DEATH

"Your Majesty, the guards couldn't block the royal concubine attack and our troupe has been laid to waste, we barely have anyone left." A panting guard said indicating he had ran all the way to the Empress chamber.

"Where is his Highness, have you not sent the message I asked you to send." The empress asked calmly but traces of worries can be seen on her face.

"He has not returned from his trip to the neighbouring land, and a problem occurred causing hindrance to his Majesty coming tonight." The guard answered anxiously.

"Summon Maidservant Kim, and ask her to come with the crown princess immediately make sure to guide them carefully." The Empress said after much thought.

"Yes your majesty." The guard responded immediately, leaving to carry out the Empress request.

The guard hurried to the princess chambers as sounds of battle cries could be heard, getting there he knocked on the door and saw the princess and the maid servant hurled up in a corner trying to hide themselves from any impending danger.

"Her Royal Majesty requests your presence." The guard mentioned quickly motioning for them to follow him at his back.

They headed back to the Empress chamber in a hurry, when a soldier wearing a black armour rushed out aiming his sword at them but was blocked by the guard who was with the Princess, "Run now, go meet her Majesty, GO!!" He yelled at them trying to fend off the soldier as the maiden ran away with the princess in her embrace, trying to protect her.

"Your Highness, you summoned me." A maiden dressed in a servant apparel holding a child about five years entered into room nervously.

"Maidservant Kim, I would entrust the crown princess to you, her life is in your hands, please take her far away from the palace till His Royal Highness returns from his trip."The Empress said hurriedly, and not to long after the cries of wounded men could be heard outside the room which indicated the that battle was closing in.

Signalling the maiden with her eyes the Empress instructed Maidservant Kim to hide somewhere and as soon as she hid in the secret passage in the Empress room that was connected to the wardrobe, the door burst open.

The Royal Concubine Song barged into the room breaking the door to see the Empress calmly sipping wine looking at her with arrogance in her demeanor.

Pride filled Song Minhyun eyes realizing that the Empress had given up without a fight.

"I see you were already expecting me, your Highness." Song Minhyun said mockingly glancing round the room in envy, the Empress has always had want she wanted, the Emperor's love, and this court yard, and an outstanding child.

"And I see you couldn't birth an healthy child dear royal concubine." Empress Ki said while taking another shot of drink from her wine bottle.

Song Minhyun soft spot being hit she couldn't hide the bloodlust in her eyes any longer, "since you know why am here, bring that brat out let's end it quickly." Song Minhyun said annoyed at the fact the Empress still had the courage to drink at her death .

"I won't and you can't make me, not everything has to go your way you know." Empress Ki said nonchalantly shrugging like it wasn't her that the sharp shining swords pointed at.

Not being able to take the provocation any longer Song Minhyun dragged a sword from one of the guards beside her and sliced the wine bottle causing the Empress eyes to grow cold as she watched her favourite bottle fall to the ground shattering into pieces.

"Do your worse that doesn't change the fact that you wouldn't be able to produce children for the Emperor again, heh, you think I don't know that the child is not his,it only proves that Eunuch Chen has been well to you in private matters." The Empress said with a smirk on her face provoking Song Minhyun.

After hearing her remark Song Minhyun eyes grew wide and thrusted the sword forward without much thought stabbing the Empress right in the heart.

Empress Ki realized a smile of relief as blood spat out from her mouth finally she was free from the daily mind games and don't have to worry about being schemed against anymore, she just hopes her daughter is free from all this.

Song Minhyun hand withdrew from the Empress gloatingly as her wish has finally been fulfilled, and finally soon enough the whole kingdom and the Emperor would be under her control.

"Go find that bastard right now and kill her, remember make sure you do it cleanly." Song Minhyun ordered a guard standing close to the door of the room.

After realising fits of cough the Empress fell to the floor with her head grazing a fragments of the broken bottle and Song Minhyun bent whispering into her ears .

"You should have stayed in your place, your Highness." Song Minhyun said mockingly with a sneer on her face.

The Empress turned to see a little face popping out of the wall as colour drained from her face, the Empress realized a smile seeing her precious daughter looking peaceful all the arrogant demeanor the Empress seemed to have washed away, alas she could die at peace.

" You," Song Minhyun said while kicking the Empress harshly making her to roll over, hitting the edge of the table with her back the Empress groaned in pain . "Why are you still smiling, in case you forgot you are about to die." She continued stepping on the Empress wrists making the groans of pain increase.

Following the Empress line of sight Song Minhyun saw a little head popping from the wall, her eyes widening in realization she shouted for the guards that were outside .

"Guards, quick the little.... argh....." Before Song Minhyun could complete her words the Empress had used the last bit of her strength to bite Son Minhyun legs desperate to save her daughter's life causing Song Minhyun to scream.

"You bitch!!" Song Minhyun shouted kicking Empress Ki away again as she rolled over breathing her last, the Empress red dress became darker as blood seeped into her robes, the sword stuck in her chest it was that way the gracious and elegant Empress of the Chi nation passed on.

"Guards get here quick!!" Song Minhyun shouted once more.

"Follow that path I think the princess went that direction." Song Minhyun instructed pointing towards the wardrobe.

.....

Maidservant Kim tried her best to run as long as her body could but she could still hear the sounds of the troupes following them as the pass by the trees they had connected into a forest through the passage the Empress chamber, Maidservant Kim clothes has been torn by the branches that left various marks on her arms and legs.

"Maidservant Kim, where are you taking me to, I want my Mother!!" The little Princess cried out loud.

"Your Highness calm down, we are just going out for a walk we will go back soon." Maidservant Kim answered her while searching around their vicinity .

"You're lying, why was my Mother stabbed by that lady, and why are people chasing us, I want my Mother!!" The little princess cried out loudly .

"Your Mother Is dead your highness, you have to cooperate with me now, understand, please your highness, do this for the Empress, your Mother." Maidservant Kim said finally spotting an oak tree up front.

The little girl puffed up cheeks and teary eyes widened before nodding her head slowly as she tried holding her tears in.

"Okay, your Highness I will put you behind that huge tree and go way for a bit, make sure you don't make a single sound understood, I would come back for you and then make you your favorite food okay, now smile don't cry, everything would be just fine." Maidservant Kim explained carefully to the little girl patting her head while listening to the loud footsteps of the soldiers.

She put the Little princess behind the huge oak tree and reminded the little girl of her instructions, then went off making noise on purpose so that the guards will trail her instead.

The little Princess hugged her legs tightly while remembering the nanny's instructions trying not to make any noise at all and not moving an inch, sobbing silently rocking back and forth.

Then a shadow hovered over the Little girl, making her shift closer to the tree in fear.

"Little girl, no need to be afraid, where are your parents or are you lost?" A young Man said.

Hearing the man ask about her parents, the little girl burst into tears again "Mother!!" She cried out remembering the occurrence in the room now.

"I guess you're lost then." The Young man said and picked her up "I should bring you back for dinner it's not safe to be out here." The young man said carrying her away.

Few minutes after they left, Maidservant Kim came back in a hurry only to see that the little princess was missing, and even after calling out to her many times and didn't get any response. Maidservant Kim dropped to her knees in dismay not bothered about the bruise she got from grazing the ground, she had failed the mistress only wish to keep her daughter safe.

She knelt down crying her sorrows away....