The Fearless Empress - Chapter 20

It was widely rumored that Cheng Sangyi had usurped the throne, which rightfully belonged to the Prince of Guangling. Such whispers never truly faded.

The Empress Dowager, burdened with suspicion, found the Prince of Guangling’s illness peculiar and summoned a Taoist priest from outside the palace to perform an exorcism. The priest claimed that the prince was afflicted by dark sorcery. Now, convinced that Cheng Sangyi practiced dark arts, the Empress Dowager became certain that she had harmed her own younger brother.

After the Emperor and Empress departed, she personally questioned the priest, “How can we prove that Her Majesty is practicing dark sorcery?”

“Your Highness,” the priest replied confidently, “demonic entities are not without fear. They are not immortals and must have weaknesses. If you require it, this humble priest will make the arrangements. This demon is not particularly powerful and will easily reveal its flaws. Rest assured, I will not harm Her Majesty.”

“Wait.” The Empress Dowager stopped him, her brow furrowed slightly, a glint of ruthlessness in her eyes. She adjusted her sleeves and continued, “Eliminating the demon is the priority. If Her Majesty is under its control, she may harm the people. There is no need to protect her.”

The priest was startled. This was the Emperor, after all. If any harm came to her by mistake, he wouldn’t have enough heads to spare.

As he hesitated, the Empress Dowager seemed to read his thoughts and sneered, “If she is controlled by a demon, is she still our Emperor?”

The priest, shrewd as he was, immediately grasped her implication and hurried to agree, “Your Highness is absolutely right. Once possessed by a demon, there is no escape. This humble priest will make the arrangements at once.”

The Empress Dowager gave a soft hum, the corners of her lips curling into a faint, barely suppressed smile.

The imperial mausoleum was eerie, its grandeur a stark reminder of royal authority. The halls were dimly lit, and only when the palace servants came and went were lanterns kindled. The braziers, too, provided little warmth, leaving Cheng Sangyi’s face flushed from the cold.

The Empress moved quietly through the hall, subtly weaving a spell. Moments later, a wave of warmth filled the gloomy chamber.

The servants remained outside. Cheng Sangyi huddled by the brazier to warm herself, and the Empress drew closer. The warmth softened the Emperor’s demeanor, melting the icy frost in her expression, leaving behind the clarity of a spring mountain stream.

Outside, the wind howled fiercely, but inside, the hall was as warm as spring. Cheng Sangyi’s mood improved noticeably, her frosty countenance now radiant like the moon emerging from clouds.

The Empress, unaffected by the cold, wandered around the hall with her hands behind her back, peering left and right like a little old woman stodgy yet inexplicably endearing.

For some reason, Cheng Sangyi found herself not annoyed but rather intrigued. She watched her with keen interest and asked, “What are you looking at?”

Hearing this, the Empress paused and glanced back at Cheng Sangyi. “This bedchamber feels strange,” she said.

As a young fox spirit, a minor demon with limited cultivation, she was always cautious when venturing out. The arrangement of the hall felt peculiar. After a moment’s thought, she approached the Emperor and told a small lie: “The layout of this chamber is odd. It drains your vital energy.”

Cheng Sangyi’s expression shifted abruptly. The young Empress wore a troubled look, afraid she wouldn’t be believed. She grew anxious and was about to say more when Cheng Sangyi met her gaze and replied, “I believe you. What should we do?”

“Burn it. Destroy the arrangement, and it will be fine.” The Empress breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that Cheng Sangyi hadn’t dismissed her as a fraud.

Her heart fluttered with unease, her eyes timid and pitiful.

Cheng Sangyi let out a soft sigh, unable to hold back a smile. “Why do you look so wronged?”

“I’m not wronged. Me? Wronged?” The Empress tilted her head, feeling rather useless, then straightened her shoulders and insisted, “I’m not wronged at all.”

There were only two people in the hall. Her expression shifted like the weather in June, which was rather amusing.

“Do as you say,” Cheng Sangyi said, resting her chin on her hand and gazing at the adorably naive girl. “How do you know all this?”

“Perhaps I’ve read a lot,” the Empress said casually, making up an excuse since there was no way for the other to verify it. She glanced at Cheng Sangyi and noticed her hands resting on her knees fair, slender, and well-defined. Unconsciously, she felt a pang of nervousness.

Time to work.

Without waiting for Cheng Sangyi’s response, she picked up a small box from the corner and tossed it directly onto the charcoal brazier.

“This box was sent in later. Look at the patterns on it, do you recognize them?” the Empress said seriously, pointing to the strange markings. “These are meant to ward off demons.”

Flames leaped up, instantly consuming the peculiar patterns. Cheng Sangyi only needed one glance to realize something was wrong. Just then, Gu Yunchu brought out another box, opened it, and revealed a yellow talisman inside.

In an instant, she withdrew her hand and eagerly threw it into the charcoal brazier.

As the flames devoured the talisman, Cheng Sangyi’s delicate features took on a hint of coldness under the firelight.

What was the Empress Dowager planning? Was she so eager to kill her that she resorted to sorcery?

Ignoring her distress, the young Empress continued to rummage around, finding many more talismans. However, she couldn’t touch them and could only beckon to Cheng Sangyi, “Ayi, Ayi.”

Cheng Sangyi rubbed her chest, stood up upon hearing the call, and walked over. She saw Gu Yunchu’s delicate fingertip pointing at the talismans. “Here, there are so many. Take them and burn them.”

Cheng Sangyi narrowed her eyes, her expression darkening. Her long lashes fluttered slightly, and under the Empress’s expectant gaze, she slowly nodded.

From then on, the two worked together, the Empress searched, and Cheng Sangyi burned.

The hall doors were tightly shut, and no sound from inside could be heard outside. The Empress’s face grew increasingly pale. Taking a few deep breaths, she looked at Cheng Sangyi and asked, “Are you alright?”

“I am fine,” Cheng Sangyi replied, shaking her head. The warmth in the room had brought a faint blush to her cheeks, adding a touch of gentleness to her demeanor.

The Empress sat down, inwardly alarmed. Someone had discovered her.

She glanced at Cheng Sangyi, her eyes wavering. With her inherently sweet appearance, the look carried a hint of pitifulness.

Cheng Sangyi looked up and met her misty, teary eyes. “Is the Empress afraid?”

“N-No, I’m not afraid,” the Empress stammered, then looked at Cheng Sangyi again her posture upright, her gaze profound. A wave of sorrow washed over her.

She found a spot to sit and remained silent for a long while.

Cheng Sangyi cautiously approached and patted her head. “Don’t be afraid. I will leave tomorrow.”

“I know,” the Empress replied listlessly, paying no heed to the Empress’s comfort. She hung her head, her soft demeanor exuding an air of pitifulness.

Cheng Sangyi frowned, unable to understand her thoughts. What is this little one thinking about?

She leaned forward and sat down. “Between the Empress Dowager and me, it’s a fight to the death. But you need not fear. I am the Emperor, and I will protect you. If you’re scared, we can move out immediately and set up camp outside the imperial mausoleum tonight.”

“Really?” The Empress’s dim eyes suddenly lit up. She sniffled and said, “The Emperor’s word is as good as gold.”

Cheng Sangyi couldn’t help but laugh, amused by her reaction. Then, feeling slightly embarrassed, she turned her face away and chuckled.

The Empress acted as if her backside were on fire, pulling her up and rushing off. “I’m terrified of this place. Let’s move out. If there’s anything else we haven’t discovered, we might not wake up tomorrow.”

She was frantic. Cheng Sangyi stumbled as she was dragged, falling into her arms.

Cheng Sangyi nearly fell but was steadied by her grip on her arms, which sent a warmth through her chest. She quickly stood up and brushed her off. “I’ll make the arrangements. If you’re scared, go out for a walk.”

“Understood.”

The Empress responded, her dark, clear eyes darting around as she instinctively hid her reddened hands in her sleeves. That Taoist priest is incredibly powerful. If he isn’t dealt with, my situation will be perilous.

In her daze, the Empress heard the female emperor ordering her subordinates to move out of the imperial mausoleum quickly and forbidding the mausoleum’s staff from interfering or approaching.

After giving the orders, she turned and bumped into the dazed young Empress.

Their heads collided, the Empress’s forehead hitting Cheng Sangyi’s nose. Cheng Sangyi gasped in pain, while the Empress snapped out of her trance and looked at her. “Sorry, sorry, my mistake.”

Her apology came faster than flipping a page.

Cheng Sangyi’s head spun from the pain, and the Empress, frightened, reached out to touch her nose.

The touch sent a shiver through Cheng Sangyi’s skin, and she quickly stepped back. “Why are your hands so hot?”

“From the heat.” The Empress guiltily hid her hands behind her back, offering a flattering smile to the female emperor. Her bright eyes sparkled, and the corners of her lips curved slightly.

The Empress was deeply uneasy, her smile strained and forced.

Having lived two lifetimes, Cheng Sangyi could easily see through her thoughts. “You’re different today, Empress.”

The Empress remained silent. With her backside metaphorically on fire, how could she be the same as usual?

Though unhappy inside, she forced a playful tone. “I’m fine, just a bit hot. A walk outside will help.”

Cheng Sangyi had no time to dwell on it. Moving out of the bedchamber was a complicated affair that required her attention.

She warned, “Be careful. Take a couple of people with you.”

“I know.”

The Empress lifted her skirt, glanced outside, and turned back to Cheng Sangyi. “I’ll amuse myself. Will you be alright on your own?”

Cheng Sangyi paused, giving her a sidelong glance. Who’s worried about whom here?

After a moment’s thought, she let it go. Just as she was about to say something gentle, Gu Yunchu lifted her skirt and tiptoed away.

For some reason, Cheng Sangyi watched the retreating figure and smiled silently.

The Empress searched around and spotted a Taoist priest in a bluish-gray robe, muttering to himself, though she couldn’t make out the words.

She perched on a branch for a long while, her eyes scrutinizing the priest, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

As dusk fell, the priest emerged from the Empress Dowager’s quarters, followed by seven or eight junior priests, a procession grander than the emperor’s own.

The imperial mausoleum was deep and secluded, and in the dry winter, the wind whipped against their faces, stinging sharply.

After trailing them halfway, the young Empress suddenly leaped out, landing in front of the old priest with a scornful laugh. “Hello, you old fool.”

Her smile was gentle, her face youthful, but the old priest recoiled in shock. “Demon!”

“Demon your mother!” the Empress scoffed softly.

A sword materialized in her palm, and without hesitation, she thrust it toward the old priest. “To hell with your nonsense!”

Support The Fearless Empress