I woke with a start of fear and the feeling of impending doom. My abdomen felt warm and I could feel my child's aura sending me warmth. I felt pangs of slashing pain as though I was being sliced by master swordsmen all at the same time, then I felt a warm liquid pool around me.
* * *
Facing the sentence I was granted I was left to myself and the silk restraints were removed. I place my hand on my belly and felt the flutter of my child's movement. I was lucky to have such a caring child and I hoped to at least see their face. I held no hope of getting to know my child to keep my hopes at bay.
Even though the protection of my child was my priority I still felt guilt and a slew of guilt fused emotions took over my resolve. Only when I felt the warmth spread and retreated several times was I able to be brought back to myself. I honed myself to be the best protection for my unborn child, I would given them the best while they were still a part of me.
I was visited by Bei Zhen a few times in secret and we were happy about our child that was able to posses our strengths and to be born in the Heavens, but we were also only able to be a family out of the eyes of others. No one had proof that Bei Zhen and I had been responsible for the child I was carrying but I could feel that Nai Jun began to suspect him.
One night Bei Zhen and I decided to drink and allow ourselves to be together again but it was dashed when Nai Jun came in. Bei Zhen managed to get away unseen but Nai Jun was displeased at finding tipsy and calling out to Bai Zhen as Kai Ren. Upon hearing me shout for another man Nai Jun surrouned my palace with guards confining me to my courtyard.
I was secluded from everyone except my sons who always managed to sneak passed the guards to spend time with me. They would bring me word of mouth and they would show me the skills they developed in the Heavens. I would give them the Butterfly Tea fruits and make them tea from the flowers in my courtyard. We take looped walks in my spacious courtyard. All three of my sons had managed to access some form of the Phoenix and thus we began to practice flying, and the magic of our blood.
After a year of them being able to sneak in a new layer of imprisonment was established and so a barrier was set. I was being punished I scolded myself. How dare I be upset that my flying time and space with my sons was no longer available. It was my fault in the first place I chided myself, I went against basic etiquette and was paying for my mistake.
The added barrier affected the yards liveliness, I could no longer see an adventure in my courtyard. I didn't get much information or company anymore and so my days began to blur and melt together. I would often only see Nai Jun or a servant providing provisions for me. I was still sent clothes and materials for me to make my own gowns but it was not enough to fill my idleness. The further along my pregnancy went the harder it was for me to fly, let alone transforming.
I didn't know that I was approaching upon the last three months of my pregnancy until it was almost upon me. I had been sent swaths and fine garments meant for children and I was sent a midwife. I didn't realize so much time had passed and I had began to become a part of the peach blossoms until the midwife asked me if I wanted to give birth in a bed of the blossoms. I didn't realize she was joking and I told her yes, so the midwife prepared a bed of blossoms for me.
I woke with a start of fear and the feeling of impending doom. My abdomen felt warm and I could feel my child's aura sending me warmth. I felt pangs of slashing pain as though I was being sliced by master swordsmen all at the same time, then I felt a warm liquid pool around me. It wasn't from external wounds but it was coming from me. The blood was mixed with gold and I lifted my hand from the bloodied mess around me. As I stared at my hand like glowing jade covered in golden ichor I began to understand that things were about to get chaotic.
I cried out in pain as I felt my insides being crushed, my soul was tattered from the exertion I had spent on it without practicing or cultivating myself and now that my child was being born my magic couldn't protect me. I knew that no matter what I would save my child.
The midwife was late to react and I was just about done giving birth by the time she arrived to catch my child born on a bloody bed of peach blossoms. As I was losing blood and unable to save myself the midwife handed me my child and I saw that my child had a mark similar to mine but like gold and the colors of peach blossoms on the childs forehead. I had a daughter, a baby girl just for me. I rejoiced as I felt the life I had created safe in my arms and smilef as my life began to seep away.
I was too numb to move, too tired to think, and took weak to face the future and I allowed myself to drift away. In doing so I was giving up my life but my family wouldn't allow me to die. A part of my shadow was taken and then as fast as possible I was given the oblivion water and healed by all members of my blood.
I was giving healing tonics and a fresh oblivion water was prepared as I had regained consciousness a few times and had seen the healings done to me. To be mortal I would need to restart like a blank slate so I couldn't be allowed to remember anything. When I awoke during the healings I would see the tendrils of magic surrounding me and the ones healing me. Seeing the healing would send my brain into a whirl of questions.
After I healed enough so that my primordial soul was safe I was once again fed oblivion water and this time I was sent through the pool of mortality. It was decided that I would have an awful fate and I would experience loss, have no control, unrequited love, and other trials awaited me.
I no longer had any memories and I could feel the walls of my mind closing off. And just like that the chaos took over and sent me on my way to the mortal realm. In the mortal realm an Empress was giving birth at the same time as the Noble Consort of the rival empire.
A strange prophecy predicted that two children from opposing empires would be born on the same blood mooned night. It was prophesied that the child born first would be a son and he would determine which Empire would dominate the world as the second child would be his worst enemy or his best ally.
It was told that if a daughter was born then the son would marry her and they would either be the rulers of the world or the downfall of the daughter's Empire. And thus my mortal trial began and my time in the Heavens drew to another close.