3 Chapter 3 - Death Awaiting

Slowly, Lu Yang Jie flicked the curtain in the carriage open as she peeked out. The lush green fields greeted her as she breathed in the fresh air. The first time she was allowed out of her house, was to head to the palace, where doom awaited her. Perfect, wasn't it? Lu Yang Jie could only sigh at her bad luck.

Smiling ruefully, she rested her head against the cushions in the carriage while tracing the gold embroidered curtains with her fingers. Who knows when they will attack and prepare for her death? No, this won't do, she has to stay vigilant! She can't die before avenging her family!

Feeling cold sweat begin to trickle down her back, she sat up straight, her eyes scanning the interior of the carriage. Was it possible that there might be hidden contraptions in the carriage, preparing to kill her? No, that's impossible, that would kill the General too.

Unsettled, she raised her head to look at the General. Although his face was stoic and impassive, Lu Yang Jie could detect a trace of excitement in this eyes and she resisted the urge to spit in his face. What a sadistic man he was, expressing enthusiasm at killing a girl aged no more than eighteen!

Slowly, her eyes drifted down to his hands, which was rubbing a small black pouch and they immediately narrowed. Ah, so they wanted to finish her off with poison. Which kind of poison was inside that small pouch though? How were they going to force feed her that?

Just as she was thinking deeply about this antagonizing problem, suddenly, she felt the General shift closer towards her. Alarmed, she pushed herself against the carriage wall and glared at him, warning him not to think about doing anything to her, when he smiled creepily, revealing his rotten front tooth.

Lu Yang Jie could barely refrain from throwing up as she grimaced, prying her eyes away from the General's grinning, lopsided mouth.

'Little girl, here are some vitamins for you to build your strength, take one,' the General pressed a green pill into her hands as he licked his lips and watched her hungrily, like a predator gazing at its prey.

Lu Yang Jie shuddered under his gaze. Utterly disgusting! Offering her pills to 'build her strength' when they would most likely kill her in the next hour? Funny. The Emperor had really outdone himself this time. Lu Yang Jie wanted to clap for him.

'No thank you, I'm really healthy now, my mother had been feeding me well these few years,' she replied coldly, turning her indifferent eyes to the General, whose face instantly turned into an ugly shade at her rejection. Who said this little girl was dumb? She looked quite smart to him! Didn't The Emperor say that killing her would be easy?

Breathing through his nose, The General forced out a smile as he held the pill out, waving it under Lu Yang Jie's nose. 'Come on, just one pill,'

'Thank you so much for your concern, but I do not need it,' Lu Yang Jie spat before turning around and facing the window. She had no time to entertain these shameless people.

Suddenly, she felt a strong hand wrap around her thin neck and she was forcefully turned around to face the fuming General.

'You stupid spoilt brat! Who said that you had the right to defy my wishes? Today, you will eat this pill no matter what!' The General grinned wickedly as he pressed the cool, green pill against Lu Yang Jie's red lips. It was so tough dealing with this child! She just kept struggling, and coupled with the shaking carriage, the General could barely hold on to her neck.

Finally, he exploded in anger.

'You stupid bitch! Swallow this now, I don't care!'

The General spat before pushing the pill into her delicate mouth with his grubby fingers. Lu Yang Jie struggled furiously as she tried to spit it out but it emitted a strange alluring smell in her mouth instantly. She could barely keep from drowning down the pill immediately. What kind of pill was this? She had never ever heard of it before! And why was it so tempting for her to eat it whole?

Still, no matter how delicious the pill seemed, the taste of revenge was far better. Biting her tongue till it drew blood, Lu Yang Jie continued to resist, angering the General further.

'Eat! Now!' he screamed furiously and with a flick of his finger, the pill, coupled with his spiritual power, flew right into her throat heavily, almost choking the life out of her.

Coughing till her face turned red, with blotches of white on her cheeks, Lu Yang Jie looked at The General hatefully. She was so close, so close to her goal, and was stopped by this muddling, good for nothing General! No, she wasn't going to die in this pitiful way!

'Stop the carriage!' the General demanded, not sparing a glance for the girl beside him who was gasping for air.

'The Princess is feeling unwell, she needs to breathe some fresh air,' The General announced and Lu Yang Jie could barely keep from leaping toward and grasping his fat ugly neck in her hands. Stupid liar he was! To her horror, the carriage stopped and she was pushed down roughly by the General, who was still smiling evilly.

'You..you…' she gasped, as she lifted a finger and pointed shakily at him. She wanted to shout at him, to tear out all her hair in frustration, but her limbs had no energy in them at all. No! She mustn't doe like this!

'What are you saying, Princess? Oh, you want to walk to the palace? Isn't it too far? But this humble servant can only respect your wishes,' The General smirked and winked at her. Lu Yang Jie could barely keep form spewing blood. The audacity of him! To even wink, wink at a girl about to die! Such a despicable man!

Slowly, she watched as the carriage drove away, leaving her in the dust. The poison had long ago started reacting and she was gasping now. It was a special kind of poison, and it was as if a hand was squeezing her lungs, cutting of her air flow. Her blood was pumping in her veins, making her feel jittery and hot all over. What in the world was happening to her? She had to find help immediately. There was no way she would die at their hands before getting her revenge. Her soul would never live peacefully!

Gritting her teeth, Lu Yang Jie started dragging her frail body forward, hopeful for any signs of live around this rural area. But apparently the General had some brains. There was absolutely nobody here at all and all that greeted her was silence. There wasn't even the sound of birds chirping.

Feeling creeped out, Lu Yang Jie hugged herself, trying to dismiss the cold feeling rising in her heart. Was this a side effect of the poison? Or was this just her own thoughts muddling her brain?

Suddenly, she tripped and fell heavily to the ground. Feeling all the air knocked out of her lungs, she felt herself getting more anxious by the second. She couldn't breathe! Lu Yang Jie started gasping heavily as she tried to pull herself up but to no avail. An hour has passed already! Just now, the effects were only mild but now, it was getting heavier. She was doomed for life! She would not be able to survive the day!

But she hasn't got her revenge yet! Feeling tears pour down her cheeks in frustration, she had no choice but to lie on the ground desperately, feeling the coldness from the soil seep into her cheeks.

She was done for. The last things she saw was the glittering sunlight shining through the leaves before darkness enveloped her.