報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 44

Slow Burn   She sets her brush down across the ornate bronze phoenix-shaped inkwell. Out of her many talents, Min Qian Ju’s calligraphy is exquisite. Even the emperor, who seldom gives such recognition; Jingyuan publicly described her writing as works of art. The receiving room, suffused with warmth from the many braziers, is enveloped in […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 43

I Dive In Jingyuan~ “Emperor, Crown Prince Haoyu is waiting outside.” I motion to let Haoyu in as a welcoming break. Jinghua and I are painstakingly reviewing current tax reports from all the prefectures. While I possess a keen eye for detail, Jinghua’s exceptional strength to detect irregularities surpasses mine. Like a hawk spotting a […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 42

Ex Wive’s Club “Meimie,” Min Qian Ju asks, her voice is affectionate with sisterly warmth, “how long do you plan to elude the emperor?” With nimble fingers, she carefully chooses and peels a mandarin sent by Ming’s mother. When I was young, his mother would chase me away from her fruit trees with a broom, […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 41

If She Only Knew Jingyuan~ In the quiet courtyard, the stillness, the devoid of any sound, is disconcerting. All her devoted servants, including Little Min, are bowing in front of the entry of Yueli’s palace. They kneel on the ground, heads deferred and gazes lowered. Many are unabashedly crying, their tears reflect their concerns and […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 40

Comfortably Numb Bobo~ The emperor forcefully closes the red silk-bound document. It has the names of the newest harem members chosen by the empress to serve him. He tosses it aside, sighing exasperated. “Bobo?” he asks. “Yes, emperor, do you need something?” I reply and await his order. The emperor leans back from his desk, […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 39

Once Burned, Twice Shy Little Min~ My empress has returned to her clamorous world. Though her inner turmoil had subsided, the battle between her logic and emotions has begun again. When we returned to the palace, she dismissed everyone. She requested that I be her sole server this evening and keep her mansion dim. She […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 38

Fàng kāi wǒ wǒ fàng kāi nǐ Eunuch Bo~ “Bobo?” With my hands folded in the center of my robe, I cautiously approach the emperor’s desk, waiting for his orders. “Yes, emperor?” I respond with deference. The emperor lifts his brush off the document and taps it against the edge of the inkwell. As always, […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 37

The Imperfect Empress   When I married Jingyuan and became his Princess Consort; I thought I would have ample time to understand the intricate workings of the inner palace, but after only three months, we were crowned Emperor and Empress. My naivete got the best of me. Perhaps I was overly sincere and hopeful. The […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 36

Crown Prince A-li Third Prince Duke Lian Song~ Most immortals, even those highly cultivated, would have died or been permanently disabled by half a dozen celestial lightning rods. However, A-li walked away from the punishment platform instead of being carried off. Though birthed from Bai Qian’s mortal body, what can one expect from Ye Hua’s […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 35

History Repeats Itself Zhe Yan~ With my phoenix containment spell in effect, the disciples have set up another magical sealing formation outside Mo Yuan’s secluded area as an additional safety measure. One can’t be too careful when dealing with a demon. The Demon Queen’s spirit is stuck inside, unable to pass the secure boundary. However, […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 34

First Prince Hàoyú Mount Kunlun~ Mo Yuan’s students are nervously pacing and waiting for me. I haven’t been here in ages. Nothing has changed, but then this is Mount Kunlun, the ancient and majestic mountain that has been home to the prominent mountain top school in the clouds since established by the creator of all […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 33

Quid Pro Quo Saintess Changying~ It’s true, when one loses a sense, the remaining become stronger. That is the case for this man. He can’t speak or move, but his hearing is exceptional. He is also remarkably intuitive. He realized strangers were coming this way from the subtle vibrations from their horses and noises coming […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 32

Let The Flames Burn, While The Embers Sting. Qing Yuan~ The details surrounding the events of that fateful night when Jinghua ended up in his current state remain shrouded in uncertainty. It all began when we decided to take Meili to the factory, a decision that would ultimately lead to unforeseen consequences. When we got […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 31

Saintess Changying~   I don’t hear his voice. I can’t read his thoughts either. Our unique relationship, undiscovered by the others, isn’t that defined. It’s more like when Chang Chang and I were little and we used to send each other hidden messages bundled up in clouds. We would make them invisible using the same […]

報復 Bàofù V: Trials of the Celestial Empress 30

Saintess Changying~   Her hand sweeps her scarf back, revealing a youthful face partly covered by loose strands of windblown hair. Despite her refined features, her earnest demeanor overshadows, taking over the softness in her feminine appearance. Her skin is pale but marked with uneven red blotches, burned by the wind, rendering it rough and […]

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