The Woman Disguised Herself as a Man and Abolished the Prince, Married a Princess and called the Empress - Chapter 1

The State of Yu, Capital of Tianyu.

The dungeon was dim, with only a sliver of daylight seeping through a narrow vent, compressed into a thin line by the heavy darkness.

“Squeak… squeak…”

Xiong Shaoqing’s eyes snapped open, and the first thing she saw was a pair of beady, black rat eyes staring straight at her.

“Ah!” she cried out in alarm. The plump, brown-furred creature seemed startled and scurried away.

“Oh, you’re awake,” the jailer swaggered over, followed by several prison guards.

“What, do you still think you’re the heir? Colluding with the Baiyi tribe, acting as a traitor—you deserve to be a prisoner now, reviled by all!”

Hearing this, Xiong Shaoqing’s brows furrowed slightly. If she hadn’t, out of compassion, rescued a threatened young girl from the Cuiyu Tower, she wouldn’t have been framed and ended up in this predicament.

It was now just a pretext for a crime. The tyrannical ruler, Xiong Yishan, had long coveted the military power held by Prince Kang’s residence. She had pretended to be a good-for-nothing, frequenting brothels and living a decadent life to allay their suspicions, but in the end, it was all for naught.

“Oh, so tough, you dare to ignore me,” the jailer approached, his gaze full of malevolent intent, “Tsk, tsk, tsk, you’re as pretty as a woman. I’m into both, you know. Why don’t you submit to me? I can even get you a few good meals before your beheading.”

He extended his thick, greasy right hand, slowly approaching Xiong Shaoqing’s jade-like face.

Xiong Shaoqing’s eyes blazed with fury, as if a raging fire were burning within. She gritted her teeth, wishing she could tear this man to shreds. She cursed inwardly: Damn it, if it weren’t for this cursed muscle-softening powder, I would have beaten this vile scumbag until he was crying for his teeth.

But now, she was powerless, and all she could do was…

In a flash, she opened her mouth wide like an angry cub and bit down hard on the “salty pig’s hand” that was about to touch her.

“Ah!” The jailer yelped in pain, a cry like a pig being slaughtered. He quickly pulled his hand back, revealing two rows of deep teeth marks, dripping with blood.

“You bitch, you dare to bite me!” the jailer roared. “Do you still think you’re the heir? In here, you’re all just criminals!”

The whip followed his words, lashing down hard. Xiong Shaoqing instantly felt a searing pain on her body. When it rains, it pours. I still have a wine rash, damn it. I shouldn’t have drunk that Qiongsu wine given by the emperor. Not only did it give me a rash, but it was also laced with muscle-softening powder. Otherwise, I would have fought my way out long ago, instead of being so passive.

“My lord jailer, I beg you, please don’t hit her anymore!” Princess Consort Li Biyun’s eyes were red, tears welling up as she pleaded, her voice choked with sobs. “She’s still young, she just turned fifteen today. Please, in your great generosity, take your anger out on us.”

Xiong Shaoqing looked up and saw her mother, who was always so noble, elegant, and composed, now bowing and scraping before this vile jailer, her eyes brimming with helpless tears. She then looked at her father beside her, whose fists were clenched so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged. His eyes burned with anger, yet also with a deep sense of powerlessness.

The jailer seemed to ignore the princess consort’s plea. The whip in his hand continued to fall like raindrops, creating one bloody mark after another on Xiong Shaoqing’s body. But she gritted her teeth and didn’t make a sound, only a slight furrowing of her brows, as if enduring an ineffable pain.

She managed to force a smile. “Father, Mother, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Swoosh… smack…

The sound of the whip echoed in the dark cell. Xiong Shaoqing’s naturally noble eyes stared contemptuously at the jailer. The jailer, feeling a spiritual inferiority, became even more enraged and struck even more viciously.

“So tough, are we? I’d love to see how arrogant the naked heir of Prince Kang is,” the jailer said, looking at the guards. “Strip him naked, don’t leave a single piece of clothing on him.”

Several guards swarmed forward. Xiong Shaoqing struggled fiercely, but with the muscle-softening powder in her system, the strength she once had—enough to kill a bull—was now only enough to tickle the guards.

With a CRACK, her clothes were torn, revealing a fair shoulder with scattered red spots like peach blossoms. Xiong Shaoqing endured the bone-chilling itch from the wine rash and the pain from the fresh whip wounds. She saw the guards’ and the jailer’s eyes gleaming with a predatory light.

This is bad! she cried out in her heart. My identity as a woman is about to be exposed. The tyrant ruler already has a murderous intent towards the entire Prince Kang’s residence. If you add the crime of deceiving the emperor, wouldn’t that play right into his hands? No, I absolutely cannot let him succeed!

CLINK, in the struggle, a jade pendant slipped out. The jailer snatched it up, his eyes greedy. “I’m going to be rich now.”

“Give it back to me!” Xiong Shaoqing gritted her teeth and lunged forward with all her might. The jailer was knocked down, and he was completely enraged. He slapped her with the back of his hand.

The pain on her face nearly suffocated Xiong Shaoqing, but she still tried her best to hold her clothes tight.

The guards’ violent acts continued. CRACK, the already torn clothes were ripped even more, exposing more skin.

Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps was heard from outside the dungeon. A woman in a light green palace dress, accompanied by a maid and guards, rushed in. She shouted, “Stop! Xiong Shaoqing is a criminal of the court, you cannot use torture on him without permission!”

The guards stopped in their tracks. The jailer reluctantly put away his whip and looked at the woman in the palace dress.

“How dare you stare at Princess Yongan.” The maid beside the woman scolded, then presented a token.

The jailer glanced at it, immediately knelt and bowed, trembling slightly.

Xiong Shaoqing looked at Princess Yongan, Xiong Yujie. It had been a long time since she had seen her. Her cousin was even more refined and her slender figure looked graceful in the light green palace dress. Memories of playing together as children surfaced. She remembered how her cousin had pleaded for her several times when her father had whipped her. She didn’t expect her cousin to come to her rescue again today, saving her from having her identity exposed.

Xiong Shaoqing stared blankly as Xiong Yujie walked over to her. A hint of sorrow flashed in her cousin’s eyes, but it was quickly suppressed, replaced by a cold indifference.

Then, Xiong Yujie turned and glared at the jailer. “As a jailer, you dared to ignore the laws of the State of Yu and use private torture. You are outrageously bold.”

The jailer kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy. “It was my ignorance, please spare me, Princess.”

Xiong Yujie snorted and gestured for her maid, Dingxiang, to snatch the jade pendant from the jailer’s hand. “Get out. I need to interrogate Xiong Shaoqing privately.”

“But, the heir… Xiong Shaoqing is a criminal of the court,” the jailer stammered, “he must be strictly guarded.”

Xiong Shaoqing watched as Xiong Yujie calmly pulled out a token from her sleeve. The jailer’s expression changed dramatically as he looked at it, then he bowed and retreated without question.

“This is the antidote for the muscle-softening powder. Take it quickly and follow me. Zhao Yu will be waiting outside the city.” Xiong Yujie walked towards Xiong Shaoqing. “Keep the jade pendant safe.”

Xiong Shaoqing took the small porcelain bottle and jade pendant from Xiong Yujie’s hand. She took the antidote and put away the pendant. “Sister, aren’t you afraid of the emperor…”

“This is no time for that,” Xiong Yujie interrupted Xiong Shaoqing. “I’ll take you to meet Zhao Yu, but I can’t be seen any longer. This is all I can do for you.”

As they spoke, Prince Kang and Princess Consort also took the antidote and regained some strength. They all exchanged clothes with the guards and left with Xiong Yujie.

The moon hung high, its light shining into the mountain forest outside the city. Although it was the middle of summer, it felt strangely cold.

“This place isn’t completely safe. Run as far as you can. Here, take this money and this letter.”

Xiong Shaoqing slowly raised her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly as she solemnly took the bundle Xiong Yujie offered. The moment her fingers touched the bundle, a warmth passed through her palm, just like her sister’s fervent care. Her throat felt full of a bitter lump, and it was a long time before she could speak. “Sister, your kindness is something I can never repay. In my next life, I will surely…”

Before she could finish, Xiong Yujie interrupted her again, her tone full of gentle scolding, yet also a deep affection. “Silly boy, I’m your sister. Of course, I must protect you.” She gently raised her hand and patted Xiong Shaoqing’s. “Now, go. Remember, you must, must never come back.”

Xiong Shaoqing watched Xiong Yujie’s departing figure, her eyes blurred with tears. She whispered to herself: Sister, this journey will be long and far. I don’t know when we’ll meet again. I only hope that you stay safe and won’t be implicated in my affairs.

Suddenly, she felt a warmth on her shoulder. She turned around to see her mother. “Shaoqing, let’s go quickly. Once we’re safe, I’ll make you your favorite long fish noodles.”

“Okay.”

With Zhao Yu’s help, they fled. Their carriage sped through the mountains and into the vicinity of Qingping Town. Just as they thought they had succeeded, the sound of urgent hoofbeats and clashing weapons came from behind them. The pursuers were faster and fiercer than expected.

“Shaoqing, you and your mother go! I’ll hold them off!” Prince Kang Xiong Yichuan’s voice rang out in the night. He held a long sword, his eyes filled with reluctance but also with determination.

Xiong Shaoqing looked back and saw her father’s figure, particularly tall in the moonlight. He stood like an insurmountable mountain, blocking the pursuers.

“No! Father!” Xiong Shaoqing screamed, immediately turning her horse around, wanting to join the fight and stand with her father.

However, the moment she turned, her father’s sword flashed out with lightning speed. The sword’s light was like a white streak of silk, instantly cutting across the hindquarters of the dark red horse she was riding. The horse shrieked in pain, its front hooves rearing high, and it galloped forward like a mad beast.

Xiong Shaoqing felt the scenery flash by, the wind whistling past her ears. Behind her, several pursuers on horseback were in close pursuit, the sound of their hooves a relentless drumbeat. Xiong Shaoqing frantically tried to control the horse, her heart filled with anxiety, but she couldn’t do anything else.

In this critical moment, Princess Consort Li Biyun, driving the carriage, recklessly charged, blocking the pursuers. In her eyes was a deep, unreserved love for her daughter and an endless reluctance to let go.

“Go, quickly!”

When Xiong Shaoqing heard her mother’s cry, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if a dagger had pierced her heart. She instinctively looked back and saw a cold light flash, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, but carrying an infinite chill and cruelty. Her mother’s body was ruthlessly pierced by the pursuers’ blades, and she slowly fell. Blood spurted from the wounds, blooming into a series of tragic blood flowers in the air, like withering petals in late autumn, both beautiful and desperate.

“Mother! No!” Xiong Shaoqing let out a heart-wrenching scream, her voice filled with endless pain.

Her world collapsed in that moment. All the warmth and support vanished in an instant. She wanted to rush back, to hold her mother’s rapidly cooling body, to keep that last bit of warmth, but everything felt so impossibly far away.

The dark red horse continued its uncontrollable gallop. After running for who knows how long, it stumbled, its front hooves giving way. Xiong Shaoqing felt her body lurch forward. Like a kite with a broken string, she flew through the air in a helpless arc and then fell heavily to the ground. Her body was like a fallen leaf swept up by a gale, fluttering down without any power to resist.

The violent impact made her consciousness gradually blur. The scenes before her became a vague blur. Finally, she slowly closed her eyes and fell into an endless darkness.

Support The Woman Disguised Herself as a Man and Abolished the Prince, Married a Princess and called the Empress