Chapter 3

Chapter 3

When I turned sixteen, I ultimately defied my mother's advice.

That year, my body grew rapidly, blossoming like a peach flower about to bloom. My features had fully developed. My beauty rivaled my mother's, perhaps even surpassing hers.

The day I decided to enter the palace, the winter snow had just begun to melt. I was at a tea house, listening to a storyteller recount the tale of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

"The Cowherd took the Weaver Girl's Heavenly Robe, and they fell in love at first sight."

"The Weaver Girl married the Cowherd, bore him a son and a daughter, and they lived a harmonious and happy life."

As I listened to the story, a sudden clarity washed over my mind. After Jayde's death, my desires had been like a dried-up well. But now, a surge of anger erupted within me. I stood up abruptly and smashed everything in sight. Then I laughed hysterically.

"Wrong! It's completely wrong!"

"The Cowherd imprisoned the Weaver Girl, using their children to coerce her into staying! It wasn't love at first sight or a harmonious life!"

I laughed until tears streamed down my face.

"The Cowherd took the Weaver Girl's clothes, clearly intending to blackmail her."

"Why do you all portray him as a passionate lover? He's nothing but a hypocrite, preaching virtue while committing vile acts!"

My rebellious interpretation left everyone in the tea house stunned. They seemed to realize the true version of the story for the first time. The storyteller's face turned a mix of blue and purple, looking utterly mortified. I left a silver ingot behind and slipped away amidst the chaos. Fortunately, I had worn a veil that day, so no one recognized me.

As I stepped out of the tea house, the bright sunlight shone on me. Yet, I felt as if I had fallen into an ice cellar.

My father, the Chancellor, was once a cowherd named Erick. And my mother was Emalee. How could an illiterate cowherd rise to the position of Chancellor in just a few years? And why was my mother left in the ruthless palace, accompanying the Emperor?

I suddenly recalled the nights of my childhood when Duke Neil, Chancellor Erick, and the Emperor would enter my mother's room together. They were well-dressed but were beasts in disguise. The seemingly perfect story was, in fact, a complete sham.

But I couldn't understand why, after taking my mother's Heavenly Robe and stripping her of her powers, they still coveted her. There were countless beauties in the world; why were they so fixated on my mother?

From that moment, I understood. To uncover the truth and rescue my mother, I needed supreme power. And that power could only be found in the palace.

The day I entered the study hall, it was already early summer. According to palace rules, I first paid my respects to the Emperor. He still looked young, handsome, and dignified, just as I remembered from my childhood.

"Greetings, Majesty," I said, bowing gracefully, my eyes sparkling.

The Emperor's gaze instantly fell on me, his eyes burning with intensity, momentarily losing his composure as he stood up. But he quickly regained his calm and sat back on the throne. He scrutinized me for a moment, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"How old are you now, Martha?"

"Sixteen," I replied, at the age of blossoming beauty.

He chuckled, his laughter carrying an ambiguous meaning. "Martha, you have grown even more beautiful, just like your mother."

"The Emperor and I have missed you. Since you plan to study in the palace, stay here and keep her company."

I nodded obediently. That afternoon, I was arranged to stay in the room next to my mother's, just like when I was a child.

My mother looked much older, with wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, yet she remained stunningly beautiful. She lay on the bed, her body limp like a puddle of water, her face unnaturally flushed. This was how she had lived all these years. My heart ached as I called out, "Mother."

She struggled to sit up, her expression a mix of surprise and disbelief.

"Martha, why have you returned?" She stared at my face, crying and laughing at the same time. "Did you forget my words? Don't come back, don't come back!"

For the first time, I looked at my mother seriously. I asked bluntly, "Mother, are you a deity?"

"The stories told among people, they are about you and Father."

"You didn't stay willingly as the stories say; you were forced."

"They took your Heavenly Robe and still have designs on you, don't they?"

My mother opened her mouth, tears welling up but not falling. She avoided my gaze, revealing ambiguous red marks on her neck. I wanted to ask more, but before I could speak, someone restrained me.

A sinister gaze fell upon me, and I saw a flash of yellow robes. My mother looked up in terror, letting out a heart-wrenching scream.

"Martha is still young, let her go!"

"Neil, let her go, she's just a child!"

I was dragged to the hall and forced to kneel. The Emperor's sharp gaze lingered on my mother, lecherous and repulsive. He skillfully stripped her clothes, revealing her fair skin marked with red traces of abuse. He whispered sweet nothings in her ear, but his eyes were fixed on me.

"Emalee, your daughter isn't as obedient as you."

"But since she's in the palace now, I have plenty of time to train her."

My mother's silent tears fell as she struggled desperately, but the drugs rendered her efforts futile, making it seem like mocking gestures of affection. The Emperor's gaze darkened. He was the Emperor, exalted above all. He relished the process of breaking women into submission, reveling in the conquest of a deity. But he couldn't tolerate any defiance.

He grabbed my mother's chin, pressing her onto the bed, his voice deep and menacing.

"Emalee, you're not obedient anymore."

My mother bit his hand, her eyes filled with hatred.

"Neil, you beast!"

"Martha is your daughter, are you even human?"

He chuckled lightly, not denying it, his eyes curving maliciously. He naturally changed the subject, turning to look at me.

"You seem eager for your daughter to see this."

"Look at you, your body is red and trembling."

"Why not let Martha see how you are trained?"