Chapter 19 – Cold Palace
After the emperor spoke, Gong Jue was already drained of energy to the point that he almost fell unconscious. Despite his state, he was eager to rush home. Unfortunately, guiding the crowd to the cold palace takes time, and he couldn’t leave ahead of them.
The repression and ruthlessness of imperial power had once again left a profound influence on Gong Jue; he noticed many of the royalty give impatient stares at the emperor as he led their procession with his sedan. Gong Jue didn’t understand, why should the emperor take the crowd with them?
Fortunately, Chang Xi’s movements were very fast, and the soldiers who carried the numerous sedans were all Royal Guards. With their skilled qinggong** they moved the multitude in haste. Their speed even caused some of the women to scream in protest!
(**translator’s note: footwork for martial arts associated with fast movement)
Rain continued to pour down.
…….
The cold palace’s caretaker, Xu Momo, almost jumped with fright!
Since when did so many of the royalty decide to come visit the Cold Palace?
Why didn’t anyone inform her?!
At this time, the showers had ceased. The entire Cold Palace appeared very dark and humid, while every corner gave off an unbearable scent of decay.
Xu Momo trembled as she lay prostate at the emperor’s feet. The pool of water on the ground drenched her clothes, but the emperor didn’t even spare her a glance. He quickly walked past her as he led the people straight to the Cold Palace.
Blood had already begun to dry up on the ground.
As soon as the group stepped into the lit up yard, the crowd gasped in shock, while many of the audience’s expressions turned ugly! The small courtyard before them was littered with the dead bodies of seven or eight men dressed in black; their blood mingled with mud and rain, causing a rotten stench to permeate the air. At first glance, the dark mud seemed like a deep pool of blood!
In the middle of the courtyard was a little girl who sat on a stone platform. Her bright eyes turned to face the entrance. Suddenly, there was movement under her feet; it was the dying assassin, Liu Mo!
…..
A few moments earlier.
When a loud voice had declared the emperor’s arrival, Liu Mo finally started to panic! Not only was he surprised that the emperor came, he also couldn’t believe that the king would show up so soon! Suddenly his remaining men swiftly retreated from the premises and left him alone, causing Liu Mo to be upset. As he turned to face Gong Yi Mo, he felt an insurmountable anger rise up!
He can’t miss this last opportunity! He needs to kill her!
Liu Mo discreetly peaked at Gong Yi’s back as she began to trudge away. With difficulty, he pulled his sword and swiftly aimed at Gong Yi’s injured shoulder; he wanted to take advantage of her distraction, and then quickly escape. The heavily injured Gong Yi heard his approaching footsteps; unexpectedly instead of dodging, she tossed her sword and allowed the enemy’s blade to pierce into her shoulder. Without a sound, she grasped the enemy’s blade with her bare hand while the her other hand thrust into Liu Yang’s abdomen, wounding him deeply!
She had to prevent his escape!
It was a simple move, but it was extremely vicious!
If Gong Jue doesn’t come this time, she might not be able to make it! Finally, Liu Mo fell to the ground, while Gong Yi pulled out and removed his sword from her shoulder using her bare hands. Afterwards she sat on the stone platform. At this time, the crowd arrives to witness this scene.
Upon beholding such a gruesome scene, Liu Xian Fei screamed in fright, and her pair of big eyes instantly filled with water. Gong Yi turned and saw Liu Xian Fei** giving her a venomous glare, but Gong Yi merely gave a low laugh.
(**translator’s note: for those who forgot, Liu Xian Fei sent the assassins, while the Empress sent the guards to block Gong Jue from entering the inner palace….they are both enemies)
“Sister Gong!” Gong Jue wanted to come forward but was stopped by Chang Xi. Under the lantern’s bright light, Gong Yi Mo’s hair was scattered loosely; her pale face hung gloomily, covered with blood. She sat as still as a corpse with her drenched clothes. When she suddenly looked up with an smile, the crowd stepped back and shivered in fear!
Gong Yi kicked the wounded man beneath her feet. “Look who’s come to visit. I wonder which one of them is your Master?”
Liu Mo looked weakly at the crowd. He felt pain, but refused to speak.
Judging the situation quickly was a skill of the Empress. She immediately noticed that Liu Xian Fei seemed uneasy. The Queen quickly declared, “This man appears to be the assassin. After Princess Gong hands him over to me, I as your Mother Empress, will give you justice!”
She said this in a righteous manner, however, all of her words were calculated. If she arrests this assassin, wouldn’t she be able to force Liu Xian Fei to eat a big loss?”
The Queen’s words caused Liu Xian Fei to frown with anxiety; she softly flung herself into the emperor’s chest and groaned, “Your Majesty, the princess had actually killed so many assassins! Wouldn’t that make her a demon? I’m so scared!”
Usually, the emperor would respond by comforting the woman in his arms, but this time he was too shocked by the scene before him. The little girl who sat alone among the corpses…
….was she really Xue Rong’s daughter?
Gong Yi Mo looked at the emperor and laughed. She kicked Liu Mo’s foot, “The emperor is here, do you want me to tell him?”
Liu Mo spat blood in frustration, “You’d better kill me, otherwise you will regret it!”
The Queen said hurriedly, “The princess should quickly hand the culprit over to Mother. Afterwards this Mother Empress will interrogate him to see who is behind all of this!”
Liu Mo gave a sneer, while Liu Xian Fei weakly responded, “The Queen Empress seems really anxious. Suddenly, I feel as if the princess mastering such dangerous martial arts is more suspicious than the assassin!”
The Emperor recovered his bearings, and gave an authoritative command, “Guards, arrest the assassins! Torture them for interrogation!”
At this time Gong Yi Mo waved her hand, and said “No need to bother.”
She held her blade and pierced down, causing blood to splatter on her pale face! The princess casually wiped her cheek and looked up at the crowd indifferently. Such a scene caused a number of girls to scream in fright, some even fainting instantly.
Despite the ugly scowls of the Empress and Liu Xian Fei, Gong Yi merely winked at the emperor and said with a pleasing tone, “Father, this person tried to kill me, so I personally stabbed him. It’s not too overboard right?” The onlookers felt an eerie chill…
she was so murderous at a young age…..
In their minds, the princess’ image was extremely frightening and disturbing! Even Emperor Gong remained speechless for long time. The more he observed the little girl, the less she resembled the gentle Xue Rong’s shadow. She was more like him.
At this moment, all the spiteful, skeptical, and fearful stares were directed at Gong Yi’s bloody sword. As the girl raised her head, the crowd suddenly took a step back. Her appearance was too brutal, too terrible that no dared to look her in the eye. She gave the emperor an indifferent smile; just now her blood splattered face made her smile seem devilish. It left a shadow that was hard to forget!
No one knows why she acted so cruel; only Gong Jue saw her true intentions. As he thought of her motives, his heart seemed to tear apart and burn like fire!
Finally, he broke away from Chang Xi and staggered out of the crowd in front of Gong Yi Mo!
Gong Yi Mo frowned, and said with a harsh voice,
“Back off!”
Gong Jue shook his head and begged, “I won’t go!”
He looked at her with pleading eyes. He knew that his killings at the inner palace couldn’t be covered up, so his sister decided to take matters into her own hands. She wanted to draw everyone’s attention to herself! She acted arrogantly, and even murdered before the emperor’s eyes!
Gong Jue clearly saw that his sister’s hand was trembling due to her receding strength. Gong Yi was in a far dire state than she appeared to be. She was drenched in blood, and most of it was probably her own! Even so, she was still protecting him.
Knowing this truth broke his heart.