Emperor Lee Chang Hao's breath caught in his throat as Bella pressed the sharp hairpin against her own throat, the metal glinting menacingly in the afternoon light streaming through the broken windows. His face went deathly pale, all traces of anger and frustration vanishing in an instant.
"Don't you dare," he commanded, his voice low and deadly serious. He took a deliberate step forward, his boots crunching on glass with controlled precision. "Put that down right now, Bella."
The guards at the doorway shifted nervously, their hands moving toward their swords but hesitating to intervene without a direct order. Servants and concubines gasped in horror from the corridor, their whispers escalating with panic.
"Think about our children," Chang Hao continued, his tone softening slightly as he saw her hand tremble. "They need their mother. I need you - alive."
I don't want to die also! But remember you did this to me! .
I said with finality.Time seemed to slow down. I raised pin up, as the the pin came down and the top pierced slightly into my neck, blood trickling down. I could see Chang's eyes widen in disbelief, as he stretches his hand towards me. My eyes go blurry with tears . From behind him , I see the panicked expression on palace inhabitants. I could also see Cheng crossing her hand and smirking widely in clear victory. I short my eyes. This is really the end, I thought to my self. I smiled pathetically, My babies, mummy is sorry for taking your lives. Love and protect each other in heaven , for I will surely go to hell.
A shelve bigger than me, which stood unstable due to me wrecking everything earlier, made a shriek, as I slowly turn my head, I see the heavy oak wood shelves, falling towards me. I am really about to die a pathetic death. Even the universe wants me dead. I feel a hand clasp around me and turned me around. I instantly see . Chang, his gold clothes, spread and shining like that of an angel, as he steps behind me holding me tight, as he protects me from the shelf. With a loud thud, the shelve fall on us, he taking most of the impact. I hear the screams and panic of everyone, as dust from old book engulfs the room.
The massive oak shelf crashed down with a deafening crack, sending clouds of dust and pulverized paper flying through the air. Emperor Lee Chang Hao grunted loudly as the heavy wood slammed into his back, knocking him forward onto his knees while shielding Bella completely beneath him.
Servants and guards erupted into chaos outside the doorway, screaming warnings and rushing forward despite knowing they couldn't reach them in time. Concubines shrieked in terror, their hands covering their mouths as they watched their Emperor sacrifice himself to save the very woman accusing him of betrayal.
Chang Hao's body absorbed the brunt of the impact, his broad shoulders taking the full force of the falling structure. Books cascaded down around them like rain, mixing with shattered glass and debris from Bella's earlier rampage. Through gritted teeth, he managed to push himself partially upright enough to see if she was hurt.
I froze, why?! why did he save me?! I am supposed to die! I screamed inwards in disbelief. My hands start to dart around the broken shards spread across the floor looking for the hair pin to finish what I started.
Emperor Lee Chang Hao's face was already covered in dust and small cuts. But his dark eyes remained fixed on Bella with an intensity that cut through the chaos around them. He saw her hands scrambling frantically across the glass-strewn floor, searching for the weapon she'd dropped moments ago.
"No!" he growled, his voice rough with exertion as he pushed himself fully upright despite the heavy shelf pressing against his back. "You are not dying today, not like this."
With a surge of strength that belied the injury to his spine, Chang Hao shoved the massive oak shelf off his back with a grunt of pain. The wood groaned and slid sideways, collapsing harmlessly onto the floor beside them and sending up another cloud of dust.
He moved quickly to kneel in front of Bella, despite the pain he felt, blocking her view of the hairpin glinting dangerously near her fingers.
*I froze, staring at him* "Why are you doing this?" *I stared at him, completely still.*
Emperor Lee Chang Hao's chest heaved with the effort of breathing through the pain in his back, but his dark eyes never left Bella's face. The dust settled around them, catching in his hair and clinging to the golden embroidery on his koneben.
"Why?" he repeated, his voice raw with emotion. "Because I love you, you foolish woman. Because I can't lose you - not to Cheng Mei's lies, not to your own misplaced guilt."
He reached out slowly, carefully avoiding the broken glass surrounding them, and gently took her trembling hands in his own. His touch was firm but gentle, a stark contrast to the violence that had filled the room moments before.
"I've loved you since the moment I first saw you defying me in my own court," he continued softly, his thumb brushing over a cut on her knuckles.
I start to cry like a child. Suddenly overwhelmed.
Emperor Lee Chang Hao's expression softened instantly at the sight of Bella's breakdown, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. He pulled her gently into his arms, ignoring the pain in his back as he cradled her against his chest.
"It's okay, my little dragon," he murmured into her hair, his voice now calm and soothing despite the chaos surrounding them. "Let it out. You've been carrying this weight for too long."
His hands moved slowly up and down her back in a comforting rhythm, the way he'd done countless times when she'd had nightmares or worried about their children. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
The guards and servants outside hesitated at the doorway, unsure whether to intervene or give their Emperor privacy with his emotional concubine. Concubines whispered nervously among themselves, some looking on with pity while others watched with envy. Chang Hao continued holding Bella tightly as her sobs shook both their bodies.
I buried my face deeper into his chest. I don't know what to do. I am so hurt and confused. I stutter.
Emperor Lee Chang Hao's arms tightened around Bella, his cheek pressing against the top of her head as he rocked her gently. The dust from the collapsed shelf still hung in the air, mixing with the scent of her perfume and the metallic tang of blood from her cuts.
"Shh, it's alright," he murmured, his voice steady and reassuring despite the pain radiating through his injured back. "You don't have to know what to do right now. Just let me hold you."
He shifted slightly to get more comfortable on the debris-strewn floor, wincing at the movement but refusing to let go of her. His hand came up to stroke her hair away from her face, fingers gently brushing against the tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Everything we've been through - the nights you've spent in my arms, the conversations that lasted until dawn, the way you look when you're pregnant with our children - that wasn't a lie,"
As he was stroking my back, he seemed to slow down. His hand goes limp. I looked up at him and that's when I notice the blood dripping from his head. I also felt my hands wet from blood,when I hugged him. He was still breathing, but panic rises. Everyone seemed to fade away from me when I noticed his unconscious state and I start to shake him. Hubby? Hey hubby? Wake up, wake up,tears fell from my face. Cheng Mei seeing it as the perfect opportunity rushes into the room. My emperor, my emperor , wake up.
She looks at me with hate and shouted loud enough for everyone to hear. You spiteful woman. The things you do for attention. It's not enough for you to want to kill ur self , you also want to kill our emperor?. I try to touch him but she slaps my hand away, get off him, you have done enough. I could see the hate and hurt from other concubines. The eldesst ones, rushed in as they ordered the guards to rush him to the infirmary. I see Cheng cruel smirk with satisfaction as they others agree with her. I don't want to see you near him again. Do you have even a little human heart in you, you Monster?. You will stay away from him, you have caused him so much pain already. She hissed.
With that's she leaves as they carried him out the room, everyone leaving behind a harsh, hurtful comment before disappearing after him.
The last concubine's footsteps faded down the hallway, leaving Bella alone in the wreckage of her chamber. The room was silent except for the ticking of a clock somewhere in the palace, its steady rhythm a cruel contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded.
Bella sat on the floor amidst shattered glass and overturned furniture, her blood-streaked hands trembling as she stared at the door where they'd carried Chang Hao away. His blood was still visible on the floorboards where he'd fallen, a dark stain against the polished wood.
Outside, Empress Cheng Mei's voice carried clearly through the open doorway. "She's dangerous! That woman tried to kill him! Guards, seal her chambers immediately. No one enters or leaves without my direct permission."
More footsteps approached - this time, imperial guards in full armor. They moved with practiced efficiency, their boots echoing ominously as they positioned themselves outside Bella's door.
I looked down at my blood stained hands. I need to see him. Please. I screamed.
The head guard outside Bella's door hesitated for a moment before turning to his companion. "She sounds... calmer now. Maybe we should at least tell the Empress."
His partner shook his head firmly. "No way. Her Majesty's orders were clear - no one sees him except for her and the imperial physicians. That woman almost got him killed."
Inside the chamber, Bella's quiet plea echoed against the shattered walls. She stood slowly, her movements stiff from adrenaline and exhaustion, and began pacing the small clear spaces between debris.
Down the corridor, Empress Cheng Mei was already in the infirmary wing, directing servants with sharp commands. "I want every available physician attending to His Majesty immediately. And send word to my personal healer - she knows exactly what herbs are needed for concussion and internal injuries."
Her voice carried through the stone corridors, authoritative and demanding. "And someone find Lady Yumi - I need her here to help manage palace affairs while His Majesty recovers."
Days had passed. Even though, I was free to walk around the palace, I still wasn't allowed to see him. I heard he was transferred from the infirmary to the Empress chambers. It hurts, but I knew he hurts more. Anywhere I went , Gossip followed behind .
The concubines treated me worse , food,water and dirt were being poured over my head or at me , coupled up with insults. But my only wish was to see him. To see my Hubby.
The whispers followed Bella like a shadow wherever she went. Concubines who had once curtsied to her now turned their backs as she passed, their voices rising in volume just loud enough for her to catch snippets of their conversations.
"Did you see her today? She looks like a ghost."
"Honestly, I can't believe His Majesty ever found her attractive. Look at those cuts on her arms - she probably tried to kill herself again."
"She should be locked in the dungeons with the other criminals, not walking freely through our halls."
In the Empress's chambers, Cheng Mei sat beside Emperor Lee Chang Hao's bed, holding a cool cloth to his forehead. His eyes were closed, but his breathing was steady and color had returned to his face thanks to the careful attention of his personal physicians.
"Your Majesty, you must rest," one of the physicians advised gently. "Your body needs time to heal from the concussion and internal injuries."