NoPantsNick

Forged by ruthless clan schemes, she mastered cunning and cruelty—yet still fell victim to betrayal.

Murdered by her cousin, the corporate heiress awakens as a princess slain by her own sister in a war-torn dynasty. Trapped amidst royal incest and encircling enemies, how will she seize her fate?

Will she submit—drowned by her sister’s schemes, adrift in this chaotic era?

Never. Her icy brilliance makes her the era’s most coveted kingdom-toppling beauty. Her devastating smile, peerless talents, and unmatched wit command the devotion of legendary men.

Underestimate her? Witness her breathtaking schemes that force all to kneel in awe.
Scorn her? Watch her transform into a polymath genius—the world’s unrivaled talents are hers to wield.
Ignore her? See armies crumble to dust beneath her war-table laughter.

He is heaven’s chosen scholar—ethereal as lotus untouched by filth—yet defies blood ties to crown her his only bride.
He, peerless in beauty and brilliance, schemes against all yet guards one softness: her.
He, the nation’s top scholar, burns as her pawn—ready to die at her command.
He, the enemy crown prince, trades empires for her smile—regretless even in ruin.
He, the city’s guardian god, endures her betrayals with undying devotion.
He, descendant of the Medicine King, crafts miracles solely for her.
He, her most loyal shadow, worships her silently unto death.

And him…
And him…

So many legends chase her flame. But her heart soars cold, proud, and lonely. Can any melt her glacial soul? Claim her hand amidst the chaos?

The Enchantress Queen

Moments later, the maid returned, offering a small, sharp dagger with a trembling hand. I snatched it, pressing the cold blade firmly against the pulsing vein in Liu Rumai's neck. "Never imagined this, did you?" I hissed in her ear. "A taste of your own medicine. Now, listen closely. I'm leaving. With you as my guarantee. I won't sink to your level. Once I'm safely back in Yongning Palace, you get released. Unharmed." I glared at the maids. "Clear a path!"

I started backing towards the door, dragging Liu Rumai with me. Unaccustomed to such treatment, she spewed a torrent of curses and insults, each filthier than the last. My patience snapped. I tilted the blade, drawing a thin, precise line just below her jaw.

A bead of crimson welled instantly.

"Feeling chatty?" I murmured, my voice dangerously calm. "Fancy a game of knife-throwing? Though…" I pressed the blade slightly harder, making her gasp. "…I find this… intimate pressure… quite satisfying too."

"NO! STOP!" she shrieked, clawing desperately at my arm. "Alright! Alright! I'll be quiet! Please! Don't hurt me!"

Her abject terror was delicious. Why was I even worried about Shen Tianxiang? I've got this! Relief washed over me. I was almost free.

Then, a man's voice, sharp with authority, cut through the tense silence from the courtyard beyond the door:

My heart plummeted. No. No! Not him! Not NOW! I saw the flare of desperate hope in Liu Rumai's eyes. Trapped. Fury surged. If I was going down, she was taking a souvenir.

I drew the blade swiftly, deliberately, across the same spot. A deeper, angrier red line bloomed, blood welling faster.

"AGH! You bitch!" Liu Rumai screamed, pure hatred contorting her features. "The Emperor is here! You dare?! He'll have you executed!"

"Terrified," I spat back, shoving her away and dropping the knife with a clatter. "But some lessons need teaching. You boasted about the women you ruined? Consider this… interest on their debt."

I turned as Shangguan Mochen strode in, his face a thundercloud. Trailing behind him, wringing her hands anxiously, was Shen Tianxiang. Oh, perfect. Misinterpreted 'rescue' mission accomplished. Thanks for nothing.

Liu Rumai saw her savior. Like a devotee before an idol, she flung herself towards him, collapsing dramatically against his chest. The blood on her neck was a stark, accusing contrast to her sudden, artful delicacy. She wept, each sob perfectly timed. "Your Majesty! Justice! Please! See what she did to me! Look!" She tilted her head, displaying the wound. "This… this tells the whole story!"

Shangguan Mochen's gaze swept the scene – the cowering maids, the dropped knife, Liu Rumai's bleeding neck, my defiant stance. His voice cracked like a whip. "You! Summon the imperial physician! Now!"

The maids scrambled to obey. He gently, but firmly, pushed Liu Rumai towards a chair. "Sit. Tend to your wound. I will… address this."

Liu Rumai, expecting immediate outrage on her behalf, faltered. Disappointment flashed. She clung tighter, pressing her bloody neck against his pristine robe. "But Your Majesty… it hurts so terribly! The physician will take ages! The cut is deep… and I feel so faint…" Her voice trembled with expertly feigned weakness. "I fear… I fear I cannot bear it…"

Chapter 11: Shen Tianxiang's "Rescue"