Jade Upon a Parting Heart - Chapter 1

My prince consort was an exceedingly gentle man.

At that very moment, he was holding a blood-soaked sword. He bent over me tenderly and covered my eyes, then asked the servants with a soft laugh, “Hm? Who summoned Her Highness here?”

The palace maids and eunuchs trembled. No one dared answer until a young maid finally stammered, “I-it was Eunuch Jiang.”

“Oh?”

He gave an order to his personal guards. “Bring him here.”

I could not stop shaking. In the temporary darkness, the smell of blood rushed over me—

from the sword less than three feet away, and from the pool of blood nearby.

My imperial brother, the reigning emperor, lay in that pool. He was still convulsing, groaning in agony as he denounced the Prince Consort’s ravenous ambition.

“Xuan Jue, We treated you well—yet you repay Us like this, you treacherous beast?” My brother gasped. “We even gave Eryu to you in marriage! Is this how you repay Us?”

“This subject is overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s grace. That is why I will leave Your Majesty’s corpse intact.”

I could hear the smile in Xuan Jue’s voice. I imagined his foxlike, peach-blossom eyes curving gently too, as though everything remained firmly within his grasp.

I had collapsed on the floor. At those words, I shoved his hand away and stumbled toward my brother.

Blood had soaked through my brother’s bright yellow imperial robe. His lips and teeth were ashen. After that one furious cry, he no longer had the strength to speak. Only faint moans escaped his throat.

“Summon the imperial physicians! Now! What are you standing there for? Go!” I heard my own hoarse scream.

No one moved.

Armored soldiers surrounded us on every side, and every one of them obeyed Xuan Jue.

I stared blankly at the figure in the blood until he gradually stopped moving. At last, I broke down sobbing.

Behind me, Xuan Jue sighed and tossed aside his sword.

“Don’t look at him, Your Highness,” he said softly. “Look at me.”

He came to me, lowered himself onto one knee, and cupped my face in his hands.

Stars lived in his eyes. They were as warm and mild as spring water.

I had always known that he carried hidden designs in his sleeves, that he could overturn clouds, summon rain, and set the world in turmoil. I simply had not imagined he could truly be this merciless.

I gritted my teeth. “Get away from me. Xuan Jue, get away!”

I tried to push him aside, but he laughed as lightly as a passing breeze.

“Your Highness, I do not wish to kill you. So be good and don’t make this difficult for either of us, all right?”

Before I could spit out *No*, he continued, “Die here and return to the dust, or live on. My dear is far too clever not to know which choice to make. Isn’t that right?”

My reason, already plunging over a precipice, was hauled sharply back.

Xuan Jue understood me too well.

Just as I understood him.

Then one of his guards entered with a tray. I did not need to look to know what it carried.

“Young Master.”

On the white porcelain tray lay a bloodied human head. Its eyes were still wide with terror. It was Jiang Ming.

I fixed my gaze on Xuan Jue, refusing to look at the tray still dripping blood. Even my voice sounded dry and foreign to me.

“The night you were made to kneel outside the Council Chamber, it snowed. Eunuch Jiang held an umbrella over you the whole night. You truly are an ungrateful wretch.”

“A kindness repaid. A grievance avenged. I owe him nothing.” Xuan Jue’s voice remained as calm as ever. “Take Her Highness back to the Princess’s Residence.”