EMPRESS LI CHEN'S POV
"Empress! Empress the concubines and consorts are waiting for your arrival" Hishi states as she awaits my next order.
Waving my hand as an indication of her to go, I let the palace maid decorate my hair and prepare me for the harem meeting.
I did not want to attend but as the Empress, I have no option but to attend and head this meeting even though my presence is a joke.
His majesty got so furious yesterday due to my reply to his suggestion, he mounted more works and assignments on me as punishment. I know he just wants to sniff any ray of light from my life.
"Let's go"
"Greetings to the Empress" the concubines and consorts all greeted while the bow slightly, I could see one head standing out in defiance and I already knew it was Consort Su, who is already giving me a glare.
I move to the head chair for the Empress, taking my seat followed by the other consorts and concubines taking theirs.
"A hen in a tigress clothing is staying in a field of tigers and still refuses to lay egg" (Meaning the empress is barren and has no place in the palace) consort sung snickered while the other consorts and concubines laughed mockingly
"She thinks wearing beautiful garments and accessories can make her shame unknown to other" Consort Ja jibed
"Or that bearing a title gives her title" Concubine Jing ridiculed while other join her in the mockery.
I could only curl my hands in anger as it turns white, I am used to this. I have no power in this palace, no one respects me. The Emperor has made sure that I am ridiculed in this palace every day.
DANG!
Hishi hits her hands in anger
"Enough!" she shouted
"How dare you talk about the Empress, the person next to the Emperor!" Hishi bellowed while she step forward, looking at everyone in the eye.
"What did we say wrong? We just said she is an empty-
WHACK!
Everyone mouth open due to the scene in front of them. Hishi slapped Noble Consort.
My eye widen in fear, Hishi what have you done!
"Let this be a warning to anyone that dares disrespect her empress"
Consort su looked at Hishi with venom and an eyes that screams revenge as she is being attended to by her maids.
In anger and frustration, she gets up and left.
The room remains quiet even after her departure.
Hishi what have you done
I know consort su will not let this pass, she will surely ge revenge.
I could not help but still be in a state of panic even though it was late at night, the palace was too quiet for my liking
"Empress, the Emperor request your presence at consort su's palace"
Eunuch Jun announced
The pace of my heart get fast, my hands shakes in tremor, beads of sweat forming on my face and body, and it feels there is a heat burning within me.
"Call Hishi to prepare me"
"Hishi was summoned to the palace hours ago"
This cannot be good, something is wrong...
Greeting your majesty" I bow forcefully to show respect and avoiding eye contact due to the fear he has installed in me.
"Rise Lichen"
Lifting my head, my eyes found that of consort su is clinging to an angry-looking Emperor
"Your maid dared to strike my consort" he seems infuriated and I could not help but shake in fear, swallowing my dry saliva.
Falling to my knees and hitting my head on the floor in repentance
"Forgive her your majesty, she took ill a few days ago. It might be an aftermath of the illness" making an excuse to lessen the judgment on Hishi.
Silence
I dared to look up and found the emperor smiling and consort Su snickering
What is happening?
Qing Shi raises his hand gesturing his Eunuch in. Eunuch Ju enters with a covered platter in his hands, dropping it in front of me.
"Open it, my empress" Qing sang in an unusual sweet voice
Looking at his head as if the answer to my question is in there, I finally found the courage to do so after what seems like a decade.
My body staggered back, gasping in shock, my lungs feeling constricted and my body trembling furiously, in front of me lies Hishi's head
No
No
No
"I warned you on numerous occasions, you are just an Empress by name. Nothing more, nothing less. You are useless, even the corpses on the battlefield has more value than you" Qing voices with each statement imprinted by his moving steps towards me.
No
No
Fear and shock filled my body like a bucket being filled with rain. Shaking my head vehemently, I did not notice when Qing Shi grabs my chin forcefully
"Did I not tell you, I will make you beg for death that death will not warn you"
he grinned evilly
"Take her to the pit hole and keep her there for two days. Do not give her food nor water" he instructed while looking into my tear-filled eyes that are silently begging for mercy.
Guards immediately entered the room, dragging me away as I tried holding on to something, anything to prevent me from being put in that hell hole.
"Your majesty mercy!"
"Consort Su, mercy!"
"Your majesty, mercy!"
"Consort us, mercy"
I cried as I was being dragged away, my shoes long forgotten, my cloth and hair disheveled. I could see consort sun beaming mockingly as she is being embraced by the Emperor, her eyes passing a message
"I win
A message quite clear as I am being dragged away. The palace maids, ladies-in-waiting, guards and eunuch look at me with pitiful eyes as they witness the humiliating scene.
Thrown into the dark pit and locked away.
Banging on the door for mercy as fear overtook my body because of the horrible memories I have in this pit.
"Let me out!"
"Please! Let me out"
"Please! Let me out!!!!"
I wailed until my lips have no voice to cry.
Crumbling to the floor in the realization that no one was coming to help.
Is there a god?
YOU ARE READING
FORGOTTEN EMPRESS
HistoryczneNeglected, Forgotten, and Abuse. Just words yet, it feels heavy. Just an Empress whose job is to do everything to make the Emperor happy. Selecting consorts, wearing clothes he likes, making sure the food is to his liking, least I forget producing...
