Chapter 2

Pei Jie spread his arms in front of the scarlet pheasant.

“Her feathers are both her cultivated power and her beauty. Your Highness isn’t teaching her manners. You’re using your power to destroy her.”

“If you’re angry that I brought her to the banquet, I apologize.”

“I didn’t know that her promised surprise, her finishing touch, meant defacing the painting. She likes a joke. She wasn’t trying to provoke you.”

At that, I rose.

Step by step, I approached him.

His back went rigid, like a sword poised to strike.

I scoffed.

Crack!

I struck him across the face with a sword hilt.

The blow sent him sprawling. He spat out a mouthful of blood and teeth.

“Using my power? Very well. I won’t pluck her. Shall I chop her into pieces and make you chicken soup instead?”

The red pheasant on the floor heard me. Her head jerked, her whole body trembled, and she let out a string of shrill, clucking cries.

Pei Jie held his swollen cheek and met my cold gaze.

“The State Preceptor himself named Jinwu an auspicious guardian of Great Yong. If you insist on this, aren’t you afraid of bringing heaven’s punishment down on our nation?”

The guests murmured among themselves, visibly worried.

I looked at him with interest.

“I was born of the imperial dragon and phoenix. Am I worth less than a mongrel bird?”

“A true daughter of the dragon against a false phoenix. I’d like to see which of us comes out on top.”

I turned and drew a sword.

“Don’t!”

With a thump, Pei Jie fell to his knees before me.

His back bowed.

“I beg Your Highness for mercy.”

That was more like it.

I tapped his face lightly with the back of the blade and laughed carelessly.

“Only a joke. I can make them too.”

I signaled to my maid.

Brush and ink were brought before him.

His pupils flickered. He looked at me in confusion.

Smiling, I explained.

“My husband is skilled with a brush. Since my equestrian portrait is gone, you owe me a replacement. You will watch the mongrel bird’s punishment. For every feather the servants pluck, you will make one mark.”

“I want to know exactly how many feathers this arrogant, overbearing pheasant has to be so proud of.”

As the last color drained from his face, my voice sharpened.

“Ruining my birthday and my mood already merits a thousand deaths. It is mercy enough that I haven’t had her roasted. Make one mistake in your tally, and I will cut her flesh.”

“Say one word too many, and I will chop a piece off her.”

“Would you like to try me?”

Pei Jie stared in horror. His thin lips opened and closed, but he dared not utter another word.