Chapter 17 Ghost
Li An crouched low in the shadows within the corners of the main hall of the cold palace, barely breathing as she watched the scene unfold before her. Her small fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but she ignored the slight sting. The sight of her foster mother, Concubine Su, struggling as a eunuch forced a cup of dark liquid toward her lips made her heart race. She wanted nothing more than to leap out, scream, and claw at the intruders, but she understood the silent plea in her mother's eyes: stay hidden.
Across the room, Empress Su Mu Fang stood tall, her cold gaze fixed on Concubine Su with a twisted smirk. Beside her, two other eunuchs held down Alu and Misha, Concubine Su's loyal maidservants. Li An could see their muscles straining as they struggled against their captors, but they were no match for the eunuchs' strength. Alu's eyes flashed with fury, and Misha's face was contorted in fear, but both were powerless, bound, and helpless.
Li An took a deep breath, calming her mind as she scanned the room. Her gaze fell on a cluster of small stones near her feet. Her eyes gleamed with sudden inspiration. She couldn't charge in openly, not without jeopardizing her mother, but she could create enough chaos to turn the situation to her advantage. Her fingers curled around a few pebbles, and she weighed one carefully in her hand.
With a practiced flick of her wrist, she sent the first pebble flying. It struck the back of one eunuch's head with a sharp, satisfying crack. He jerked forward, momentarily losing his grip on Misha, who gasped and twisted, her sudden movement breaking her captor's concentration.
The eunuch cursed and looked around wildly. "Who did that?"
The Empress's eyes narrowed as she scanned the room, suspicion flickering in her gaze. "Check the corners. I want to know if someone else is here."
Li An's lips twitched into a smirk. Good, they were already nervous. She picked up another pebble and aimed it at a candle across the room. She threw it hard, and the stone struck true, sending the candle clattering to the floor, its flame snuffing out with a faint hiss. The room dimmed, shadows flickering and shifting as the few remaining candles struggled to light the space.
It has been a few days since Concubine Su decided to change the luminous light ball into candle. This way, if ever there were people invading this place, they would not spread the glowing balls in case they escaped. Those things are very dangerously attractive.
Empress Su's gaze snapped to the fallen candle, and her calm mask cracked, a faint tremor betraying her unease. Li An stifled a giggle. Let them believe the shadows held a ghost's wrath.
The eunuchs exchanged wary glances, clearly unnerved. One of them, still holding Alu in place, muttered, "This place is cursed… I told you the cold palace is full of angry spirits."
"Quiet!" Empress Su hissed, her voice sharp as a blade. "There are no spirits, only rats in the dark. Find whoever's hiding and bring them to me."
Li An's heart skipped. She had to work quickly; if they found her, it would be over. She crouched lower and sent another pebble flying, this time hitting the eunuch closest to the Empress right on his temple. He let out a yelp, releasing Misha in the process.
"Ahh! Who's there?" he cried, clutching his head and stumbling back. He looked around wildly, fear etched into his face.
The Empress's face tightened. "Enough of this nonsense. Spread out and search. Whatever is in the shadows is about to meet its end."
The eunuchs, visibly shaken, began to fan out, casting wary glances over their shoulders as they did so. One of them took out a dagger, brandishing it nervously as he inched toward the corner where Li An was hidden.
Li An's mind raced. She couldn't stay in the same place, not with one of them coming her way. She darted to the left, slipping behind an old pillar. She picked up a handful of pebbles only these were left from her pouch and hurled them toward the opposite side of the room, hitting another candle and sending a shower of sparks into the air. The eunuchs flinched, whirling around toward the source of the disturbance.
"An attack from the shadows!" One eunuch shouted, gripping his dagger tighter, his knuckles white.
Li An allowed herself a quick smile. They were on edge, their fear growing with each sound. She reached into her pocket, feeling the last of the pebbles there. She would have to make them count. Another well-aimed throw struck the eunuch nearest to Alu, and he stumbled, releasing her completely.
Misha and Alu, now both free, exchanged a brief glance, then moved as one. In a flash, Misha darted to the corner where she had hidden a small ornamental sword earlier, while Alu lunged at the eunuch still holding onto Concubine Su, tackling him with surprising force.
Empress Su's eyes blazed as she turned toward them. "Traitors!" she snarled, her voice a venomous hiss. "You dare defy me?"
Li An seized the moment. She grabbed the last pebble, aimed carefully, and threw it with all her might at the Empress herself. It struck the Empress's cheek with a satisfying thud, and she let out a furious scream, staggering back, her hand flying to her face.
"This place is cursed!" the eunuch nearest to her shrieked, stumbling back, his terror finally overtaking his obedience. "I told you we shouldn't have come here!"
Empress Su turned to him with pure malice. "Coward! It's just a trick. Whoever's behind this will pay dearly."
But the Empress's confidence had frayed; her voice wavered, betraying her own fear. Li An grinned, feeling a fierce pride swell within her chest. She had rattled the Empress, and made her taste the fear she inflicted on others. But the battle wasn't over yet.
Concubine Su, weak but defiant, took advantage of the chaos to pull away from her captor, collapsing to the ground but managing to crawl a few paces before he could react. Misha moved swiftly to her side, guarding her with the small sword she had retrieved, her stance fierce despite her petite frame.
Alu, on the other hand, grappled with the eunuch who had pinned her. Her fists flew, landing small but sharp blows to his face and neck. She wasn't a warrior, but desperation gave her strength.
Li An knew she needed to deliver one final blow to tip the scales. She reached for a larger stone which she noticed on the ground beside her, her small fingers gripping it tightly. This would require precision. Holding her breath, she peered around the corner and found her target: the Empress herself, still looking around in mounting panic, her regal demeanor crumbling under the pressure.
With all her strength, Li An hurled the stone, her aim deadly. It struck the Empress's shoulder with a sickening thud, sending her stumbling back into a support pillar.
"Who dares—?!" Empress Su shouted, her voice breaking. She looked around wildly, fear widening her eyes as she realized she was outmatched by something—or someone—she couldn't see.
Li An ducked back into the shadows, listening as the eunuchs, now completely unnerved, began retreating from the room. One by one, they backed away, muttering prayers and superstitions under their breath, too frightened to stay. Finally, with a final, hateful glare in the direction of the shadows, Empress Su snarled, "Fine. Leave the fools to their doom. I will deal with them another time."
And with that, she stormed out, her trembling eunuchs and maidservants trailing behind her like frightened dogs.
The moment the cold palace gate outside slammed shut, Li An exhaled, releasing the tension she had held in her small frame. She ran out from her hiding place, rushing to Concubine Su's side. Misha and Alu were already helping her sit up, their faces a mix of relief and exhaustion.
"Li An…" Concubine Su whispered, reaching out a trembling hand. Her eyes shone with gratitude, though she tried to maintain her composure.
Li An took her foster mother's hand, squeezing it gently. "Mother, you're safe now," she murmured, her voice soft but filled with fierce determination. "They won't hurt you again."
The words mother has touched Concubine Su's heart. Ever since she began calling her mother, the little girl has already entered her heart and she would do anything just to keep her safe. But tonight it seems that she once again owes the little one.
Alu and Misha shared a glance, pride in their eyes as they looked at the brave little girl who had saved them all. Li An, despite her young age, had proved herself a fierce protector, her quick thinking and bravery enough to turn the tide of a hopeless situation.
The cold palace remained silent, the lingering echo of Li An's ghostly assault fading into the shadows. But a new strength had taken root there, and a whisper of defiance lingered in the air, promising that those who dared harm her loved ones would one day face the wrath of a girl whose heart burned brighter than any flame.