Chapter 245: Threats and Shadows

Han Shuying woke to the sound of the door opening. For a couple seconds, she remained still, staring at the ceiling above her.

The dull ache at the back of her head had not disappeared. Neither had the pain in her wrists. The iron restraints remained fastened tightly around them, connected by short chains to the heavy bedframe beneath her.

She had spent what felt like an eternity in that room, the thought of her father’s death striking differently every time it surfaced.

She closed her eyes.

Two young maids walked into the chamber carrying basins of warm water, folded robes, jewelry boxes, and trays of cosmetics.

Han Shuying immediately frowned.

One of them bowed. "Lady Han."

"Leave!" Han Shuying immediately yelled.

The maid stiffened. "We have been ordered by Her Majesty to get you ready for the wedding."

A loud ringing went off in Han Shuying’s ears. "What did you just say?"

"We’ve been asked to prepare you for your wedding," the maid repeated, flinching when Han Shuying rattled the chains.

"My wedding," Han Shuying said in disbelief. She knew the empress had gone mad but she hadn’t expected her to go through with the wedding.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she pulled against the chains. The metal rattled violently against the bedframe. "You can tell Empress Lihua that I would rather have my throat cut than marry her."

The younger maid looked frightened. "Lady Han, please—"

Han Shuying’s breathing grew heavier. "She thinks she can chain me to a bed and then force me to marry her?" Her voice cracked with fury. "I would rather die."

A woman’s voice came from the door. "There’s no need for you to be this dramatic." Empress Lihua stepped into their line of sight.

Han Shuying’s anger immediately turned cold.

The Empress was already dressed for the wedding. Her crimson ceremonial robes flowed behind her, embroidered with golden phoenixes and intricate patterns that shimmered whenever she moved.

Her hair had been arranged beneath an elaborate phoenix crown, and crimson ornaments hung beside her ears. She looked every inch an imperial bride.

Empress Lihua looked at the two maids. "Leave us."

The maids bowed. "Yes, your majesty." They hurried out after that.

Empress Lihua closed the doors herself. The sound of the bolt sliding into place seemed louder than it should have been.

Han Shuying stared at her with disgust. "You really intend to do this. Do you think putting me in wedding clothes will make me your wife?"

"No." Empress Lihua approached the bed. "I think fear will eventually make you understand that your resistance is pointless."

Han Shuying’s jaw tightened. "I will never love you or willingly stand beside you."

Empress Lihua stopped beside the bed. "I know all that. But you only need to understand that I don’t need your love, Shuying. All I want is your presence. I don’t want to be alone anymore."

"You’re sick!"

The Empress’s gaze softened. "But I am also honest about what I want."

Han Shuying looked away. "Stop this madness. You’ll never have me."

Empress Lihua said nothing, instead she raised her hand. A faint current of spiritual energy gathered around her fingers. The energy was pale and almost translucent, twisting between Empress Lihua’s fingers like mist.

"What are you doing?"

The Empress did not answer. She spread her palm and the spiritual energy condensed. It became a small sphere.

At first it was nothing more than a pale glow, then the light deepened. Shapes began forming inside it.

Han Shuying’s breathing stopped.

A landscape appeared, then a road, followed by a mountain ridge. There was a wagon moving slowly along a narrow road.

Han Shuying stared in awe.

She’d heard of cultivation masters that were able to monitor people with the help of their spiritual energy. She just didn’t think the Empress was capable of cultivation.

"What the—" The image became clearer and Han Shuying saw the person that was lying in the wagon.

’Ru Yi?"

She was lying beneath a dark blanket, and her face was deathly pale. Even her lips were almost colorless.

Dark veins seemed to crawl beneath her skin. And from the wound in her side, black shadows continuously leaked outward.

Han Shuying’s eyes widened. "No!"

Empress Lihua watched her carefully.

Inside the orb, Lieyin sat beside Ru Yi. Her hands were pressed against Ru Yi’s body, spiritual energy flowing desperately into the wound. But the energy disappeared into the darkness almost immediately.

Lieyin looked exhausted and terrified.

Han Shuying’s heart was pounding when she looked at Empress Lihua. "What is this? What did you do to her?"

"Not me. It was your father."

"What?"

"General Han Zheng was the one who stabbed Ru Yi with a blade coated with poison," Empress Lihua answered. "It’s the reason the wound cannot heal."

Han Shuying went still. "My father?"

"Yes."

The image shifted slightly. Ru Yi suddenly convulsed but Lieyin caught her. ℴℴ𝘮

"Ru Yi!"

The sound was muffled by the spiritual projection, but Han Shuying could hear the desperation in Lieyin’s voice. Black shadow spilled across the wagon floor.

Han Shuying felt cold. "Why are you showing me this? What is your plan?"

Empress Lihua answered quietly. "Her shadow is consuming her, it’s the effects of the poison. It will feed on her core energy until there’s nothing left."

For the first time, fear appeared openly on Han Shuying’s face. "You’re saying that she’ll die."

"Finally, you’re catching up." The orb remained suspended between them. "But the good news is that I know how to get the antidote."

Han Shuying knew when she was being threatened. "You want me to marry you in exchange for the antidote?"

Empress Lihua used her other hand to pat Han Shuying’s head. "That’s my smart girl. Except that’s not the catch...not really. Marrying me is inevitable."

"Then what do you want?" Han Shuying searched her eyes. "You already have the throne, so what more could you possibly want?"

"Well, well, well..."

Han Shuying’s anger was slowly being replaced by something else.

Fear.

Real fear.

Fear for the woman sitting in front of her. A woman who had become something far more dangerous than anyone could comprehend.

Empress Lihua moved closer, the orb still between them. "Get me the divine sword and the antidote is yours. And don’t worry, I know just how much you love the maid even though you’ll never admit it to yourself."

And that was because she’d been watching them all along.

Empress Lihua finally extinguished the orb and stood up. "Be a good girl and get ready for the wedding. I put so much thought into it."