The news spread like wildfire all across Dongshui with mixed reactions. Some said that she was blessed. Others claimed she was cursed. Or a threat. Or a pawn. However, the news had not yet reached Qin Xun yet, thankfully.
On the other hand, Qiao Taiping had her own worries too. She couldn't go back to Hua Ligen. She couldn't go back to the palace. Not after the fire. Although Yan Muchen might have spared her, Yan Ming, the Empress, and Hua Ligen himself wouldn't. For them, she was just a political pawn.
As the only woman accompanying them, she got to ride in her own carriage. While she climbed into the carriage she had also noticed that it was conventinally at the back of the entourage. She clenched her fists. This was her only chance to escape. Her fate would be sealed the second they stepped into Dongshui.
It was completely dark outside as Hua Zonghan had been trying to get them to the capital as soon as possible but Qiao Taiping had to make a run for it. The darkness would hide her. She inched towards the edge of the carriage and looked both directions to see if anyone was watching.
A cold gust of wind blew across her face as her trembling hand gripped the carriage frame. Her breath fogged in the cold air and her heartbeat drowned out the sound of hooves. With a swift leap, she jumped off. She hit the ground with a jolt. She grit her teeth, the sting of gravel cut her palms. The carriage wheels thundered past her as the scrambled into the bushes, breathless. The darkness swallowed her the way the flames swallowed Zhao Lian.
It wasn't until the entire group stopped for a break that a guard pointed out that Qiao Taiping wasn't in her carriage. Everyone searched frantically for her but she was nowhere to be found. Hua Zonghan eyes started darting around while frantically hissing, "Imperial Father will kill me!"
He turned towards Jiang Wei as Chen Zhihao looked intimadating with his jaw tightened, "Why would she run away?"
Jiang Wei's eyes widened as he threw his arms up shaking his head. Hua Zonghan wrinkled his nose and crossed his arms, "Was she unhappy?"
She was eventually deemed missing by Hua Zonghan. Although she was looked down upon by many in the imperial family, she was still the wife of an imperial prince. They all split up into separate search teams and Jiang Wei sprinted off before anyone could stop him.
Almost a couple of hours later, he found her laying against a tall tree. She was hugging her leg to her chest, wincing in pain. She flinched for a moment before she recognized him. Jiang Wei's eyes widened and his breath caught seeing her injured as he rushed to her side, "What happened?"
Qiao Taiping held a hand up, "Not the time."
Her ankle was twisted as her foot landed at the wrong angle while jumping off. It was bleeding and she was barely able to hobble as far as she did. Jiang Wei was kneeled besides her, hands hovering unsure where to touch, breathless, "Why did you escape?"
She scoffed which broke into a hollow laugh, "You really don't know anything..."
"I really am curious!"
Her expression turned serious, "Do you really think I'd be willing to return to him, huh?"
Jiang Wei went silent as she continued, "Not just him though, none of them would forgive me for what I've done."
"Why would you need forgiveness? You did nothing wrong?"
Qiao Taiping lifted her head up and raised an eyebrow at him and scoffed lightly, "You really do sound like Zhao Lian right now."
He chuckled as she tried to hold onto the tree to stand. She really couldn't. Jiang Wei kneeled in front of her, facing away from her, "Get on."
She sucked in a breath, "I'm a married woman."
He rolled his eyes, "C'mon, you can barely stand let alone walk all the way back."
She sighed and relunctantly climbed onto his back. The two made their way back to the camp slowly but surely.
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It was yet another day of the time slowly passing by in the palace. Liang Yue hugged her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth on her bed. This fragile boredom would soon shatter as Attendant Ju burst in breathless, pale, and shaking.
Liang Yue sat up seeing Attendant Ju in that state, "What's wrong?"
"Liling...she's alive...Zhao Lian...she's in the palace...she's dying...."
Her blankets fell to the floor with a thump as her hands went numb and her stomach dropped inside of her. Her ears ringed uncontrollably and her vision tunneled. She sprinted straight for the door and ran straight for Qianqing Palace. The rain started to pour and the thunder rumbled in the distance. Attendant Ju ran after Liang Yue into Emperor Yanxu's private courtyard.
The guards unwavering in the rain held their arms out, blocking the princess' entrance. She didn't care and shoved them aside. The thunder shook the courtyard as Emperor Yanxu stood under a pavillion, fingers curling behind his back, along with Empress Xiaoxin almost like he was waiting for her.
Liang Yue threw herself to her knees in front of him with her hair plastered to her face and hands slipping on the wet stone, "Your majesty, please, please...she will die, she will die!"
A teriffied Attendant Ju stumbled in after Liang Yue crying, clinging onto her sleeve, "Princess, please, you'll get sick..."
She tried to cover Liang Yue with her own cloak as her clothes clinged to her skin, heavy and dragging. An Shihan along with Concubine Gui and Noble Lady Huan walked by, sheltered by umbrellas held by their servants. Thrilled by the drama, Concubine Gui mumbled, "If Zhao Lian lives, the palace will burn..."
"She came back from the fire, like a phoenix," whispered by Noble Lady Huan.
Concubine An was terrified of the implications, smirking but uneasy, "The Empress will not like this."
Concubine Gui playfully kicked Concubine An, "Shhh, don't let Zhao Lian's ghost hear this."
Concubine An gripped her umbrella tightly as Noble Lady Huan shivered. They all scattered away as the rain started to pick up, hitting the ground like needles, but An Shihan was right. Wang Xiaoxin tried to downplay it to Emperor Yanxu, "Your majesty, the girl is a danger. Let her rest quietly, there is no need for physicians."
Liang Yue shook her head as her palms bleed from the stone and hair stook to her cheeks. Her voice broke into hoarse sobs, "No, no, she is innocent! She's suffered enough!"
Emperor Yanxu gave no response but his jaw tightened, trying to ignore the princess' desperate pleas. Liang Yue walked on her knees closer to him, voice cracking, "If you ever saw me as your daughter, save her, save her..."
She started to bow so hard that her forehead split and knees bruised. The blood mixed with the rain pouring down but she didn't stop. Attendant Ju was sobbing, trying to shield her with her own body as the guards attempted to pull her away.
Emperor Yanxu glanced at the Empress before clearing his throat, "Please rise, Princess Liling."
Liang Yue refused to rise as she kept on bowing. His eyebrows furrowed and he finally snapped, "Enough! Send in the physicians!"
She fell back onto her feet as Emperor Yanxu stormed off, furious at himself for giving in with Wang Xiaoxin following close behind. She looked up at the sky and sighed, closing her eyes and letting the raindrops hit her face.
YOU ARE READING
The Phoenix Split
Historical FictionZhao Lian's entire family is brutally purged under the orders of Emperor Yanxu. She watches as a masked commander leads the troops to kill every member of her clan including her father. Rising from the ashes, she is the sole survivor and is bound t...
