Golden (7 page)

Now the game was fully afoot, and ever more deadly since the Emperor had openly declared his interest in me. The Empress’s son was even less likely to be named heir apparent if I, too, as the Emperor’s favorite, produced a son. If her original plans included Ping’s assassination, she would need to devise something new. If she couldn’t eliminate me, then I should at least be bound to another so that the Emperor couldn’t officially make me his wife, let alone his Empress. As long as Ping lived, I was at least penned.

All her rage and frustration would be centered upon me alone.

The day her son, Prince Zhou, returned from the north flush with victory and soldiers from her family’s armies, my days were numbered. I positioned my spies carefully to catch the first sign of danger. I didn’t think she’d attempt a full overthrow of the Emperor, but she would definitely assassinate me and hope her son’s soldiers and family’s influence would stay the Emperor’s hand.

I gave my spies careful instructions. I wanted to know anyone unusual who entered this wing of the palace, whether guard, new eunuch or one of the royal family. I didn’t expect the Empress to send another assassin, nor did I expect her to attempt poison again, though we were as vigilant as ever in both regards.

When the maid came scurrying back, I never expected her to say that Prince Zhou was on his way.

The Empress had evidently gone to the most powerful weapon in her arsenal to strike me down.

My nurse and I locked gazes for a long heartbeat, and then without a word, we moved in unison to my sleeping area. I grabbed a short, slender sword and she lit candles. A quick whisper from my nurse sent the maid running from my room to safety, leaving no witnesses to where we went or what we did.

I lifted a tapestry to reveal a small door. In moments, we were gone with no one the wiser.

I had chosen this small, insignificant room from the very beginning because of its easy access to the old storage rooms. No one had used this wing for years, and it was my hope that a quick search wouldn’t reveal our hiding place. Just in case, we were careful to shut doors behind us silently, moving into the darkest realms of the palace, and stepped carefully to avoid disturbing decades of dust.

We had been stashing supplies in a small room for months, so I wasn’t worried about a lengthy seclusion. My hope was that we’d quietly disappear. When the Emperor learned I was missing would he send determined searchers. Prince Zhou would be afraid of discovery. He wouldn’t have time to tear apart my room in search of hidden panels and escape routes.

I hope.

We had no way to measure the time. My stomach rumbled, so I sipped some soothing soup from the crock in my bag. I even dozed a bit, for in the blackness and silence there was nothing else to do. We daren’t talk for fear our voices might carry where no one should be.

Rustles woke me. I squeezed my nurse’s hand to assure she was awake, and we sat there, clinging to each other as the footsteps neared. I wanted to curse. Evidently our hiding place had not been so clever.

I pressed a knife into her hand and unsheathed the sword, but I wasn’t sure how far I could take this fight. I had sworn not to force His Majesty’s hand. Killing his second son would not be looked upon favorably, even though Zhou would slay me with no hesitation. I was no swordswoman, though I could protect myself for a short while. My best attack would be surprise, with a wound meant to disable but not kill.

I crept to the door and took up position beside it. My nurse lit a small candle, just enough light to draw attention to her and blind him somewhat to my whereabouts. Heart pounding, I wiped sweaty palms on my gown and adjusted my grip on the sword. It wasn’t my favorite weapon. I’d much prefer tossing a knife or shooting a bow, something from a safe distance with a head start and a fast horse.

Floorboards creaked. A light appeared beneath the crack in the doorway. I pictured the prince in my mind, estimating his height. He was right-handed. I adjusted accordingly to keep his body between me and his own weapon. I needed to disable him without killing him, so I decided to aim for his shoulder, followed by a quick slice to his thigh so he could not chase me.

The door slid open soundlessly. A black shadow filled the doorway, broad shouldered and proud, a warrior in his own right. Zhou was a son to make his father very proud indeed. While Ping had dallied in the palace writing flowery poetry no one cared to read, his younger brother had led men to battle. And won.

My hand cramped on the sword, but I waited, holding my breath. My nurse pretended to be asleep, letting him approach without warning. His head turned left and right, scanning the shadows for me. He didn’t think to look behind him.

I raised the sword, blinking sweat out of my eyes. My aim must be true.

I reared back to stab his shoulder, but heard the slightest sound behind us. He started to turn. He saw me. My surprise attack was lost and acid bubbled up from my stomach. I needed to be sick, but I swallowed down the bile. Even though I knew he’d block my sword, I struck a blow toward his shoulder as I’d planned. He was too skilled, too big, too strong, and I was dead.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a knife sink into Prince Zhou’s back, right between his shoulder blades.

His eyes flared and he staggered toward me. Instinctively, I swung the sword again, but he was too close. He crashed into me, his weight heavy against my arm. He pinned me against the wall, gasping, choking, his eyes wide as he sank to his knees and coughed blood all over me. He reached up, dragging at my arms, my gown, ripping the silk in his effort to remain on his feet. My sword clattered to the ground, and he followed, flat on his back. His eyes stared unseeing at the ceiling, but he still breathed.

The rasping, wet sound of his breath was horrid in the silence.

My husband stepped into the room, and my weak knees nearly sent me to join his dying brother. He smiled, and I couldn’t recognize him. The friendly, innocent naivety had been replaced by cold cunning and malice, something much more like the Empress’s manner. “So, my dear wife, whatever shall we do now?”

Thoughts whirled in my head like leaves in a hurricane. Had I been so foolish as to fall for a mere performance? Did he merely play the buffoon? I never would have suspected him of plotting against anyone, let alone Zhou. By all accounts, Ping was the studious, artistic, sensitive son; Zhou the rough-hewn warrior.

“Your Highness,” I stammered. “Thank you.”

“Oh, do not thank me just yet, dearest.” He smiled and my stomach quivered. “Think how devastated Father shall be when he learns how Zhou plotted against him.” He pulled a second knife out of his long sleeve, this blade as wicked sharp as his smile. “It’s too bad Second Brother managed to kill you before I found your secret hiding place.”

I, too, had knives at the ready, small and quick. But would the Emperor forgive me for killing his chosen heir, even to save our son’s life? Sensing my dilemma, my nurse leapt at Ping and clawed at his face and throat. I backed away, putting his fallen brother between us. Zhou still lived, and he might somehow hinder Ping’s advance.

My nurse cried out and I could still my hand no longer. I tossed the first knife into his shoulder, aiming as I had done with his brother. He howled and tossed her aside. I could only hope her brittle, aged body survived the fall unscathed.

I lifted my chin and gave him my haughtiest glare. “Your Highness harms old women and unborn babies. How very noble of you.”

“When the Empress Mother whispered your shame to me, I’d hoped to eliminate you myself after she’d failed so miserably, not once but twice, but Father intervened yet again. How can you accuse me when you’re a lying whore who has betrayed me with my own father?”

“Your father happens to be the Son of Heaven who commands all inside this palace. If he orders the lowest kitchen maid to pleasure him, she shall do so gladly. Did you think I would do any less?”

“Yes! Yes, you should have done less. You should have loved me and me alone!”

I laughed harshly. “I did, Your Highness, simply because the Emperor wished it. He gave me to you, and I went simply to please him. I did everything in my power to love you, until you replaced me with the laundry maid.”

“I had many maids, princesses, ladies, even my father’s other wives that he never cared for. They’ve been attending to me since my first erection. Why else do you think I had little interest in you, Jin? I had already taken my pleasure with my ample, giggling maid before you came to my chambers on our wedding night. However, you were supposed to be mine and mine alone whether I requested you for the night or not. You weren’t supposed to seduce my father!”

“I was always meant for him.” I gentled my voice and allowed the truth to soften the golden fire in my eyes. I used my sleeves to camouflage the slender blades I held in my hands. “I loved him before I ever came to the palace.”

“The throne is mine,” Ping rasped, taking another step toward me. “Empress Lei tried to eliminate me and now she has no son. She’ll never have another son. Do you think I’d allow your whelp to take my throne?”

Ping lunged at me. I launched another knife into his thigh. Roaring, he tried to leap over his brother, but Zhou grabbed at his feet. Ping crashed on top of him and they grappled, rolling back and forth. I pulled out another knife hidden in my sash, but I couldn’t take aim without fear of missing my target entirely.

Finally, Ping tossed his injured brother over his head, knocking shelves and supplies into a tumbled mess. He climbed to his feet and casually picked up the bloody knife he’d used on his own brother. “You have lived this long only because of my father’s favor. I am the Crown Prince, the next Son of Heaven, and you are the dirt I shake from my slippers. You—”

I threw a blade and it lodged in his throat. Howling, he clawed at his neck, lifting his own large knife. I didn’t know if he could throw the blade, and I wasn’t going to wait to find out. I threw another, my longest, thinnest blade, and it lodged between his eyes.

My husband fell among the broken pottery and shattered shelves, never to rise again.

“Well done, Jin.”

I whirled so quickly I almost fell myself. The Emperor stood in the doorway. His guards advanced into the room, blocking any flight if that were my hope. Bloody and battered, my nurse hovered to the side, wringing her hands. I didn’t know if she’d fetched him herself, or how long he’d watched. My only thought had been survival.

I searched his face, but he was too adept at hiding his emotions. Dropping my gaze, I tried to bow, but I was too light-headed. Wearied shock dulled my senses. My limbs felt as cold and heavy as the dead princes on the floor. I tried to imagine what this looked like through the Emperor’s eyes. How desolate he must be to find both of his sons dead, and his youngest, favorite consort the murderess.

Empresses had been beheaded for less.

“Father.”

Not dead, then. Even with a knife wound in his back, Zhou still lived. The Emperor went to his son, knelt beside him and took his hand.

“Forgive me.” Blood dripped from his mouth with every word. “I came to kill her.”

“I know.” The Emperor smoothed stray hair from his son’s brow and kissed the back of his hand. “You’re forgiven, my son. You have made Father proud.”

Zhou smiled and went limp, a young warrior prince forever stilled.

Staring down at him, the Emperor whispered, “She killed you, my son.”

Dread choked me. I fell to my knees. I wouldn’t beg. If he wanted my head, I would give it without hesitation. Tears blurred my vision.
Now he has lost three sons.

His hand touched the back of my head. “What’s this, my golden girl? I thought you more courageous than this.”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty.” My voice was hoarse and shaking so badly I feared he wouldn’t be able to understand me. “I never meant to kill either of them.”

“You killed them?” I had to be mistaken to think a thread of amusement wound through his solemn voice. “When I said
she
, I meant Zhou’s mother. She set him to this task, did she not?”

He slipped a hand beneath my arm and pulled me to my feet. I swayed, my feet rooted to the spot. I stared up at him, my eyes burning with desperate hope. He stroked the back of his fingers along my cheek.

“I saw how you dealt with Ping, even with his threats. I had my guard at the ready to assist you, but allowed you to take the justice you deserved. This was his chance to eliminate you both.”

He drew me into his embrace. Sighing out a shaking breath, I lay my head upon his chest. His heart beat beneath my cheek, his arms strong and firm about me. “I’m so sorry, Your Majesty. You have lost two sons this evening.”

“Then it’s fortunate that you carry my next son in your womb. I would have never forgiven myself if I had failed to protect you as I’d failed with Ping’s mother. That old rascal Wan refused to even let me see you without my assurances I would do everything in my power to keep you safe from harm.”

“He did?” Stunned, I tipped my head back so I could search his face. “But when?”

“Before he would even think to send you to me.” He smiled at my nurse with the familiarity and fondness of a boy to his mother.
Or his nurse.
“Xiang agreed to care for you as well as she’d cared for me. Without her, Wan wouldn’t have allowed you to come to me, and I’m afraid I wouldn’t have known that Zhou had come for you until it was too late.”

Xiang grinned at His Majesty and even tapped him on the arm. “You would have found her eventually, Your Majesty. Your old friend trained her well. She held off the attack all on her own. Lady Jin is a rare gem.”

“Agreed.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Two amber gems, the lure which I couldn’t deny. What do you suggest I do with my Empress?”

My heart hardened. She would have killed my son. For that, she deserved nothing less than death. “I think you should order her to her husband’s bed, Your Majesty.”

He nodded, a wry smile already curving his lips. “My thought exactly. Since the Emperor no longer has a living son, he must beget another child on his first wife to ensure the royal line, despite the risk to her health. The bloodline must continue.”