"Damn woman!"
Thwack!
A small stone hit her face, and Yunxi could only bow her head. She did not understand why everything had turned out this way. Just a few months ago, she had been so happy because she had safely given birth to her first son, a handsome boy who resembled Yan Ling, the Crown Prince and her husband.
However, for some reason, the entire room in the pavilion where she lived was searched by the royal army, and a letter of accusation from the King was received, accusing her and her family of being involved in a coup against the kingdom.
Yunxi was confused. She did not understand how such accusations could be levelled against her and her family. Her father was a former war general who was very loyal to the kingdom. He was a wealthy merchant who was resilient and honest.
As for her, she was not sentenced to death, but to exile, because she was the biological mother of the heir to the throne.
What was really going on?
Arriving home, Yunxi saw her father being dragged away by soldiers. He looked pale but his face remained firm and haughty. Clearly, these accusations were an insult to her father.
"Father!!"
Yunxi ran as soon as she got off the palanquin, towards her beloved father.
"Yunxi" Wang Yibo closed his eyes, the pain and sadness he had been holding back could no longer be contained.
"Father... Let my father go! Do you know who you are treating like this? This is Commander Wang Yibo, General Wang Yibo!"
Yunxi shouted angrily. But Yibo immediately pulled his daughter into his arms.
"Xi'er, don't worry, Father will be fine, Father is not guilty. Go inside the house, take care of our family, especially your sister, wangsh, wait until Father returns."
"Father..."
"Listen, Father is not guilty, so Father will definitely return."
Wang Yibo hugged his daughter again, tears falling from his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away with both hands. He would return to his two daughters, his family, and his loyal followers, no matter what. He promised himself.
Yunxi felt heartbroken seeing her father being forcibly dragged away like a criminal, his clothes in disarray.
"Sister!!!"
Yunxi opened her eyes and looked at Wangshu, her only younger sister.
'She's not even 17 yet!'
Yunxi hugged Wang-shu, remembering her father's request. Yes, she had to be strong. She had to take care of her sister and family until her father returned.
Yunxi then carried his sister into the house, occasionally looking back at the footprints his father had just left behind.
That night, Yunxi was still awake, thinking about how to find evidence that his father and his followers, who had been sentenced to death, were innocent.
But Yunxi did not know where to start.
In the middle of her thoughts, suddenly...
Brakkkk!!
"Madam! Madam!, we are under attack! We are under attack!!!"
Her servant's voice screamed. Yunxi woke up and immediately left her room.
As soon as she opened the door, a horrific scene met her eyes. Blood was splattered everywhere, several guards were lying in pieces, and...
"Auntie Sumi! Auntie Sumi!!"
Her maid was lying on the floor, covered in blood from sword wounds that had left gruesome holes in her body.
Yunxi trembled, her mind going blank for a moment.
"Wangshu, I have to save Wangshu!!!"
Yunxi ran towards Wangshu's room, but before she got there, someone suddenly appeared in front of her.
Yunxi frowned. Who? She thought.
"Don't be afraid, my nephew."
"Uncle! Uncle, you're finally here! Please save our family, uncle! We... Hkkkkk!"
Yunxi's eyes widened as something sharp pierced her chest. She felt her blood begin to flow profusely.
"Un-uncle... Hkkkk!!!"
He deepened the thrust of his sword.
"Uncle? Yes, as your kind uncle, I... won't make your death difficult. Hold on a little longer, after this you won't feel any more pain, you little bitch!"
"Y-you! Traitor!"
"How is that possible? This is a royal order, you know? The Crown Prince ordered the destruction of your father's clan!"
'No... It can't be! Yunxi screamed inside, unable to utter a single word. Only tears and anger appeared on her face.
"Oh yes, weren't you looking for your sister?"
Wang Kaibo said with a sly grin, Yunxi's body trembled even more, fear instantly creeping throughout her entire body.
"Bring her here!"
Unexpectedly, Kaibo was clutching something that was still dripping with blood.
'Wangshu!'
Yunxi was utterly devastated to see her younger sister's head hanging in Kaibo's hand. Her body shook violently, her heart aching unbearably.
"How is my gift? Isn't it wonderful?"
Kaibo smiled proudly and then threw Wang-shu's head right next to Yunxi.
"Y-you! I will definitely kill you!!!"
"Hahahahahaha"
Kaibo's laughter echoed throughout the place, then
Srakkkk!!
He slashed his sword at Yunxi's body again.
After seeing that Yunxi was no longer moving, Kaibo left the place with his followers behind him.
In the last seconds of her life, Yunxi made a plea in his heart,
"If I am given another chance at life, God, I will not make the same mistake again. I will not fall in love with him, I will not become his concubine, and I will follow my father's advice. I will leave this country with my family. Let me live, God, let me live!!!!
Jederrrrrr!
The sound of thunder roared, rain fell suddenly, spreading the pungent smell of blood from the scattered corpses...
While Yunxi still stared at the sky even though her body no longer had a soul...
*
*
*
"Madam... Madam..."
The voice calling her grew clearer, someone was calling her. Yunxi slowly opened her eyes.
"Ah!" Yunxi was half dead with shock. Her personal servant, Sumi, was staring at her anxiously.
'Are we finally reunited in the afterlife?'
Yunxi was still dazed, while Sumi continued to try to wake up his mistress who had just regained consciousness.
"Aunty Sumi, are we in the afterlife now?"
"A-Afterlife? Madam, What do you mean? Don't scare me!"
Sumi became even more worried.
"Auntie, where are we?"
Yunxi asked impatiently.
"What do you mean, Madam? Of course we are in the Peach Pavilion, your residence. This morning, you fainted after drinking tea with the royal family."
"Wh-what? What do you mean?"
"Madam... You fainted after drinking tea with the Emperor's family."
Sumi repeated her words in confusion. What was happening to her mistress? Why was she suddenly asking such strange questions?
Could it be...
"Ma'am... are you alright? Do you have a headache? Should I call the doctor now?"
Yunxi remained silent. She really couldn't comprehend what was happening. Hadn't she just been killed by Kaibo a moment ago? She could still feel the pain and suffering.
Then, now she was suddenly alive?
"What happened?"
Yunxi looked at her servant in confusion, and the servant explained anxiously,
"Madam, this morning you went to the palace to drink tea with the Emperor's family. All the family members were there, including Consort Liu Qinmei and His Highness the Crown Prince, Madam. However, before the tea party was over, you... you fainted, Madam!"
Sumi said while crying. She was terrified, after all, his master, Wang Yibo, had entrusted her to protect the eldest daughter of the family of the former respected commander of the royal army. Sumi and his ancestors had served the Wang Yibo family for generations. The promise to protect Consort Yunxi was like a death oath. If something happened to his daughter, Sumi did not know how she would go on living.
"Auntie Sumi, I'm fine,"
Yunxi said softly, almost in a whisper. She finally remembered today. Today was the day she was announced to be carrying the Crown Prince's child.
In her previous life, she was unable to contain her happiness and impatiently waited for her husband to arrive to celebrate the good news together. However, it was clear that her husband preferred to spend time with his childhood love, who had become his second concubine.
In fact, according to ancestral law, she should have been given the title of crown princess, the wife of the heir to the empire. However, Yan Ling did not give her that title.
At first, Yunxi thought that Yan Ling wanted to test her sincerity first. It turned out that she would indeed be divorced after the baby was born. They were only using her family name and services to clarify the status of the next successor.
This was because the second concubine, Qinmei, was only the daughter of a commoner, who had managed to make Yan Ling fall in love with her.
Sadly, she believed in that foolish love, and ended up dying tragically.
"Madam?" Sumi called again when she saw Yunxi daydreaming again.
"Auntie, what did the doctor say? I've never fainted before, you know that, so... I'm a little surprised."
"The palace doctor has just finished examining you, Madam. He is currently preparing medicine for you. The doctor said that you are most likely pregnant, Madam... Congratulations!"
Sumi could not hide her happiness.
"Hmm, alright."
Yunxi only agreed flatly, while her face looked even more gloomy.
"Madam, are you alright? Why don't you look happy?"
Sumi didn't understand. Shouldn't her madam be happy?
With the Crown Prince's child in her womb, her status would be stronger and elevated. It was not impossible that Yunxi's title of concubine would soon change to Crown Princess, right?
Considering the strange rules set by Crown Prince Yan Ling regarding his two wives who still held the title of concubine, while Yunxi was his first legal wife.
"No, Auntie, I am happy, of course. It's just that I haven't fully recovered yet, so I don't feel any better. My head still hurts."
"All right, Madam, I understand. You need to rest. Let me see the palace physician later."
"Hmm, thank you, Auntie... You may leave. And... one more thing, don't let anyone disturb me until tomorrow morning. I want to get a good night's rest tonight."
"What about your dinner, Madam? You shouldn't skip a meal."
"Of course, just put some pears and peaches on the table. I'll eat them later. I really don't want to eat anything right now."
Hearing Yunxi's words, Sumi did not want to force her. Of course, this was an early symptom of pregnancy, her madam had certainly lost her appetite.
"All right, Madam... As you wish."
Sumi excused herself and left the room. Meanwhile, Yunxi lay back down calmly.
Her mind wandered. The news of her pregnancy could no longer be concealed. The court physician would surely report it to the Emperor. She had wanted to ask the physician to keep it a secret.
But she realised that the physician would never agree to her request. She was the unloved wife of the Crown Prince, and the entire palace knew it.
In this place, her position was even lower than that of an ordinary palace servant. The status of being the Crown Prince's wife did not give her any advantages whatsoever.
Even the servants here only respected her because of the orders of the Emperor and Empress. Behind her back, everyone in this pavilion mocked and gossiped about her.
That was the reason Sumi was by her side at her father's request.
But, at this moment, none of that mattered.
The most important thing was how she could find a way to leave this empire with her father and younger sister. That is the only way for them to survive in this life, and live happily even if it is just the three of them, it doesn't matter if they live far away and isolated from
this empire, as long as she can save her father and younger sister.
The world is vast, outside this region, there must be other regions, right?
"I have to find a way to leave, I must! No matter what it takes." She says it to her self.