Sa loob ng kwarto, paulit-ulit na hinuhugasan ni Jun Wu Xie ang kaniyang labi para mawala ang lasa ng dugo. Naupo siya malapit sa mesa, pinapanood niya ang kaniyang pusa na halatang nahihirapan. Lubos na pinag-alala niya ito.
Inabot niya ito at hinimas ang mabalahibo nitong katawan.
"Kayanin mo." Bulong ni Jun Wu Xie sa pusa.
Hindi alam ng pusa kung gaano siya katagal naghirap para doon. Ang natatandaan lamang niya ay ang Golden Lion na kinakalmot niya. Bugbog ang katawan nito at madaming sugat, nakakulong sa dilim at nahiga na lang sa kawalan sa sobrang pagod. Mayamaya ay may narinig itong boses na pamilyar sa kaniya.
"Meow."
Nagmulat si Jun Wu Xie ng mata nang makaramdam siya ng mainit na bagay na lumapat sa kaniyang pisngi. Kinikiskis ni little black ang kaniyang ulo sa pisngi ni Jun Wu Xie na parang naglalambing.
[Bakit ka dito natutulog?] Tanong ng pusa kay Jun Wu Xie. Nagising ito at nakitang nakatulog sa mesa si Jun Wu Xie.
Umupo ng maayos si Jun Wu Xie at hindi sinagot si little black. Masuri niyang ineksamina ang katawan ng pusa. Nakita niyang may gold collared fur si little black na nakapalibot sa leeg nito hanggang sa dibdib. Para itong gintong kwintas na permanente sa katawan ni little black, kitang-kita ito dahil sumasalungat ang kulay nito sa tunay nitong balahibong kulay itim.
Sinundan ni little black ng tingin ang tinititigan ni Jun Wu Xie at nadiskubre niya ang golden fur na nasa kaniyang katawan.
[Hey! Katulad ito ng sa liyon!] Gulat na saad ng pusa.
"Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo?" Tanong ni Jun Wu Xie.
[Para akong punong-puno ng enerhiya pakiramdam ko'y ganadong ganado ako. Nga pala napanaginipan ko ang liyon na iyon at kinain ko ulit siya! Hee hee.] Nagmamalaking kwento ng pusa habang nakatingala pa ito. Pinapakita nito ang golden fur na akala mo ay isang badge of honour.
Ginulo ni Jun Wu Xie ang balahibo nito sa ulo. Sa wakas nakahinga siya ng maluwag pagkatapos ng isang gabing puno ng pag-aalala at takot. Lumambot ang kaniyang tingin ng makita na ayos nga lang talaga ang pusa at mukhang kontento na.
Walang nararamdamang kakaiba ang pusa sa kabila ng pagkakaroon nito ng golden fur sa dibdib. Nawala na din ito sa isip niya.
Makalipas nag dalawang araw, nalipat na kay Mo Qian Yun ang trono bilang bagong Emperor. Ito ay naging selebrasyon sa buong bansa. Bilang bagong Emperor, ang royal pardons ay ibinigay sa mga kriminal na mababaw lang ang kasalanan.
Sa mismong araw ng kaniyang pag-upo, binago niya ang Imperial Court system, tinanggal niya sa posisyon ang mga corrupt at napromote naman ang mga tuwid na naninilbihan.
Nagtakda ang Emperor ng mga bagong opisyal hindi base sa katayuan ng pamilya sa lipunan, kundi base sa abilidad. Ikinatuwa ito ng mga tao.
Sa kasagsagan ng selebrasyon, may dala ang dalawang sundalo ng Rui Lin Army na isang gulagulanit na tao sa gilid habang ginagawa ang morning court address. Sinadyang ipakita dito si Mo Qian Yuan na nakasuot ng dragon robe at nakaupo sa trono bilang Emperor.
"Hindi ba't napakaganda sa paningin ng senaryong ito?" Lumapit dito si Jun Wu Xie at tinanong ang matandang lalaking puno ng karungisan.
Ang dating Emperor ay maputla at payat na, bakas sa mata nito ang pagtanggap ng pagkatalo. Matagal niyang pinakainingatan ang trono niya at ngayon ay kinuha na sa kaniya ng pinaka-kinasusuklaman niyang anak. Mas malala pa dito ay pilit siyang dinala ng dalawang sundalo para masaksihan ito.
Ang mga karayom no Jun Wu Xie ay itinurok sa mga mata nito ngunit hindi sapat para siya ay mabulag. Naroon ang mga karayom na nagpapanatiling maging dilat ang kaniyang mga mata. Ayaw niya itong makita pero hindi niya magawang ipikit ang kaniyang mga mata dahil sa mga karayom.
Gusto ni Jun Wu Xie na magdusa ito ng sobra, kaya naman hinayaan niya itong masaksihan ang pagpalit sa kaniya ng kinasusuklaman nitong anak bilang bagong Emperor!
Galing sa pagiging Emperor, ngayon ito ay isang kawawang bilanggo. Sa loob lamang ng ilang araw, bumagsak ang katawan nito at halos lahat ng buhok nito ay namuti.
"Jun Wu Xie, oo nanalo ka at natalo ako. Patayin mo ako kung iyan ang iyong gusto! Ngunit masyado pang maaga para ikaw ay magsaya! Nakuha ni Mo Qian Yuan ang trono sa pamamagitan ng pagpatay sa sarili niyang ama. Tingin mo ba ay magagawa niyang pagyabungin ang Lin Palace?" Mapanganib na tinignan ng dating Emperor si Jun Wu Xie, para bang nagpapahiwatig na alam na alam nito ang kapasidad ni Mo Qian Yuan.
She raised her hand, as she always did, to stroke its fur.
"Pull through it." She whispered.
The little black cat did not know how long it struggled for, it only remembered the huge Golden Lion getting nicked by its tiny claws bit by bit. Its body was battered and covered in wounds, trapped in the darkness and it was exhausted as it lay down in the nothingness when it heard a voice call out, a voice all too familiar.
"Meow."
Jun Wu Xie stirred as she felt a warmth on her cheek as she lifted her heavy eyelids. The little black cat was rubbing itself against her face affectionately.
[Why are you sleeping here?] The little black cat asked, blinking at Jun Wu Xie. It had woken up to find Jun Wu Xie sleeping soundly by the table.
Jun Wu Xie sat up, not answering the little black cat's question. She surveyed the little one intently and found a stretch of gold collared fur around its neck to its chest. It looked like a gold necklace that was inlaid into its skin with it's contrasting jet black fur..
The little black cat tilted its head in query and followed the sight of Jun Wu Xie, and discovered the golden fur as it pawed at its chest.
[Hey, this looks just like that big fella's!] The little black cat exclaimed.
"How do you feel?" Jun Wu Xie asked instead.
[I feel energized! So refreshed! That dumb lion came into my dream somehow, and I ate him up again! Hee hee.] The little black cat proclaimed proudly, with its nose high in the air, and showing off the golden brand on its chest like a badge of honour.
Jun Wu Xie ruffled the fur on its head, finally relieved after a whole night of anxiety, softening her gaze as she looked at the contented little black cat.
The little black cat did not feel any different despite the gold badge and just brushed it off, and didn't think anymore of it.
Two days later, the Crown Prince Mo Qian Yuan ascended the throne, a nationwide celebration, a newly throned Emperor, royal pardons were granted to lesser criminals.
On the day he ascended the throne, he reformed the Imperial Court system, got rid of the corrupt leeches from their positions of power, and promoted officials of humble birth.
The new Emperor appointed men to officialdom not based on birth or family background, but on ability. This won greater and louder cheers from the people.
While the celebration was going on, a ragged figure was dragged forcefully by two Rui Lin Army guards to stand in a corner during the morning court address, to see Mo Qian Yuan dressed resplendently in his dragon robe, sitting atop the Imperial Throne, directing the ruling of the Kingdom.
"Isn't this scene just splendid?" Jun Wu Xie walked up and asked the ashen faced old man.
The former Emperor was pale and gaunt, his eyes mired in defeat. He had always carefully protected his throne, and now it was usurped by his detested offspring. To make it worse, he was forced to witness this revolting scene, by Rui Lin Army guards.
Jun Wu Xie's needles had pierced his eyes, but not enough to blind him, but it made his eyes stay open all the time. He did not want to watch, but the silver needles lodged in his eyes did not allow him to close them.
Jun Wu Xie wanted him to suffer the torment of witnessing his most treasured Imperial Throne, usurped by his hated son!
From being an Emperor that was above all, to become a lowly prisoner. Hit with such a huge setback, the former Emperor hair had turned all white, in just a matter of days, looking decades older.
"Jun Wu Xie, you win. I am defeated, kill as you wish! Do not celebrate just yet! Mo Qian Yuan got the throne by killing his father, you think he will allow Lin Palace to prosper!?" The former emperor looked menacingly at Jun Wu Xie, knowing what Mo Qian Yuan was capable of.