Urmie

Chapter 89: Plans

“Very much so, Your Majesty.”

Golden eyes blinked at her.

They then flicked away. 

“That is good. The trial is hereby concluded.”

“Your Majesty!” Minister Kang protested. “This is preposterous! My son has been tortured and now he’s being thrown into the dungeons upon the word of some lowly maids. We came asking for justice and now-”

“Mini...

Chapter 88: Noble Ladies

Kang Yanxin screamed and struggled with all his might, but he was no use against the trained Imperial Guards. Especially not in this state. Every other twist in the guards’ grip made him squeal in pain, and Samaya was once again having a hard time keeping the grin off her face. It was unlike her to be unable to control her emotions. She quickly looked the other way, away from everyone, to com...

Chapter 87: Talisman

The maids dropped onto their knees as soon as they filed in. 

“What exactly,” the Emperor started, “was so important that some insignificant maids dare to barge in on a private trial?”

The poor maids were trembling as they put their heads to the ground. Their robes - layered as they were - were barely enough to conceal the way their bodies shook with fear. The cold marb...

Chapter 86: Eyes

The next day dawned far too quickly for her taste. 

Today was the day she would face Kang Yanxin in court. Well … that was an inaccurate description. Today was the day Kang Yanxin would face her in court. That was a better description. It also made her feel better. 

She got Manu ready for the day and sent him off with Lian before she got ready herself. It was not long be...

Chapter 85: Gratitude

Samaya was so deep in her thoughts that the walk back to Yongyagong seemed to be over in a flash

The moment Samaya stepped into her residence, the atmosphere shifted. Despite the few maids and servants, her residence was always lively. She did not realize that it was far livelier than usual until all sounds ceased. 

She finally focused her gaze and mind … and saw what was pro...

Chapter 84: Fragrance

Samaya entered the Court with measured steps, her head held high, every inch of her posture exuding poise and confidence. Yet beneath her composed exterior, her thoughts churned with sharp precision. She had an idea of what was happening, but she could not be sure until she found out what she had been called for.

Towering pillars adorned with carvings of dragons and phoenixes loomed abov...

Chapter 83: Mother and Son

She came back a few hours before dawn, relieving Ah-Liu of his duty. Though the boy opted to remain until dawn to avoid any suspicion anyone might have. Ah-Liu’s talismans, infused with his dark qi that allowed her to use illusions to get in and out of the Palace undetected, were a godsend. She could see that he was tired and hated herself for putting him through this. Hopefully, she would no...

Chapter 82: Karma

Trigger Warning: Ca****tion. I don't know what gets flagged here so censored it a bit but yeah Kang Yanxin's family jewels go snip snip.

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The sight at Lady Qing’s residence was quite unusual tonight.

Eunuch Liu was standing guard outside the residence. It was an oddity. He had never done so before, even when there were no Shad...

Chapter 81: Doom

The Purple Pavilion was as filled with ethereal beauty as it was with sinful decadence. Beautiful men and women fluttered about, some dancing at the center, some entertaining the customers, while others sat at corners playing instruments like the bards of the Heavens. The most noble of men, who touted and lorded their so-called nobility and virtue over others, threw away their masks of virtue a...

Chapter 80: Proof

The spar was over.

Samaya lay on the ground for a moment longer, staring up at the man who had so easily pinned her down. His weight pressed into her wrists, though not painfully, and his intense gaze lingered. She could feel his breath brushing against her face, sending an unbidden shiver down her spine.

“If you’re finished staring, Your Majesty,” she finally muttered, voice ...

Chapter 79: A Royal Spar

The sickness did not last as long as she thought it would. 

She began feeling better the day after the Emperor’s visit, though she still felt weak and devoid of energy. It was something she had not felt since she fell sick after … after she scoured that island top to bottom thrice in a week with very little sleep and food to go on after he disappeared.

She quickly ...

Chapter 78: Days of Sickness

Fortunately, no one came looking while she was away.

Ah-Liu was waiting for her when she came back. The boy had clearly been anxious ever since she forced him to stay back and he rushed over when he saw her. 

“Jiejie.”

She sighed and tried to send a reassuring smile the boy’s way. Judging by the worried look on Ah-Liu’s face, she did not quite succeed. Sh...

Chapter 77: The Purple Pavillion

The Red Light District was a place of mesmerising contradictions. By day, it slumbered in quiet anonymity, blending into the sprawling capital with nondescript alleyways and modest storefronts. But by night, it transformed into a spectacle of opulence and decadence, a world unto itself where the lines between pleasure and lust blurred one’s mind.

Samaya tightened her cloak around her sh...

Chapter 76: Deja Vu

The room was suffocating. Samaya’s hands was still a little numb from how hard she held Lady Ren. She shouldn’t have; her strength was greater than that of the average woman. But Lady Ren seemed to need it. She now stood motionless by the window of her chambers, her usually sharp gaze unfocused. Lady Ren’s departure, marked by hollow eyes and trembling hands, left a heavy silence in its w...

Chapter 75: Time for Revenge

Samaya felt numb.

She could hear the blood roaring in her ears and feel the fire raging in her chest. But other than that, she felt nothing. Her limbs were paralysed, unable to move. No, it would be more accurate to say that they felt as if they were being pressed down by lead and she was too afraid to move them, in fear that her bones would crumble. Only this time, it wasn’t her bones ...

Chapter 74: Fire

Rarely had Huang Yasheng seen anyone so undaunted and fierce in the case of punishment. Granted, it was not a physically exacting punishment. It was, however, a humiliating one. 

It would be a lie to say that he did not expect it. 

In fact, he dished out this particular punishment precisely because he expected it. No matter how angry he was at her words and actions, he cou...

Chapter 73: Something Terrible

Samaya froze momentarily. 

It took a moment for her mind to catch up with what was happening. Kang Yuxin must have gotten to her. The thought burned through her like fire, and she glanced at Rin, whose face had gone pale. The momentary pause cost her. Minister Kang was already blabbering by then. 

“... told you, Your Majesty, this is nothing but a fool’s ...

Chapter 72: Witnesses

The day of the trial arrived sunless and gloomy. The clouds overhead were slowly rolling with thunder. Samaya could smell the oncoming rain in the air. The Palace seemed darker than usual. It was the first time Samaya had seen this kind of weather since coming to the Palace.

It felt… ominous.

She was not the most superstitious of persons, but considering that the portal that brou...

Chapter 71: Preperations

“What… what is going to h-happen now?”

Samaya looked back at Rin, who had now unfurled slightly from her previously huddled form but was clearly still frightened if the trembling of her shoulders was any indication. Lady Ren was immediately beside her, rubbing her arms gently. She did not know how a servant like Rin got close to a noble lady like Ren Siyun, but it seemed that the gi...

Chapter 70: An Absurd Proposal

The palace was in an uproar after the drum had been struck. It spread like wildfire that the drum had been struck to bring a complaint against Minister Kang’s son, and even more astoundingly, it was the new concubine’s eunuch. Everyone contemplated what could be the reason for her to take such a big step. Some said she wanted revenge, others thought she wanted attention. After all, why else...

Chapter 69: The Drum of Justice

The Emperor’s hand tapped on the armrest of his throne as he almost absently watched the Ministers bicker amongst themselves like children, his mind drifting to the unsettling conversation he’d had with Ya’er the previous day. 

It had been as if someone had cast a spell over her. Her eyes no longer held warmth, her lips no longer curled lopsidedly as she tried not to smile, her...

Chapter 68: Rage and Disappointment

Samaya did not have to go much beyond her residence before Ah-Liu found her. That was to be expected. Ah-Liu must have gotten ready and gotten to her as fast as he could. She really should carry more talismans on herself. She did not quite understand how they worked but apparently, Ah-Liu could use the energy from a talisman as an anchor to teleport to her position, just like he had all those m...

Chapter 67: Uncertainties

The night was too long.

She gave Lian instructions to call Ah-Liu as soon as dawn broke before she made her way to the room where Yu had taken Manu. The room was sparse, with minimal furniture and none of the beautiful decor, furniture or design present in the main bedchamber. Yu was standing to the side while Manu paced anxiously.

As soon as he saw her, he rushed to her. This time,...

Chapter 66: Who?

She turned her head and saw that the Guard was standing there.

“The Physician is here.”

Her eyes moved from the guard to the Physician who was standing behind the Guard. It was the same Physician who had taken care of her, Imperial Physician Hou. He was in a dishevelled state. His hair was barely tied up in a messy topknot and it was clear he had thrown a cloak over his nightcl...

Chapter 64: System

When Samaya woke up, it felt like she had not slept at all. She somehow managed to sleep beyond her usual routine of waking up at sunrise. The sun’s rays filtered through the intricately carved windows of Samaya’s residence, casting warm patterns on the floor. She awoke with Manu nestled peacefully beside her, the tanghulu wrappers strewn across the bed a testament to last night’s indulge...

Chapter 63: A Visit to the Capital City

Samaya adjusted the simple, yet elegant, robes that Eunuch Li had brought her, their fabric a far cry from the silks she was used to, but comfortable nonetheless. She tied the belt securely around her waist, noticing how the Emperor, dressed similarly in a plain brown tunic with a wide-brimmed straw hat, seemed almost unrecognisable without his usual adornments. The flower crown, though, remain...

Chapter 62: A Father's Affection

By the time the other concubines left, the Emperor was a strange sight.

He had gotten rid of his royal robes, which sat almost carelessly on the pillow set that made the tower. The man’s dragon crown was sitting on the robe. Samaya was sure Eunuch Li would have a heart attack if he saw it.

As for the Emperor himself, the man still had his inner robes - three layers of them - the o...

Chapter 61: Playtime

Fu Caiyi came fairly early, just as the servants were setting up everything, Ai and Mei trotting behind her. The moment they saw her, they ran to her, now comfortable enough with her to be able to forget etiquette, despite their mother’s call to be polite.

Samaya grinned and knelt, wrapping her arms around the two girls. “Oh nonsense. You never have to do that in front of me, do not l...

Chapter 60: Plans for a Midday Meal

Samaya had the habit of waking up with the sunrise. She preferred to get her morning exercise in by the time Manu woke up. During the first week or so of staying in the Palace, this routine was disrupted. But she had soon gotten back into the habit, waking up an hour earlier than her usual hour of dawn because she knew she had to do her training and exercises before her servants and the harem s...

Chapter 59: Unexpected Stay

There was a long pause.

Samaya waited for an answer.

“And here I thought you did not want Our attention.”

She blinked.

“What?”

The man tilted his head. “Is that not what you wished for when you asked Us to spend a day with you?”

“What? No!” She sounded as if even the notion was utterly ridiculous. She frowned. Did it really sound like that? No...