Dawn's pale light painted the stone walls of the prison, casting elongated shadows across the cold, damp floor. The distant clinking of chains and the echoing footsteps of the prison guards roused Anchhi from her tortured slumber. The heavy iron door creaked open, and two guards entered, their faces impassive.
One of them unrolled the royal decree and started reading it aloud, "Fei Jia, the daughter of Fei Zhirong is proven to be the offender who tried to assassinate the Third Prince. The heavy charges against her have proven to be true. So, she is to be executed immediately for the heinous offense she dared to commit against the Royal Prince."
The news of her impending execution echoed through the cold stone walls of the prison, casting a pall of despair that threatened to consume her. A small, self-satisfied smirk tugged the corner of her lips as soon as the guard finished reciting the decree.
The heavy air she breathed was laden with an impending sense of doom. She had been expecting the announcement of her execution, yet the moment it arrived, it pierced her heart like a thousand shards of ice. She felt betrayed, not just by those who had framed her but by the capricious whims of fate itself.
"Time to rise." The another guard gruffly ordered.
Anchhi struggled to her feet, her legs wobbly from the restless night. She was led out of her cell and into a narrow, dimly lit corridor, her heart heavy with the knowledge that her execution awaited her.
As they walked through the cold, damp passages of the prison, her thoughts were filled with memories of her life before this nightmare had begun. It all seemed like a distant dream now, lost in the darkness of her unjust imprisonment.
However, a sense of resignation washed over her, like a calm after a tempest, as she accepted the inevitability of her fate. In the face of betrayal and despair, Anchhi found an odd sense of peace, a stillness in the chaos that whispered, "This is the path you must tread."
The execution ground lay beyond the prison's imposing walls. A crowd had gathered, their voices hushed in anticipation.
Anchhi had been taken to the grim courtyard, where the ominous execution platform loomed, awaiting her. The first light of dawn broke on the horizon, casting a cold and pale glow.
Her heart sank as she saw the ominous structure that awaited her. It was a tall wooden platform, and beneath it, she spotted the cold, unforgiving glint of a sharp executioner's blade.
The guards motioned for her to ascend the platform, and she did so with trembling legs. As she stood on the platform, her impending death loomed over her, a heavy cloud that refused to dissipate.
The executioner, a masked figure with a dark hood, approached, holding the gleaming blade.
Anchhi's eyes scanned the courtyard, seeking a glimpse of the Royal family at it's heart. And then, she saw him. The Crown Prince, Hui Jing.
Their eyes met for a fleeting moment, and in that instant, Hui Jing couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze openly.
Her heart ached with the weight of his unspoken words as she watched him remain silent. The very person who had sought to help her, who had believed in her innocence, now stood among those who had chosen not to stand up for her. In that moment, the weight of betrayal bore down on her with crushing force.
The betrayal ran deep, piercing her soul with a searing pain that seemed to grow with each passing second. She had hoped for an ally in her darkest hour, only to find that he, too, had turned his back on her.
As the executioner's preparations continued, Anchhi's gaze remained locked on the Crown Prince, a silent plea in her eyes that he could not or would not answer.
Her eyes, once filled with a glimmer of hope upon seeing the Crown Prince, now reflected a profound sense of betrayal and heartache.
She found that she was utterly alone, abandoned by those who should have protected her.
The cold wind swept through the execution grounds, carrying with it the scent of impending death. Just as the executioner raised the blade high, Anchhi closed her eyes, preparing to meet her fate with courage and dignity. The crowd that had gathered fell silent, waiting for the moment of execution.
But just as the world seemed to darken around her, a figure emerged from the crowd, a figure that brought both relief and devastation. "Stop!"
The executioner froze in mid-swing, and Anchhi's eyes flew open, a mixture of shock and anguish clouding her gaze as she watched the figure approach her who was rushing towards the platform, pushing through the crowd.
It was her father, Fei Zhirong, his robes disheveled, and face etched with a mix of determination and despair.
"Jia'er!" he cried, pushing past the guards, his eyes locked onto his daughter.
"Father!" Anchhi gasped, tears streaming down her cheeks. She could hardly believe her eyes.
Fei Zhirong reached the platform, embracing his daughter tightly, as if trying to shield her from the grim fate that had been planned for her. "My precious daughter!" he whispered.
Anchhi clung to her father, unable to find words to express the depth of her emotions.
"Fei Zhirong, what are you doing?" the Emperor's authoritative voice demanded.
Fei Zhirong turned to face the ruler he had faithfully served for years. "Your Majesty, I cannot bear to see my daughter unjustly executed. If there is to be a punishment, let it be me who bears it."
His face contorted with anguish. "No, Fei Zhirong, I cannot allow it. This is a grave accusation, and I will not let you take the blame."
But Fei Zhirong's resolve was unshaken. "Your Majesty, you have always treated me like a trusted advisor and a friend. I implore you to grant me this one wish, to protect my daughter and ensure her safety."
The Emperor hesitated, torn between the loyalty he felt for his advisor and the duty he owed to his kingdom. Finally, with a heavy heart, he nodded. "Very well, Fei Zhirong, your wish is granted. You will take your daughter's place, and she will be spared."
"Father, you can't do this. You can't take my place." Anchhi pleaded, her voice choked with tears.
Fei Zhirong turned around, his voice resolute and trembling with emotion. "Jia'er, I have already lost you twice. This time, I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
"No father!" Anchhi shook her head, desperation seeping in her voice. She couldn't bear to see him give up his life for hers.
The final words hung in the air, a poignant farewell between a father and daughter. Soon, Anchhi was dragged away by the guards, their grip firm on her arms. She had been spared, but at the cost of her father's life.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Fei Zhirong, of Gua Empire, was placed on the execution platform. The executioner raised the blade once more, and this time, there was no interruption, no plea for clemency.
The courtyard seemed to hold its breath as the blade glinted in the harsh sunlight, poised to descend.
The blade fell, a single, brutal stroke. Time seemed to freeze in that agonizing moment.
"Father!" Anchhi's heart shattered, her tear-stained face contorted in an anguished grimace, eyes widening in horror and disbelief with what laid before her.
While, the crowd was shrouded in a heavy silence.
Her cheeks were wet with the torrent of tears, lips quivering in an attempt to stifle the guttural sobs that wracked her body. It was as if the weight of the world had descended upon her slender shoulders, threatening to crush her under its relentless burden.
In that heart-wrenching moment, Anchhi's emotions were laid bare for all to see. She felt helpless, defeated, and utterly inconsolable.
Overwhelmed by the searing pain of witnessing her father's sacrifice, her world spun out of control. The weight of the moment, the grief, and the helplessness converged into an unbearable force that she could no longer withstand.
Her vision blurred, knees buckled, and her strength ebbed away. With a final, heart-wrenching sob, she crumpled to the ground, her world plunging into darkness. In that moment, her body went limp and her consciousness faded.