The Empress

Chapter 11: Temporary freedom [1]

They are teleported outside the imperial palace which is a quite secluded area. Empress Huihuang patted the young man shoulder and tells him to come along with them too. Truthfully, she is a bit wary of what her husband will do to him once he found out that she is missing but that will be taken care of sooner or later. Senior Princess Long Xuanlu and Hudie smile as they look at her and thought that the woman is such a schemer for sure.

Madame Red smile as she takes a deep breath. During her younger days, Kingdom of Long is a place where most of her happy memories are made. There is not a single place in the Kingdom that she never been to thanks to Hui’er and Xuan’er. In one of that so-called self-searching journey, they met Hudie. She misses that moment. A moment where she was once truly happy and still somewhat naive in what to expect. As the only daughter of the most prominent and well-respected general in the Kingdom of Leng, she has been betrothed to the then Crown Prince Leng Re Long. She was only 15-year old when she found out that she was ordered to go back to her Kingdom. She knew that her father was not willing too but the then emperor decreed on the marriage. Being a loyal subject of the kingdom, he can only beg her forgiveness and asked her to come back. She sadly bids goodbye to those that she loves in the Kingdom of Long especially these ridiculous women that has been such a dear friend to her.

She came back with a hope that she can make her family proud, but he hated her with passion, and she can only accept that with an open heart. He mocked her for being 5 years older than him. When they are married. She has been ignored for 5 years by him. He had taken 3 concubines at the same time he married her. When he became the reigning emperor, he was only 15-year old whereas she was 20-year old, an old empress he blatantly told the ministers in each morning assembly. She graciously ignored his words as he was still a young boy.

But that young boy forced her to consummate their so-called marriage due to the pressure from the ministers. She unknowingly being given a drugged tea. When she woke up, she can only laugh hysterically upon seeing herself in the mirror. As if trying to show her how disgusted he was with her, he bedded all three of the imperial concubines too. When she knew about the matters, she can only feel pity towards them as they are still young. Noble Lady Jiaohua had just celebrated her 15th birthday then. First Attendant Wan was just 14-year old whilst Second Attendant Mei was still a 13-year old girl. Second Attendant Mei was quite traumatized after that, as the oldest one in the royal harem, she made Second Attendant Mei stay together with her.

The other two frequently visited her too to seek advice from her. What advice can she give them when a month later, the royal doctor confirmed that she was in fact 4 weeks pregnant with her first child. A week later, the newly elevated Noble Lady Wan has been confirmed to be pregnant as well but as she was the emperor's favourite, she had received his grace earlier than the others. She was in fact 7 weeks pregnant with her first child too. The emperor treated the gentle Noble Lady Wan with utmost care whilst she, as the empress, had been treated like she was absolutely nothing. Second Attendant Mei slowly began to hate the emperor since then.

She persevered for the sake of her unborn child but the biggest blow for her is when she discovered he planned to kill her entire family... She wanted to end her life then, but her child needed to be borne, her child has every right to inherit the throne but knowing how he hates her, she knew that there is a slim chance for her child to receive his love and care. She then planned, if her child is a boy, she will give him to Noble Lady Wan so that he will be raised by her as she will only watch from a distance. But what happened then changes everything. She timed her birth to be on the same day as Noble Lady Wan. Her heart is broken to a thousand pieces when she heard how her family members are killed but she persevered as her child must be borne and inherit what rightfully belongs to him. Xi Ai is in fact the unplanned child, but she was ecstatic, she has the reason to continue her life then. Raising her daughter and seeing her son be the next emperor. And, those who are involved in what had happened back then will be killed sooner or later. Though, she has left him from the soon-to-be-murdered list because he is the father of her children. She knows that he treated her son with the utmost love and care with the hope that he will be the next emperor. So, she let him live because of her son.

For her daughter, she can only see hatred in her eyes whenever she looks at that man. Her daughter is an extremely mature girl due to her nature of wanting to learn everything ever since she can walk. She had even taken her first kill when she was only a 5-year old child. As her mother, she cannot help but feel slightly terrified of her naturally vicious daughter who is known for her "no mercy" trademark where she stabbed them right through their hearts whenever she made a kill. She even has the habit of looking into the eyes of those she murdered with a smile on her face.

She remembered her daughter's words, "When I look into their eyes, I can see how the sign of life is slowly diminishing. I am exhilarated by it. It gives me satisfaction like no others.”

Her daughter worries her, but she seems to be living a somewhat normal life now. That guy with her seems to be a good influence on her. He is obviously in love with her daughter. Her children deserve to have a happy love life, unlike their mother.

Empress Huihuang stares as Madame Red who seems to be in deep thought, "Hua’er... You look so handsome! Just like in the past! We should enjoy ourselves today. First thing first, let us go to Yaorao Pavilion!!!"

Hudie look at her and says, "Of all the places we can too, why must we go to my place? How boring..."

"Darling... That is our first place to go too. Hahahahahaha! We will go to every nook and cranny within this imperial city!"

Madame Red and Senior Princess Long Xuanlu watch both of the women happily. They cannot wait too. When it comes to having fun, Empress Huihuang is a go-to for such thing. Captain Ying can only watch while hoping that he will live for tomorrow due to his "help".