He grinned as he made another attack of his own, but this did not lend on her. It was stopped by a blade heavier than his and more glorious than any other sword; the dragon sword.

Li Lian abruptly turned, only to be hit on the meridian point of her neck, causing her to go limp.

She lost balance and fell onto Yuwen Hong’s arms.

Li Lian was still conscious yet unable to move any part of her. More tears rushed down her cheeks. She never had any freedom to begin with, and he was reminding her again.

Maybe death was the most freeing thing.

Yuwen Hong lifted her as Grand Consort Shu started begging. "Yu'er, please, it's my fault. Don't kill her, please. Muqin did wrong with Li'er."

Yuwen Hong ignored her. “What are you still doing here? Scram!” He shouted at the guards.

"Yu'er!" Grand Consort Shu cried again. "Please have mercy, Muqin did wrong! I will die without Li Lian, please spare her."

"Your Highness, please calm down." Noble Consort Qi consoled Grand Consort Shu, seeming to be at her side now.

"Get away, you witch!"

People made a surprised noise, one that was more than gasping. These words were shocking as the two were considered bossoms.

"Yu'er!" Grand Consort Shu continued. 

“Court Lady Nam, make sure Li Lian’s things are picked and handed to you.” He continued to usher orders.

The roof started moving and Grand Consort Shu's crying grew faint. Li Lian was then greeted by fresh air and the night sky.

Fresh tears emerged on her cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Li Lian. I’m so sorry.” He kissed her tears away.

"Your Majesty." It was Zhi Peng following them.

"Find out from the South Wing who her mother was. Li Lian can't handle heavy emotions, and her eyes glowed back there. I think her mother could be Furian. Also, find out who exactly is her father."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

“I'm sorry that I have hurt you this much. I promised I would teach you how to love, yet I have done nothing but hurt you.”

What was this? She was a strong woman, but what all of her life has intended to do is break her. It was her punishment for life. Harsher than the whip lashes of Mistress Ki.

Involuntary sobs rumbled on her chest.

He held her closer to him. “Hush now, my love. It will be alright. I promise.”

Promises, promises.

How many would he make?

S.V