Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I met Tuoba Lu on my second day in the palace.

Northern Liang had swept southward with unstoppable force, leaving rivers of blood and fields littered with the starved. Yet, Zhou Yuanyi continued his life of revelry and song. Having grown bored of the women in the palace, he sought fresh entertainment from the outside world.

I had sharpened my hairpin until it was lethal. I had practiced the motion of piercing a man’s throat hundreds, thousands of times.

I didn’t know then that Zhou Yuanyi had already surrendered to Northern Liang to save his own life, nor did I know he had welcomed Tuoba Lu into the palace.

When I entered the hall to perform my dance, Zhou Yuanyi was busy chasing dancers around the room. My focus was entirely on him; I didn’t see Tuoba Lu.

I played along, flirting and teasing Zhou Yuanyi. Perhaps it was because I had changed so much over the past three years, but Zhou Yuanyi didn’t even recognize me as his sister-in-law.

He pulled me into his arms, praising my supple waist and fragrant skin, calling me a rare beauty. Laughing coquettishly, I pulled the hairpin from my hair and lunged with all my strength at his throat.

But someone grabbed my arm, and I was slammed hard onto the floor.

I was so close. Just a hair’s breadth away from killing Zhou Yuanyi.

But I failed.

I thrashed and screamed in frustration, desperately trying to crawl toward him. Even if I had to use my teeth, I wanted to tear a piece of flesh from his body.

Then I saw Tuoba Lu. He was sitting in the northern seat, his gaze cold, repressed, and violent. The man I thought I would never see again had appeared before me so unexpectedly.

He was such a large presence; how could I have missed him?

Someone jumped out with glee-it was Qi Wen, who should have been dead.

“Your Majesty, she really did come. I didn’t lie to you,” he cried. “She is Pei Chenglu’s fiancée. They were childhood sweethearts. Her being with you was-”

Qi Wen’s voice cut off abruptly as Tuoba Lu’s sword pierced through his heart.

Zhou Yuanyi stumbled back in terror, and the dancers scattered, screaming. Tuoba Lu walked toward me, sword in hand, and used the tip of the blade to tilt my chin up.

“So, your name isn’t Song Yue Niang.”

The scent of blood on the blade made me want to retch. I forced myself to endure it. “No. My name isn’t Song Yue Niang. My surname is Lin. I am Lin Wanshu.”

“Lin Wanshu.” He leaned down, his thin lips brushing against my ear. “Then, when we were together… the ‘Ah Lu’ you called out for… was it Pei Chenglu?”

I looked at him and replied, “Yes. Kill me.”

Having failed to assassinate Zhou Yuanyi, my fate would surely be worse than a thousand cuts. Tuoba Lu was a clean, efficient killer; I hoped he would give me a swift end.

But the stench of Qi Wen’s blood was too much. Before he could take my head, I vomited.

Through my agony, I heard him say, “Death is too easy for you. Go back to where you came from.”