Chapter 236: Half Truths

General Sheng’s voice dropped to a whisper. "The chest contains the final record left by the late Empress. She discovered the truth before she died—" he smiled at Han Zheng. "Or should I say...before you killed her."

Han Zheng’s face stiffened, his heart stopping for a split second. "Watch your tongue."

"The late Empress went to Blood lotus temple herself and found that the sovereign relic cannot work on its own. So...your plan to use it after the Emperor died would’ve failed. Very poor planning on your path."

Han Zheng wished he could strike the man dead that instant. He had really planned on using the relic after he got rid of the Emperor through Empress Lihua.

"Don’t talk nonsense you’re not sure of," was Han Zheng’s only defense.

"Everyone knows you want the throne," General Sheng taunted. "You killed the Late Empress for it, and even killed Princess Yuexin for it. Tell me...are you so much of a coward that you cannot fight your battles yourself?"

"Shut it!" Han Zheng struck with his sword but General Sheng was quick to block it, a grin wide on his face.

"You let an innocent maid carry your crime," Sheng continued. "You watched her almost get executed for what you did—" a brilliant idea crossed his mind. "Maybe I should let her take her revenge on you."

Han Zheng charged forward again, steel crashing against steel. Sheng blocked the blow, sparks flying between them.

"While she’ll put you in the ground where you belong, I’ll be walking toward the Blood Lotus Temple." He shoved Han Zheng backward. "And when I reach it, I’ll take the divine sword."

Sheng’s smile turned triumphant. "And when the sovereign relic awakens inside Ru Yi...the empire will finally learn who the true sovereign is."

The shadow beneath Ru Yi suddenly surged.

Both Generals turned.

For a brief moment, the darkness around her formed the shape of enormous wings. Then it disappeared. General Sheng’s eyes gleamed.

Ru Yi had been watching them.

From the moment General Han Zheng arrived, she had remained several paces away, her fingers curled tightly at her sides as the battle raged around her. She had watched him cross swords with General Sheng.

She had watched the soldiers obey his commands. She had watched the man who had once stood at the center of the empire’s military power walk onto the battlefield as though nothing had ever touched him.

But something had touched her— the memory of that cold cell she’d been put in, and the daunting reality that she could’ve really died for a crime she did not commit.

Another memory filtered into her brain.

Princess Yuexin, and the soft smile she’d worn hours before Ru Yi found her in the pool of her own blood. Killed for a crown she didn’t even want to wear.

Sometimes she let herself think of how the story would’ve unfolded if Princess Yuexin hadn’t been killed. If she’d really danced with her that night at the ball...

Ru Yi would never get to know what it felt like being with her, all because of Han Zheng. Now she stood only a short distance from the man who had ended a life he had no right to take.

Han Zheng.

Her shadow moved beneath her feet, stretching like something half dead and half alive. It was even more monstrous than before.

General Sheng was the first to notice. "Ru Yi," he called, without taking his eyes from Han Zheng. "Stay back."

Ru Yi ignored him.

Han Zheng turned at the sound of approaching footsteps, his locking with Ru Yi’s. For a long moment none of them spoke.

Then Ru Yi drew her sword.

Han Zheng’s expression changed. "Ru Yi. I didn’t even know you were alive."

The sound of her name on his lips made something inside her snap. "I didn’t think you’d remember a maid as lowly as myself. You’ve always concerned yourself with those in power."

Han Zheng lowered his weapon slightly. "You don’t understand what happened that night." He wasn’t remorseful, but he needed to buy time in order to figure out his next line of action.

Ru Yi laughed. It was quiet and void of humor. "I understand perfectly. You killed Princess Yuexin in a bid to keep your dirty secrets in the dark, and you framed me for it because you knew no one would stand up for me."

She stepped forward. "You watched them drag me away like I was a worthless little thing."

Han Zheng’s jaw tightened. "I was trying to—"

"Trying to do what?" Ru Yi’s voice cracked across the battlefield. "Are you going to look me in the eye and say it was for the greater good of the empire? You’ve always used the throne as an excuse to commit horrible acts."

The shadow behind her rose, and the soldiers on both sides of the fight stumbled backward.

Ru Yi’s eyes remained fixed on Han Zheng. "I remember lying on that prison floor." Her voice became quieter. "I remember wondering why nobody believed me. And asking why the one person that cared about me had to die."

Han Zheng’s grip tightened around his sword. "It had to be done." He barely avoided a tendril of darkness that shot toward him.

"I almost died because of you!"

Another tendril struck and Han Zheng blocked it with his sword, but the impact drove him backward.

Ru Yi followed. "You let them call me a murderer!" She swung her sword.

Han Zheng caught the blade, their faces merely inches apart and red with rage.

"I was trying to protect—"

"I don’t care!" Ru Yi shoved him away. Her shadow exploded outward.

Han Zheng’s soldiers scattered as black tendrils tore through the ground around them. General Sheng watched from several paces away, his expression almost pleased. Why get his hands dirty when he could use Ru Yi to finish off the arrogant General?

Ru Yi advanced. Every step carried the weight of everything she had suffered. The grief for Princess Yuexin that she never let herself feel...and a different ache where love should have been.

She raised her hand and the shadows wrapped around Han Zheng’s sword and ripped it from his grip. It flew across the battlefield.

Han Zheng immediately drew the dagger at his waist.

Ru Yi didn’t wait, she immediately lunged. Their blades collided. Han Zheng fought defensively, refusing to strike her directly, which was unlike the man she knew him to be.

Ru Yi noticed. "You won’t kill me? Are you trying to get on my good side now that you’ve seen what I’m capable of?"

"No."

The answer angered her even more. She made one of the tendrils curl around his ankle and pulled with all her strength.

Han Zheng fell to one knee, and Ru Yi placed her sword against his throat.