Chapter 242: A price for love

Han Shuying could feel the monster in Empress Lihua start to awaken. She could see the desperation in her eyes grown, raw and unguarded.

But if anyone knew how manipulative the Empress was...it was Han Shuying.

"None," Han Shuying finally answered. "I’d rather be left alone. If going after my father bothers you then I’d rather not return to the palace."

"You’re going to throw away everything you’ve achieved so far for a man that wouldn’t even claim you as his daughter?" Empress Lihua scoffed, folding her arms on her chest. "That’s the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard."

"I know that," Han Shuying gritted out. "You don’t need to rub it in my face. It’s not like you’ll ever understand, you never had a father of your own."

Silence immediately blanketed both of them. Han Shuying knew she had gone far, but she wasn’t willing to take back her words. It was the truth.

Empress Lihua had grown up in a whorehouse and didn’t even know who her father was. The truth hurt really deep but Empress Lihua wasn’t familiar with self pity.

"Fine, you can go save your very loving father." Empress Lihua’s voice dripped with mockery. She made her way over to the table pressed against the wall. "I’m very sure he’ll be so happy to see you. Maybe...just maybe...he’ll be finally accepting of you and you can live happily ever after."

Han Shuying did not let her mockery get to her. "Am I to return to the capital?" she asked, turning to pick up her sword from the corner.

Empress Lihua grabbed the empty flower vase on the table. "Of course. I can never truly turn you away." She walked up to Han Shuying and raised the vase— "I will never let you go."

The vase came down before Han Shuying could register Empress Lihua’s words. The heavy porcelain struck the back of her head.

Han Shuying gasped– Her vision flashed white. She instinctively reached for the wall, but her knees buckled beneath her.

The room spun in and out of her vision. She heard Empress Lihua say something, but she couldn’t make it out before her vision went blank.

-

-

When Han Shuying opened her eyes, her head was throbbing. She tried to recall what happened. She’d been getting ready to go after her father when the Empress—

She tried to sit up but she couldn’t move. Metal scraped against wood. She looked down and her breath caught.

Chains were wrapped around both wrists, and they were fastened to the heavy frame of the bed. For several seconds she simply stared as her brain tried to make sense of the situation.

Panic finally rushed in. "What..." she pulled against the chains but they didn’t even budge. "What the hell is this?"

The chamber doors opened and Empress Lihua walked in. She had changed her robes and let down her hair. Her expression was calm, a smile plastered on her face.

Han Shuying glared at her. "What did you do to me?" She shrugged with the chains. "You hit me!"

Empress Lihua didn’t answer.

"Unchain me this instant!" Han Shuying pulled harder, making the metal into the soft flesh of her wrists. "Lihua!"

Empress Lihua walked over to the bed, her smile stretching further. "Stop doing that or you’ll hurt yourself."

Han Shuying scoffed. "I think you’ve already hurt me enough. Just drop the act." Han Shuying grimaced when her head hit the pillow.

Empress Lihua sat on the bed beside her. For a moment, she sat there and simply looked at Han Shuying.

Then she reached out and gently moved a strand of hair away from her face.

Han Shuying recoiled in disgust. "Don’t touch me." ℯ

Empress Lihua’s hand stopped, and her expression fell. "You know I’ve never meant to hurt you, Shuying. You were going to leave and it made me panic. You’re the only one I have."

Han Shuying rolled her eyes. "I wonder why."

"If I let you leave..." Empress Lihua looked away, "then there’s nothing left for me here. I simply can’t."

"You need to let me go." Han Shuying tugged at the chains again. "This is pure madness. You can’t just keep me locked in here."

"Oh, I can." Empress Lihua looked at the chains. "If you behave then I’ll get them off."

Han Shuyiing laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls in pure mockery. "You’ve lost your mind."

Empress Lihua nodded as she stood. "Good heavens, I have. You will stay here."

Han Shuying shook her head. "No."

"You will eat when I tell you to eat. You will sleep when I tell you to sleep." Her expression became strangely tender. "I don’t need you to love you, I just need you to stay by my side."

"You can’t control me."

Empress Lihua gestured at the chains. "I can and I will." She turned back to the door. "You of all people should know the lengths I’m willing to go to keep something that I want."

Han Shuying had poisoned and imprisoned people in the past under her command. Now the tables were turned and she was the victim of the Empress’s insanity.

"I will never forgive you for this," Han Shuying said. "And I’ll make sure you pay for every pain you’ve caused me."

"I don’t need your forgiveness, Shuying." She opened the door. "I’ve been doomed from the very beginning. Someone like me can only hope to be worthy enough to die by your hands."

Empress Lihua shut the door behind her without waiting for Han Shuying’s response. She stopped beside the maid that had been waiting for her.

The young woman bowed. "Your majesty."

Her face lacked emotion when she spoke. "Give the Emperor his final dose, make sure he takes it before midnight."

The maid swallowed, understanding what she was asking. "Yes, your majesty."

She looked at the maid. "I trust you to do a good job. And make sure no one sees you." She dismissed the maid. Time was already ticking, she needed to move fast.