Jade Upon a Parting Heart - Chapter 2

For the time being, I was confined to the Princess’s Residence.

Xuan Jue had proclaimed himself emperor. Buried under affairs of state, he spent his days maneuvering among the various factions.

I heard that keeping me alive had cost him considerable effort.

The officials who had followed him in rebellion were deeply displeased. Leave the roots after cutting down the grass, they said, and trouble would inevitably return.

I pieced together the present situation from scraps of servants’ gossip.

“Say, what do you think the Prince Consort will do with the princess in the end?”

“Shh! He’s the emperor now. Don’t call him Prince Consort anymore. In my opinion, she should count herself lucky to have kept her life. What more could she want? To be brought into the palace and made a consort? Plenty of lords are afraid of offending the new emperor—or simply can’t make out his temper—and they’re falling over one another to send their daughters into the palace. Where would she rank now? Why did you hit me? Er—Eryu… Your, Your, Your Highness!”

I stepped out from beneath the trees. With a bitter smile, I waved away the two gossiping servants, signaling that they need not be afraid or stand on ceremony. They still dropped to their knees, shaking like sieves.

“It’s all right. Go,” I said. “Besides, I’m no longer a princess or anyone’s Highness.”

Only then did they retreat, bowing three times with every step, still trembling.

I could understand their fear. I was the youngest child and had been spoiled from birth. Even my title, Eryu, invoked the imperial seal and all its majesty.

Naturally, I had grown willful and imperious. Apart from my trusted attendants, plenty of servants had feared me.

But all those attendants were gone now. Xuan Jue had slaughtered every last one. I could not even find someone reliable enough to carry out a simple order.

I sat beside the pond and counted the days on my fingers.

It was almost time.

With Xuan Jue’s abilities, half a month was more than enough to bring the court under control.

And then—

he would summon me to the palace.

At the beginning of the second month, as the begonias began to flower, an imperial decree arrived ordering me into the palace.

The eunuch delivering it spoke with a barb in every word. At the end, he made a point of mentioning my murdered brother.

“Your Ladyship is truly blessed. First your father and brothers doted on you; now His Majesty remains so deeply devoted.”

I had never knelt to receive an edict before. I nearly slapped it across his face.

I forced myself to endure and smiled instead. “I think so too. His Majesty is a man who remembers old ties.”

Why else would he have lain low and nursed his vengeance for so many years?

The eunuch plainly misunderstood, assuming I meant Xuan Jue still cherished me. Several expressions crossed his face before he finally backed down with an awkward bow.

“This way, Your Ladyship.”