Sweet Beauty

A Torrent of Arrows

On the tenth lunar month in the third year of Yongxing, the wind in Chang'an was calm and pleasant. The sky was a cloudless blue, yet, the atmosphere in Changle Palace was gloomy.

The rebel army led by the Prince of Xiao Liu Xun had already besieged the city. It would only take them less than an hour to break into Changle Palace. The civil and military officials, along with the palace servants, have long fled, leaving the palace silent and desolate.

Sitting on the high seat of Changxin Hall, Empress Dowager Zhang tightly held Liu Xian, the twelve-year-old Little Emperor, with one hand. Her other hand gripped the corner of the table, the slender nails digging into the sandalwood. Her beautiful phoenix eyes were filled with panic tears.

Cowering in fear, Liu Xian shakily asked, “Mother Empress, will the Prince of Xiao… Is he going to kill me? I-I am really scared!”

For a half-grown child who was merely a puppet emperor for the past three years, the bearing of the Son of Heaven and the dignity of imperial family were completely discarded at the face of such a sudden change.

Empress Dowager Zhang’s long fingernails firmly embedded in the palm of her hand. She forced her mind to calm down and comforted her young son. “Your Majesty, don’t be afraid. It was Geng Yun who wanted to kill Liu Chang back then. We were only compelled to comply… It is said that Liu Xun is kind and benevolent. Now, Geng Yun is dead. If Liu Xun wants to avenge his elder brother, we will put Geng Yun’s family at his disposal…”

……

When Emperor Shunkang died three years ago, the powerful and monstrous Grand Marshal Geng Yun helped Liu Xian, the then nine-year-old Prince of Shan, ascend the throne. Holding the Emperor as hostage, all the vassals fell under his command.

Liu Xun’s elder brother, Liu Chang, was the Grand Excellency over the Masses at that time. So great was his achievements that it made the monarch uneasy and suspicious. Moreover, his ever increasing influence aroused Geng Yun’s jealousy. Because Empress Dowager Zhang relied on Geng Yun’s power, they plotted to kill Liu Chang.

For fear of public clamors, Geng Yun was unable to touch Liu Xun who was well-known for his humility and gentleness. He could only dispatch him to Hebei with two thousand routed soldiers to settle the warlords and other nonconformist forces.

When Liu Xun left Sizhou, the Heaven was unexpectedly on his side. With the trifling two thousand soldiers sent to intercede in Hebei, he successfully gained control.

Afterwards, he became even more powerful, unceasingly conquering Jizhou, Bingzhou, Youzhou and Yanzhou. Seeing the situation, Yuzhou willingly surrendered and was added to their territory.

Today, the world was turned upside down. Half a year ago, the Prince of Xiao directed his army to Chang'an, threatening to topple down the empire like a big building.

Geng Yun had no choice but to personally lead a hundred thousand troops to meet the enemy, only to be easily smashed by Liu Xun. He ended up being beheaded and hung in public.

Officials and commoners could pack their bags and run away but it wasn’t the case for the Empress Dowager and the Little Emperor. With no military forces in their hands, there was no way of escape. As a last resort, Geng Yun’s relatives were captured as bargaining chips for the lives of the mother and son pair.

……

“Geng Yun’s relatives…” Liu Xian repeated in a whisper, looking down at the steps involuntarily.

Dozens of people were kneeling on the steps. All of them were dressed in plain clothes, looking miserable with their tied hands and feet. Uncertain of their fate, some were weeping, some were rendered incontinent, and some were unconscious. These were the family members of Geng Yun, who had died tragically not long ago.

Amidst the flustered faces, there was a young woman in her late teens. She was extremely beautiful. Even with bare face, messy hair, and pale lips, her celestial beauty couldn’t be concealed.

However, her beauty wasn’t the only thing that captured people’s attention. Her hands were tied in front of her but different from the despair and panic of others, her eyes, which were as beautiful as autumn water, only looked calmly at the mother and son on the high seat.

Liu Xian saw the clear and indifferent look in her eyes. Feeling as if he had been stabbed hard, his entire body trembled. He turned his head and cried bitterly in the arms of Empress Dowager Zhang, “Don’t look at me, Elder Sister — it’s not me. I don’t wish to harm you—”

Empress Dowager Zhang looked at the direction where he had just stared, and she was also shocked. She could not help feeling guilty. The woman below the steps was not someone else but her daughter, Zhao Shu, whom she had carried for nine months.

Three years ago, she lured A'Shu, who had always lived in Zhao residence, into Chang'an and bestowed her to the widowed Geng Yun to be his second wife. Now that Geng Yun was dead and Chang'an in shambles, she wanted to offer her own daughter as a prisoner to the Prince of Xiao to relieve his hatred.

How could there be such a mother in the world?

Shifting her eyes away, Empress Dowager Zhang regretfully said, “A'Shu, don’t blame me… If you weren’t dead set on becoming a Lady of a County back then, how could you eagerly come to Chang'an? You only have yourself to blame for being greedy…” She seemed to be convincing herself, and her tone became more and more sharp. “Anyway, you ought to repay those three years of wealth and glory!”

At last, A'Shu’s calm eyes faintly fluctuated. A thin layer of water mist welled up, covering a third of the crystal clear luster.

Lady of a County.

She opened her mouth and tried to defend herself, but she was so tired that she could not make a sound.

Back in those years, she was still naive. Despite her elder brother’s dissuasion, she insisted on going to Chang'an to see her mother. Fearing that she would be bullied in Chang'an, he did everything he could in exchange for a title for his sister.

Now, her brother died in the battle against the Prince of Xiao’s army for her sake. The mother whom she had never met before never fulfilled the promise she wholly complied at that time.

Suddenly, there was a flurry of footsteps and screams outside. Then, the only remaining palace servant rushed into the hall, threw themselves on the floor and shouted, “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, the Prince of Xiao’s army… is coming!”

A sudden cry pierced the air. Empress Dowager Zhang saw the Little Emperor Liu Xian fainting in public. She stood up abruptly and took a deep breath for a moment. Calmly sitting down again, she slammed the table and yelled, “Shut up and be quiet!”

However, right at this moment with their lives on the line, who would still be afraid of this Empress Dowager?

Screams and cries filled the hall until a group of armored rebels broke in, stretched their bows, and aimed at the people in the hall. Silence descended at once.

A dark and cold armor gave way, and a man with a handsome face stepped out. According to rumors, Liu Xun was gentle and benevolent. If it wasn’t for the faint glow of blood on the long sword in his hand, people would forget that he was a rebel who killed all the way from Hebei to Chang'an.

As soon as he entered the room, he smiled and scanned the crowd. Finally, he bowed to the Empress Dowager Zhang on the high seat. “Greetings to the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty.”

Empress Dowager Zhang breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his respectful appearance. However, she heard him continue, “My brother died here. I dare not forget it for a day.”

Empress Dowager Zhang shuddered and pointed at the people kneeling below the steps. “Liu Xun, you have lived through two dynasties. You should know that His Majesty and I have no choice back then. It’s all Geng Yun’s fault. His family members are here. His wife, concubines, children and grandchildren are at your disposal. After dealing with your enemy, I will immediately ask His Majesty to issue a decree making you the regent!”

Liu Xun’s smile vanished, gradually revealing a cold and frightening face. He indifferently looked at the people in the hall and said, “Thank you for reminding me, Empress Dowager. I will spare no one.”

He was also a member of the royal Liu clan. He had already killed his way just to reach Chang'an. How could he still yield to others? Empress Dowager Zhang was just deluding herself.

After speaking, he raised his hand to give an order. Hundreds of arrowheads densely aimed at all the people in the hall, including the Empress Dowager Zhang and the Little Emperor on the high seat.

In the terrified eyes of Empress Dowager Zhang, she saw A'Shu amidst the plain-clothed people waiting for death suddenly raised her head and spoke, “I also want to avenge my elder brother. I hope that Prince of Xiao allows me.”

The voice came from a delicate and beautiful woman. They guessed that this was Geng Yun’s wife, A'Shu of the Zhao clan in Hebei Province.

Liu Xun looked at the watery eyes of the beauty, and his heart softened for no reason. “Where is your enemy?”

A'Shu suddenly got up, her tightly bound hands quickly drawing out the sword from the waist of a soldier. In the stunned eyes of everyone, she hurriedly ascended the steps and pointed the sword at Empress Dowager Zhang, who stiffened in shock and anger. “The enemy is here.”

“A'Shu, I-I’m your mother! That traitor Liu Xun is clearly the one who killed your elder brother!” Empress Dowager Zhang angrily pointed at the man under the steps with trembling fingers.

A'Shu’s misty eyes finally shed tears. “It’s my blind trust for the Empress Dowager that killed my elder brother.” The hands holding the sword tightened, pushing the blade into Empress Dowager Zhang’s heart.

Dying at her own making, Empress Dowager Zhang could hardly die in peace.

A'Shu’s tears kept streaming down her face, but she pulled up the corners of her mouth in a bleak smile. She turned her eyes to the man not far away. “Many thanks to the Prince of Xiao.”

Liu Xun looked at the beautiful woman before him.

It’s a pity that this beauty is doomed.

At his command, the dense plumes of arrows shot from all directions, closing in like an airtight net.

But not one remnants of evils of Yongxing must be allowed to slip away.