The return of her highness

Chapter two:

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Empress Dowager Tang demanded, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"Nonsense?" Empress Dowager Chu repeated with a sly smile curling on her lips. "She's tired of living and chose to end her own life."

The words fell like a thunderbolt.

Silence swept through the hall.

Empress Dowager Tang's eyes widened in shock and fury.

"I want someone to investigate what happened to my Xiao Yao!" she declared.

Empress Dowager Chu let out a cold scoff.

"And who would dare take such a case?" she asked mockingly.

The ministers exchanged uneasy glances. No one dared to speak.

Then, a powerful voice echoed from the entrance of the palace.

"I will."

The hall froze.

Every head turned toward the grand entrance.

A tall figure strode into the palace with calm authority.

It was Duke Wang.

Dressed in an official crimson hanfu embroidered with golden threads, he walked with a majestic bearing that commanded attention. His handsome features were as cold and sharp as ever, while his presence alone silenced the murmurs of the court.

"Duke Wang?!"

The ministers erupted into whispers.

Some stared at him in excitement.

Others looked at him in anger and disbelief.

Ignoring them all, Duke Wang walked past Empress Dowager Chu and stopped before Empress Dowager Tang.

"Your Highness."

"Duke Wang!" Empress Dowager Tang exclaimed, rising from her seat. "You're still alive!"

Duke Wang nodded.

"Good... Good!" she said, unable to hide her relief.

Empress Dowager Chu's face darkened.

"Weren't you dead?" she asked, staring at him as though she had seen a ghost.

A faint smile touched Duke Wang's lips.

"You seem surprised to see me, Your Highness."

His cold gaze met hers.

The atmosphere instantly turned tense.

"Your Highness," Duke Wang said, turning back to Empress Dowager Tang, "please leave this matter to me. I will uncover the truth."

Empress Dowager Tang nodded with a smile, though worry still lingered in her eyes. Xiao Yao was her only daughter, after all.

"What a disaster..." Empress Dowager Chu muttered angrily as she turned to leave.

"Why the hurry, Your Highness?"

Duke Wang's voice stopped her in her tracks.

She slowly turned around.

"What nonsense do you have to say now?" she snapped.

"Nonsense?"

Duke Wang took a step closer.

His expression remained calm, but his eyes were frighteningly cold.

"You should hear me first before deciding whether it is nonsense."

"I don't have time for your games," Enpress Dowager Chu replied before turning away once more.

Then Duke Wang spoke.

"It's about the late Emperor."

Immediately, she froze.

The entire hall fell silent.

Not a single person dared to breathe too loudly.

A strange look flashed across Empress Dowager Chu's face before disappearing just as quickly.

Duke Wang folded his hands behind his back.

"But perhaps we can discuss it another day, since Your Highness claims to have no time."

His words struck like a hidden blade.

Empress Dowager Chu clenched her fists.

"Court dismissed!" she suddenly ordered.

The ministers hurriedly bowed and left the palace.

Soon, only Empress Dowager Tang and Duke Wang remained.

Empress Dowager Tang looked at him curiously.

"What did you mean by that? What do you have to say about the late Emperor?"

Duke Wang's expression remained unreadable.

"Nothing much, Your Highness."

He paused.

"And not now."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"When the time comes, everything will be revealed."

With that, he bowed respectfully.

"I shall take my leave."

Without another word, Duke Wang turned and walked away.

His crimson robes fluttered behind him as he disappeared from the hall, leaving Empress Dowager Tang deep in thought and a storm of unease hanging over the palace.

Whatever Duke Wang knew about the late Emperor...

It was enough to make Empress Dowager Chu afraid.

Outside the capital stood the renowned Taichi Sect.

The sect master, Master Wu, was practicing his swordsmanship beside a small river. His blade flashed through the air with precision, each movement swift and graceful. As he completed a technique, something caught his attention.

A figure was floating downstream.

Master Wu immediately rushed to the riverbank. There, tangled among the reeds, lay an unconscious young woman. Her clothes were soaked, and her face was pale.

Without hesitation, he carried her back to the sect and summoned a physician.

Hours passed.

The young woman remained unconscious for nearly half a day before her eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Where... am I?" she murmured weakly.

Master Wu, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward.

"Your Highness, you're awake."

The young woman frowned.

"Your Highness? Who are you? Who am I? Where is this place?"

A trace of surprise crossed Master Wu's face.

"I see..." he said thoughtfully. "The physician mentioned that you suffered a serious injury to the head. It seems the injury has caused amnesia."

Xiao Yao looked at him with confusion and uncertainty.

"Since you no longer remember who you are," Master Wu continued, moving closer, "allow me to tell you. You are Xiao Yao, the Second Princess of Heavenly City Capital."

"The Second Princess...?" Xiao Yao repeated softly, unable to recall even the slightest memory.

Master Wu nodded.

However, instead of showing excitement, Xiao Yao simply stood up from the bed.

"Whatever. I need to leave."

Master Wu blinked in surprise.

"Leave? Where will you go?"

"I don't know," Xiao Yao replied honestly. "I just want to go somewhere else."

Master Wu sighed.

"You cannot remain here. The Taichi Sect only accepts male disciples, and it is forbidden for women to stay within the sect. Since you are the princess, I will arrange for someone to escort you safely home."

"Home?" Xiao Yao asked.

"Yes. Back to your family."

After a brief silence, she nodded.

"Okay."

A few hours later, a luxurious carriage departed from the Taichi Sect.

The journey was peaceful, and the guards believed their task would be simple.

What they did not know was that Xiao Yao had no intention of returning.

As the carriage passed through a quiet stretch of road, Xiao Yao's eyes sharpened. In a single swift motion, she pushed open the carriage door, leaped out, and landed gracefully on the ground.

Before the guards could react, she had already disappeared into the distance.

"Stop her!" one of them shouted.

But it was too late.

The mysterious princess with no memories had vanished, leaving behind only a trail of dust and countless unanswered questions.