Finally here? Murong Jin's sword paused, but only for a heartbeat. As footsteps thundered behind her, her blade slid from Guo Lingyu's throat down to her jawline.
"Ah!" Guo Lingyu's shriek echoed through the hall, a sound to chill the blood.
"What are you doing?" Xue Liulan rushed to her, grabbing her wrist.
She didn't resist. He looked at Guo Lingyu. A thin line of blood seeped from a cut on her neck.
Murong Jin shook off his hand, her smile cold. "Shouldn't you ask your beloved consort what she did?"
Xue Liulan was speechless. He turned to Guo Lingyu. The woman who was usually so polished now looked as if she had been dragged from a slaughterhouse. Her hair was wild, her face marked with sword cuts, her torn robes soaked in blood.
"Even if she committed a capital crime, the Court of the Imperial Clan should handle it. How can you execute private justice?" He frowned at her. Guo Shangzhong wouldn't let this go. His faction in the court would use this to attack her.
Murong Jin looked at him indifferently. She walked to the pillar, cut the ropes, and caught Ning Bi as she fell.
"Little Dingzi! Get someone to carry Ning Bi back to Zhaoyang Palace!"
A moment later, eunuchs brought a rattan stretcher. Murong Jin laid Ning Bi down gently and covered her with her own cloak.
"Carry her carefully. If there is a single mistake, your lives won't be enough to pay for it." She glared at them, then at Little Dingzi.
Little Dingzi and Ning Bi had grown up together. Seeing her like this, his heart burned with anger.
"This slave will see her safely home," he promised, stealing a glance at the silent Emperor.
Xue Liulan nodded. He turned to the kneeling servants. "Summon the physician. Treat Consort Guo."
"Yes." Qing'er moved to help her mistress.
Guo Lingyu had fainted from terror. The cold steel at her throat had pierced her soul. She knew death.
Xue Liulan stared at her, a flicker of doubt in his mind. Did she really kill her?
"Half an inch more, and she would be dead. This was a warning," Murong Jin said to his back. "If Ning Bi recovers, fine. But if she suffers any lasting harm, I will not spare her."
She walked away without looking back, leaving him with only her cold silhouette.
Three days passed before Ning Bi woke. Murong Jin stood by the door, her hands clasped behind her back.
"Why hasn't she woken?"
"Your Majesty, she suffered severe trauma. It will take three to five days for the medicine to work," the old physician explained respectfully.
"Will there be lasting damage?"
"No. But the scars… they will be difficult to remove."
"That is not a problem," she murmured. "How is Consort Guo?"
The physician froze. He looked at her enigmatic smile, nervous.
"Consort Guo is awake. Physically, she is fine, but she claims to be unwell. The Imperial Medical Academy is helpless. His Majesty is considering summoning the Physician Saint, Chong Hua."
Murong Jin smiled. "Thank you, Physician." She signaled a maid to see him out.
"Your Majesty." A weak voice.
Murong Jin turned and rushed to the bed, gently pushing Ning Bi back down.
"How do you feel?"
"I'm fine. I'm not that fragile," Ning Bi laughed weakly. "This slave thanks Your Majesty for saving my life." She tried to kowtow.
"Wait until you're healed." Murong Jin sat on the edge of the bed, lightly touching the cut on Ning Bi's cheek. "The scars will fade. I'll find a way."
"To have my life is enough. I dare not ask for more." Ning Bi lowered her eyes.
"If I hand you over to He Chengjian with a ruined face, I won't be able to explain myself. That would be adding crime to crime." Murong Jin teased softly.
Ning Bi stared, speechless. Since He Chengjian left, she hadn't seen him. She never thought she would again.
"Rest now. I'll handle the rest." Murong Jin stood and went out to instruct the little maid, A'Ru. "Take good care of her. If you need anything from the Ministry of Works, tell me if they refuse."
"Yes, Your Majesty." A'Ru sighed. Sister Ning Bi is lucky to have such a mistress.
Murong Jin sat alone. Guo Lingyu must have suffered enough by now. Once Xue Liulan issued a decree punishing the Empress, her 'illness' would be cured.
"The Emperor arrives!" Little Dingzi announced.
Murong Jin smiled knowingly. She opened the door and waited. For days, she had worn her Wuchuan attire—tight sleeves, soft sword at her waist.
But this sight stung Xue Liulan's eyes, just as him carrying Guo Lingyu had stung hers.
"Your subject greets the Emperor." She bowed, refusing to look at him.
His eyes tightened. Subject? Is the distance between ruler and subject greater than the bond between husband and wife?
"Oh, Your Majesty, it hurts," Guo Lingyu moaned in his arms.
Murong Jin looked up. Her gaze was light, but Guo Lingyu flinched. The memory of the sword was branded into her mind.
"Don't be afraid, my love." Xue Liulan snapped out of his daze. He had come to demand an explanation. In other words, to pick a fight.
"Bring a chair for the Emperor," Murong Jin ordered, then stared calmly at Guo Lingyu.
Only after he had settled Guo Lingyu did she look at him.
"What brings Your Majesty here?"
"Ahem. I came to ask for an explanation regarding Consort Guo's beating." He rubbed his nose, avoiding her eyes.
She glanced at Guo Lingyu and smiled. "Good. Even if you hadn't come, I would have gone to you for an explanation."
"Oh?" He suppressed a smile. He knew she never took a loss lying down.
"You remember Ning Bi. What did she do to offend Consort Guo so gravely that she was beaten half to death?" Murong Jin walked slowly to Guo Lingyu's side.
"She violated palace rules." Guo Lingyu tried to sound righteous.
"Oh? Since when does a consort discipline the servants of Zhaoyang Palace?" Murong Jin looked down at her. "Or are you trying to tell me you are the master of the harem?"
Her voice hardened. She turned her cold gaze to Xue Liulan.
"When did Your Majesty issue a decree replacing the Empress? I wasn't informed."
He turned, feigning confusion.
"Since the Empress is still named Murong, I suggest Consort Guo learn some restraint." She leaned down, her face close to Guo Lingyu's. "After all, Murong Jin is a general who kills without blinking."
"Your Majesty!" Guo Lingyu shrieked, clinging to Xue Liulan.
Suddenly, she remembered Die Man's warning. Do not provoke Murong Jin.
It wasn't an exaggeration.
"Murong Jin." Xue Liulan's voice was low. He had to give Guo Shangzhong an answer.
She smiled and straightened.
"An eye for an eye. But I did bully a subordinate. I await Your Majesty's punishment."
Her tone was flat, devoid of emotion. It made him uneasy.
"Your Majesty," Guo Lingyu whined, looking pitiful.
He lowered his eyes. "I understand what happened. Both Empress Murong and Consort Guo are guilty of using private punishment. Both are confined to their quarters for three months."
Guo Lingyu gasped. Confinement meant she was effectively in the Cold Palace. The Emperor would not visit.
"This subject thanks Your Majesty." Murong Jin bowed, hiding her smile.