Heaven’s Joke

Yu Xuehua did not know how long she slept before awakening due to cold chills. Her eyes opened and she gazed at the ceiling illuminated by the light of a fire. She really wasn't dreaming. She was given a second chance. Her thoughts were interrupted by the pain of sharp chills.

"It has been such a long time since I felt this sensation. To think I would cry in agony over this little bit of pain in the past," Yu Xuehua said in a low voice.

As a titled expert in her first life, Yu Xuehua had gone through countless traumas and even this pain, which would make a normal person scream was nothing to her. She sat up in the middle of her canopy bed and looked around. She could feel intense warmth from the multiple surrounding marble fireplaces in her room.

There was no sunlight peeking through the curtains so she assumed it was night time. Feeling the intense heat from the fireplaces she felt a different kind of warmth in her heart. This room that was specially built for her. It was just one of the uncountable things done for her special condition by her parents.

Her father, the current reigning Emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire could be said to be the most talented ruler in history. He had single-handedly supported the Empire back to its rise to prominence through his sheer martial power and stratagem. Such an Emperor seemed flawless. That was until he settled down and desired to bear children.

He had two sons born within a month from each other. One was born from the Empress and another from his concubine. Both princes were exceedingly smart. However, they did not possess any martial talent whatsoever. This attribute was most prominent when the two princes turned 10 and compared to their cousins. People could not fathom how a dragon could beget a dog.

Then people started suspecting it had to do with their mother's fault and that their mothers were cursed only to bear one waste during their lives. This had to do with the Empress and concubine seemingly unable to produce children within these 10 years.

Soon, talk of naming the crown heir was put in motion by the royal court. This put huge pressure not only on Emperor Taizong but Empress Gao as well as Concubine Wei. Emperor Taizong decided to search for another wife. Both Empress Gao and Concubine completely supported him. The only condition for his wife was talent.

It was not until 4 years later, the last year to find a wife that peerless woman appeared out of nowhere. Coming from a supposed humble background, Hua Mulan rose to fame after becoming the adopted daughter of the Empires number one sect. She showed the martial talent that people had never seen before in the history of the Eclipse realm.

Hearing this the Emperor quickly decided to induct her into his imperial harem with thoughts only to use her as a breeding furnace. But when he saw her and experienced her personality his past intentions changed completely.

From a beauty standpoint, she was no less inferior to her future daughter, Yu Xuehua. She also possessed a natural charm and certain divine aura. Over multiple occasions, she was eventually swooned by Emperor Taizong and was inducted the imperial harem titled Imperial Consort Li Zhi.

Half a year later the news was announced that she was pregnant, it became the most focal point in the continent. From everyone's perspective, this was Emperor Taizong's last chance at producing an heir and surely a Dragon and a Phoenix would produce something amazing. That was until the birth of Yu Xuehua.

It was during a warm spring day when Hua Mulan entered labor. Waiting outside the birthing chambers Emperor Taizong was more nervous than ever. He waited, and waited, yet no sounds of crying occurred. It was then that he noticed the snow drifting through the spring breeze. He took this as an ominous sign and barged through the doors.

Inside the chambers.

"It's a girl!" Yelled an elderly woman holding the newborn child. Yet there were no sounds of crying coming from the child. The baby had wisps snow-white hair and looked like a blooming flower untainted by any bodily fluids. A cold aura was seeping out of her

The elderly woman's face flashed with a peculiar expression but was soon replaced with a look of surprised, blending in with the faces of the imperial wet nurses.

"Granny Hua, is there something wrong?" Sounded out Hua Mulan.

"Congratulations Your Highness for birthing a princess!"

The wet nurses sounded out, but each one had a bewildered tone to it.

Song Lan could instantly recognize the tense situation.

"Granny Hua, please, hand me, my child."

When Hua Mulan laid her hands around the child she instantly felt the cold energy and was surprised by what she saw.

It was then that a loud crash could be heard as the formation surrounding the room and doors were broken into.

"Congratulations Your Majesty for the birth of a princess!"

Feeling the tense situation in the room and looking at his wife's abnormal gaze, he instantly rushed to her side.

Holding and seeing his child, he recalled the unusual appearance of snow. The two parents did not know if this was a good or bad sign but when their eyes met each other and glanced at the baby, they did not care. This was their child!

"Cold energy, a face untainted like a blooming flower. Snow during spring… Xuehua (Xue: Snow, Hua: Flower). You shall be named Xuehua! Hahahahaha," said Emperor Taizong.

Seeing that Emperor Taizong was happy the wet nurses felt a sense of relief. If anything went wrong, their heads would be on the executioner's table by that night.

A decree was soon spread out from the palace of the birth of the 1st Imperial Princess, Yu Xuehua.

The imperial palace tightly sealed the details regarding Yu Xuehua until her condition was found out. According to the records of the Imperial Family, Yu Xuehua was born with the Curse of Yin. This was devastating news to Emperor Taizong and his family. They tried to conceal this discovery however when a person walks, he leaves traces, when a bird flies, it leaves feathers.

Word spread that Yu Xuehua possessed the Curse of Yin and that she would not live past 18, let alone be titled as the crown heir.

Faced with brother's opposing factions, rumors and falsehoods spread about regarding the Emperor's 'cursed lineage.' The people believed it. How could a Phoenix and a Dragon possibly beget a cursed child? This was obviously Heaven's joke! This later become Yu Xuehua's derogatory title.

It after Yu Xuehua's birth that Emperor Taizong and his family confined themselves to their palaces, only leaving the most loyal subordinates. Even the details regarding Yu Xuehua's four younger siblings were kept a secret. No one focused on them however as they had no hope of inheriting the crown.

Remembering these details and recounting the lives of her parents, siblings, and aunts, Yu Xuehua was indignant. They were all looked at as a cursed lineage that would affect the imperial destiny. Multiple factions were against them and wanted their lives. If not for her father and mothers unsurpassed cultivation, the support of the Heavenly Bow Sect, and her aunt's clans, who knew what would have happened to them. Thinking of this, fury boiled within her blood.

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