Chapter 8: The Little Diviner Saves Her Clan

"Making me work is child labor! It's illegal!"

My family stared at me.

Eldest Brother rubbed my head.

"Little Wu, what are you muttering about?"

"The Empress was very fond of you at the last palace banquet."

"The decree says you're to go to the palace on the first of every month and keep her company."

Seeing my lack of enthusiasm, Mother quickly turned to Father.

"Why don't I go instead?"

"Little Wu is so young. Sitting around talking with grown-ups must bore her terribly."

Father scratched his head.

"Well, then…"

"Father!"

I suddenly smiled.

"Defying an imperial decree means execution for all nine degrees of kinship, you know!"

"You little…!"

His eyes went round.

But there was nothing he could do about me.

After all, I was the Xie family's little lucky star.

My brothers were forever saying it.

"Our Little Wu saved the whole family."

Ten years later.

On the day of my coming-of-age ceremony, guests nearly trampled the Xie residence's threshold to pieces.

I left the houseful of visitors behind and returned to my room alone.

From my dressing box, I took out three coins.

Ten years ago, I'd used them for Six-Line divination on the execution ground.

They'd stayed with me ever since.

Their surfaces were mottled, marked all over by time.

"They're all chipped. Shall I get you some new ones?"

Third Brother produced two strings of coins and held them out as proudly as if they were treasure.

"They're not broken."

"They've been with me through every important moment of my life."

I closed my eyes.

The three coins flew up in succession.

One cast.

Two.

Until all six lines were settled.

My eyes snapped open.

"This is bad!"

"Tomorrow is His Majesty's birthday. I'm afraid there'll be an assassin."

Third Brother, who had been transferred from the frontier to serve before the Emperor, immediately grew grave.

"Little Wu, this is serious. Are you certain?"

I nodded solemnly.

"The signs never lie to me."

Third Brother had a token bestowed by the Emperor himself.

Even after the palace gates closed, he could go straight in to see the sovereign.

Two hours later, the Emperor summoned me.

"Xie Guanyan."

"This humble subject pays her respects to Your Majesty."

The Emperor had already retired for the night.

Even his nightclothes couldn't hide how thin he'd grown.

"It's been ten years since the Crown Prince's rebellion."

"An'er is only nine this year."

"He's the only son I have left."

"Under my rule, these past years have been peaceful. The land is tranquil, and the people live and work in contentment."

"Where would an assassin come from?"

I answered calmly.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is dead."

"But he left a wife and children."

The Emperor froze.

"You mean… Yan'er?"

He walked out to the covered walkway.

The night wind stirred old memories.

Murong Yan had been only eight when Murong Shen died.

After losing his father so young, he'd left the capital with the Crown Princess.

And vanished into obscurity.

"How could he…?"

The Emperor looked toward the Eastern Palace.

"Ten years."

"Long enough to turn him into an assassin who hates the throne."

"Your Majesty."

"I once heard the Empress say that the former Crown Princess, née Zhao, could be exceedingly cruel."

I often kept the Empress company at Kunning Palace, so I'd heard quite a few secrets of the inner court.

That spring, renovations in the Eastern Palace had uncovered a hidden dungeon.

Inside lay a skeleton.

An investigation identified the dead woman as the second Miss Cui, daughter of a minister.

The Crown Prince had once wanted to take a secondary consort, and the Crown Princess had come to resent her.

When Miss Cui entered the palace, the Crown Princess had her drugged, mutilated into a "human swine," and secretly imprisoned in that dungeon.

After years of torture, Miss Cui had died full of hatred.

A mother like that could teach her child only how to hate.

At last, the Emperor believed me.

The next day.

The palace held a banquet for the Emperor's birthday.

A palace maid stepped forward to serve him tea.

In the very next instant, her expression changed.

"Die, you dog of an emperor!"

A dagger slipped from her sleeve.

Whoosh!

Its point shot straight toward the left side of his chest.

And plunged in.

The hall erupted into chaos.

Third Brother led the imperial guards forward to protect him.

The maid was seized on the spot.

When she raised her head again, the fear on her face had vanished. Only satisfaction remained.

The Emperor still sat upright on his throne, the dagger lodged in his chest.

"Trying to kill your grandfather?"

"Yan'er, you're still far too inexperienced."

The word "grandfather" left Murong Yan briefly dazed.

He wiped the makeup from his face.

Beneath it emerged features much like the Crown Prince's of old. His eyes stayed fixed on the Emperor.

The Emperor gave him a single glance.

"Take him away."

"Put him in the imperial prison."

The physicians of the Imperial Medical Office hurried over.

Second Brother rushed forward to treat him.

But the Emperor merely waved a hand.

"I'm fine."

He pulled out the dagger.

The blade was spotless. Not a drop of blood.

Second Brother stood utterly stunned.