Empress Ying

I

...

..: How funny of you to pretend to be the better person when indeed you have the same goal as me.

- Don't compare yourself with me. You have shed innocent blood everywhere you walked past for your pretended goal. You betrayed your family, your daughter, as well as yourself.

I may have had words to respond but deep down, she was right. I let my revenge get the better of me. I didn't enjoy my life because I had a so-called duty to accomplish. In the end, no one obligated me to do the things I did. It was my own lust. I wanted to be powerful, to be able to implement things. "Making the world a better place". Who am I to arrogantly make such claims. I'm such a hypocrite.

I raised my sword and slashed her throat. She smiled.

..: You will never be able to get rid of me.

~°~

[...] Around a decade ago

I woke up to my parents fighting. I went out of my so-called bedroom to see what the fight was about. There was a third person. He wore a casino mask. His appearance and stature made me uneasy. He looked like a wealthy man, what kind of business could he have with my parents?

Mom: We can gain a lot through this transaction. I have been delaying this for months. We can't keep her here forever. 

Dad: We don't need the money, and why are you so set on this? You know this is human trafficking. We talked about this. If you need more money I can work. 

Mom: She is stealing our resources. At least, instead of throwing her out with no benefit, we can get something out of her.

Dad: It is our daughter we are talking about.

Mom: You-

Client: -Interrupting mum- So are you set or not? I have no time for this. I have to warn you tho. The more we wait, the less worth she has.

For my seven-year-old brain, these were too many complicated words. But one thing I knew for sure was that I had to run. I went back to my room, took all the possessions I had, which were scarce, and flew through the window. It didn't take time until they noticed that I was gone. As I was running with my small feet and height, I failed to notice that someone already caught up to me and was ready to grab me. I struggled so hard to escape his griff. Nothing worked.

After a few minutes, my parents and the client arrived.

Mum: Look, I told you she was lively! ...And very smart.

My mum looked at me disgusted. I have never seen her face like this before. My dad looked sad and helpless. After all, since the day I can remember mother always had power over my father. My mum came from a well-off family and my dad's family got ruined after their marriage. You could say that my mum wasn't proud.

- Why are you treating me like this? Wasn't I obedient enough?

Mum: Of course you were and you could be for the last time. Don't make it hard for us. Your dad couldn't bear to see you getting hurt.

- You, You wouldn't care? I thought mums love their daughters!

I couldn't stop myself from crying. This was too painful. How could she treat like this? 

Mum: Well, that's true. It just happens that we are not in such a relationship.

Dad: XIAO JANA!

Mum: What are you mad for? someone had to tell her.

I stopped crying.

-...what?

 That made sense. She never liked me. She treated me worst than a dog and never cared for me.

- You are a bad person.

She looked at me and smiled. At this point, I was terrified of her. 

Her: You know nothing little girl. -Turns to the client- The pay stays the same right?

Client: Yes, we will take her immediately.

Dad: How dare you ignore me. I SAID SHE GOES NOWHERE.

One of the guards belonging to the client knocked him off.

- DAD!

Mum: -laughing- You little thing! Don't you think you should address him differently now? Oh yeah, how about Mister Xiao? You can call me Madam Xiao.

- I'm still going to call him dad. And you, you don't deserve to be a mother. Madam Xiao? My ass! How about I call you bitch?

Mum: You will be sorry. I'm not going to argue with you. Enjoy your new life, little slave!

How dare she, how dare she. I always did what she told me to do. Always acted like a servant. She was always and always will be greedy. We had enough money to hire a maid but rather had me doing all the work. I understand now. Since I wasn't her child, she would have no remorse. I'm going to get back at her. Poor dad, how could he marry a woman like that?

They put me in the carriage they came with and knocked me off.

🏹