Chapter 1: The Female Emperor

“I do not confess to this crime!”

The dark, damp dungeon reeked of nauseating blood. The sound of a whip lashing echoed through the empty corridors. Many criminals cowered in the corners, eyes shut, listening to the noise.

Su Wei’s hands were suspended above her. Her hair was matted and fell loosely around her face. Her eyes were hollow and lifeless. Her face was covered in dried blood. Looking downwards, her body was a tapestry of bloody welts from the whipping. Some wounds were corroded so deeply that white bone was visible. Blood dripped slowly from her fingertips, yet she never stopped murmuring.

The torturer paused, sneering coldly: “That day, only you were guarding Her Majesty. How dare you say you didn’t collaborate with the enemy?”

Su Wei coughed up two mouthfuls of blood. Her teeth were nearly gritted to pieces. This accusation was utterly unreasonable. She lifted her head: “I confess my failure to protect my Master, but I will not confess to colluding with the enemy! I didn’t do it… so I didn’t do it!”

“Hmph, still talking tough.”

As the whip rose again, Su Wei resignedly closed her eyes. But the anticipated pain did not come. She numbly opened her eyes, and through the blur, caught sight of a somber-colored figure.

Su Wei widened her eyes in disbelief, forcing herself through the pain to raise her head, meeting the figure’s scrutinizing gaze. She murmured: “Your Majesty…”

Since childhood, she had been sent to the then-current sovereign, Su He, and trained as a Shadow Guard. She had accompanied Su He in seizing the supreme position, helping her successfully become the only Female Emperor in all of history. She never expected to be framed with the crime of assassination during an outing.

She opened her mouth, swallowing the welling-up blood: “Master, I have never betrayed you.”

Su He wore black, informal robes. Under the candlelight, the embroidered patterns on the garment reflected an unusual sheen. Her gaze swept inch by inch over Su Wei’s body, her eyebrow arching slightly. She took a handkerchief offered to her, casually dabbed it in saltwater, stepped before Su Wei, and lifted the latter’s chin with her hand, observing closely.

A Shadow Guard’s duty was unconditional obedience to their master. Su Wei’s body was rigid; she dared offer no resistance, even though her neck was crisscrossed with bloody marks from wire bindings.

Su He asked softly, “Does it hurt?”

Su Wei denied it: “It doesn’t hurt.”

“Ah, is that so—” A strange light flickered in Su He’s eyes. She used the handkerchief to gently wipe the wounds on Su Wei’s face. As the saltwater seeped into the cuts, a searing, bone-deep pain spread. Su Wei bit down hard on her lip, not daring to let a single sound escape.

Su He’s actions could be called the picture of tenderness. Yet the Palace Attendant behind her watched with trepidation. She knew the reason for Her Majesty’s visit tonight: simply to see this Shadow Guard who had endured so much torment and still lived, a spark of cruel amusement ignited.

Under Su He’s ministrations, the blood on Su Wei’s face was gradually wiped clean by the saltwater-soaked cloth, revealing her original features beneath. Her face was considerably swollen, but one could still glimpse her natural beauty.

A pair of round, doe-like eyes, looking at you—how pitiable and endearing one could imagine.

Su Wei’s voice trembled right down to its last syllable. Shadow Guards were forbidden from showing their faces. They always appeared before Su He wearing masks. Now, exposed before her Master, she feared severe punishment: “Master.”

Su He stuffed the handkerchief into Su Wei’s mouth, then laughed: “Why are you trembling? Can Gu eat you?”

Unable to speak, Su Wei shook her head. She focused all her attention on Su He, afraid of missing a single word.

“What is her name?” Su He suddenly asked.

The Palace Attendant hurried forward: “Replying to Your Majesty, this one’s codename is Shadow Nine.”

Su He turned her head and cast a measured look at the attendant. “Do you think Gu is asking that?”

“This…” The attendant caught on and bowed lower. “Her real name is Su Wei. Her parents were the county magistrates of a small county. Their home was brutally slaughtered by villains, leaving only her.”

Su He repeated the name: “Su Wei. A good name. Gu pardons her crime. Take her back to the Sleeping Palace.”

Su Wei’s eyes widened abruptly. She still had the handkerchief in her mouth. Desperate to express her gratitude but not daring to spit it out, she could only look at Su He with overwhelming gratefulness.

The Palace Attendant’s expression remained unchanged. She signaled to the people behind her and quickly followed Su He.

With a single sentence, the Female Emperor delivered Su Wei from life and death. The shackles on her hands were opened. As her body slumped, about to collapse, she instinctively used her hands to brace against the ground, only for the clear sound of bone snapping to echo in her ears. A fine sheen of cold sweat beaded on her forehead. Even so, she refused to loosen the handkerchief in her mouth.

An item left by her Master was something she must safeguard properly.

A chain was fastened around her neck, and palace servants led her all the way to Su He’s Sleeping Palace. This wasn’t her first time here. In the past, when on duty, she would conceal herself in the shadows, her gaze fixed intently on Su He to prevent any mishaps.

But now, Su Wei was still technically guilty, likely unable to resume her duties as a Shadow Guard. She knelt on the ground. The bone-chilling cold made her body shiver, but she forced herself to kneel ramrod straight, awaiting Su He’s arrival.

She had knelt while it was still daylight. By the time she heard Su He’s voice, it was already dusk. Su Wei heard Su He approach, and her whole body trembled. She immediately prostrated herself. The wounds on her body were still seeping blood, her face pale from blood loss. Su Wei knelt there, thinking that she hadn’t even heard her Master’s footsteps—an utter dereliction of duty.

Su He walked around her and sat upon the high dais, looking down at her from above. Her mood wasn’t good. A few old fools had come and droned on endlessly, grating on the nerves.

The Palace Attendant poured Su He a cup of water and then withdrew to the side, asking, “Your Majesty, shall we begin the meal?”

“No rush.” Su He picked up the teacup, blew gently on it, took a sip, and then said, “Su Wei, raise your head.”

Su Wei straightened her back and lifted her head. Her complexion was ashen; she was clearly about to collapse, but still held her spine rigidly straight.

The handkerchief was in her mouth, the cloth soaked with saliva. In Su Wei’s gaze, there was only Su He, like a puppy waiting for its master to come home.

Seeing the handkerchief in her mouth, a flicker of surprise crossed Su He’s eyes, quickly suppressed. She toyed with the cup in her hand. “Take the handkerchief out. Gu has questions for you.”

Su Wei immediately removed the handkerchief, pressing it carefully into her palm. She lifted her head, waiting for Su He to speak.

“Gu has pardoned your crime this time. What are your thoughts?”

Su Wei immediately responded: “Master, Shadow Nine wishes to remain by your side and serve you.”

Su He put on an expression of difficulty. “But you are still suspected of betraying Gu.”

Su Wei grew anxious. “Master, Shadow Nine harbors absolutely no such intention. I only want to follow my Master wholeheartedly and protect you.”

“Is that so?” Su He seemed to waver. Normally, she paid little attention to these Shadow Guards. If the Palace Attendant hadn’t mentioned it, she wouldn’t have been intrigued enough to come looking. She hadn’t expected it to be so interesting.

Casually, Su He tossed the cup in her hand to the ground. Shards instantly scattered everywhere. She leaned back in her chair and said offhandedly, “Use your mouth to pick up the pieces and reassemble the cup. If you succeed, Gu will permit you to return to Gu’s side.”

Su Wei’s eyes lit up. The knowledge and beliefs instilled in her since childhood dictated that she must remain by Su He’s side. Su He was her very life. Now, her Master was giving her a chance. She had to seize it well.

Clutching the handkerchief tightly, she shuffled forward on her knees, then bent over, picking up the shards with her mouth and carefully placing them in her hand.

Her wrist, which she had clumsily set herself, hadn’t healed yet. Su Wei’s vision blurred in waves. Dizziness diminished her coordination and perception. Blood trickled down from her palm due to her tight grip. Su Wei meticulously pieced the fragments together, blood smearing the porcelain. Her hands were trembling. In the end, she realized one tiny corner was missing.

Su Wei truly became frantic. She looked around anxiously, thinking her senses must have dulled from the prolonged torture. Even a usually simple task had become so difficult.

She searched for a long time, her knees chafed raw, yet still couldn’t find the missing piece.

Helplessly, Su Wei raised her head and looked at Su He. “Master, I couldn’t complete it.”

Su He looked troubled. “What a pity. If you can’t find it, then Gu can’t grant your wish.”

“Don’t, Master. I will definitely find it.”

Su Wei resumed her search. Beads of sweat blurred her vision, the sting making her blink incessantly. Her knees didn’t dare stop for a moment. She absolutely could not leave her Master.

Nearby, the Palace Attendant’s palms were sweating nervously. She had just witnessed Su He deliberately knock a small piece off the cup. At this very moment, she was intentionally toying with this Shadow Guard.

Since ancient times, they say proximity to a sovereign is like treading on thin ice, and this Female Emperor was a madwoman. The Palace Attendant felt a chill run down her neck.

Prolonged torture had left Su Wei’s figure thin and frail. Kneeling on the ground, she looked pitifully small. Her desperate searching greatly pleased Su He, who narrowed her eyes, watching all of this with satisfaction.

How could she not find it?

The wounds on Su Wei’s hands were abraded into a mess of blood and flesh. Suppressing her physical distress, she had practically scoured every inch of the outer chamber of the Sleeping Palace. The inner chamber was where her Master slept—how could someone of her status enter there?

But the piece remained elusive, and her stamina was failing. Dejectedly, Su Wei knelt on the ground, a hint of grievance even appearing in her eyes. She opened her mouth but said nothing, only feeling deep self-blame.

Her abilities had deteriorated too much. She was no longer capable of protecting her Master.

Su He decided she had toyed with her enough. She stood, walked over to Su Wei, and bent down to fit the missing piece into place. The Female Emperor smiled faintly. “See, I helped you complete it.”

Su Wei’s eyes trembled. She raised her head, her lips moving slightly as she murmured, “Master…”

The next second, she lost consciousness and collapsed, her body knocking the reassembled teacup apart once more.

Su He pursed her lips, grinding a porcelain shard idly under her toe. She suddenly turned to ask the Palace Attendant, “What do you think of this person?”

The attendant fell to her knees in fright. “If Your Majesty favors her, then she has value. If not, then she is utterly useless.”

Sweat drenched the attendant’s back. Kneeling, she didn’t dare raise her head, unsure if her answer pleased Su He. After what felt like an eternity, she heard Su He laugh. The next moment, a porcelain shard landed beside her hand, narrowly missing cutting her.

Su He sat back down and dusted off her hands. “Get her changed, cleaned up, and brought back here.”

She turned and cast a casual glance at the attendant. “Summon the Imperial Physician.”