"Princess, Master Rong has arrived and is waiting for you in the training grounds." The Palace maid spoke respectfully.
Huang Yingyi swallowed the remaining food, "I will be there soon." she answered
Huang Yingyi is different.
Amongst the Imperial Children, that is, Four Princes and Five Princesses with Beiyue as an exception in that number, Yingyi is considered the luckiest.
Yingyi never really realized this much until that day.
Just remembering it made her stomach churn and she wanted to hurl the breakfast she had forced down her throat.
Three Elder Imperial Sisters aren't as fortunate as her, the Eldest and Third Sister bit off more than they can chew in one of the Trips in Floating Light Forest and died when their own contractual Spirit Beast died, Mutual Death clause on the contract has claimed their lives. Her second sister is not as lucky given the collection of Alchemy Ingredients even with the Imperial Escorts and Mercenary hired, it was bad luck that struck them when they encountered a Divine Beast. As for her Fifth Younger Sister, she's born premature and even with the aid of medicine, she did not last long and has passed away five years ago.
So, perhaps in some sort of twisted way, Huang Yingyi is indeed fortunate.
On the contrary of belief, Yingyi is not entirely ignorant to the whispers of the servants in the Halls.
The protection of her Mother Empress indeed kept Yingyi alive, however, in a tight cage. A canary. One who is willingly be one too.
Huang Yingyi sometimes wonders, her Elder Imperial Sisters knew the danger of going outside, but then still went out which result to death.
As such, Huang Yingyi is not very fond of going outside, however, she relished the stories of her Royal Aunt, Huang Huiwen, of her adventures and various tales without getting tired of it, despite the displeasure of her Mother Empress.
Despite her admiration and amazement, Huang Yingyi never wish to live the same life as her Royal Aunt however. Being a Female General and going to war? It's scary, Huang Yingyi didn't want to die, her self preservation and cowardice under all her naïve bravado was kept together and even encouraged by her Mother Empress, it was hammers on the pillar even more when her Royal Brother became a known genius.
"You don't need to work very hard, Yingyi. Your brother will be backing you, even when you get married, you are surnames Huang and the sister of the Future Emperor and I, the Empress Dowager. You hold your head high. As long as both your brother and I are here, you can live a carefree life, you need not worry about anything."
I kept my head held high, Mother Empress, but why is it that I am unhappy and unwilling?
"It must be nice to be loved by your parents and siblings despite being a member of the Royal Family." Violet eyes seemed to pierced her very soul as the gloomy Hostage Prince of Beiyao looked at Yingyi.
Yingyi saw something she couldn't understand, it's foreign and honestly, it scared her a bit. Yingyi is unsure what to feel about this Hostage Prince, indeed he is good looking, however there is something that made her curious. Not to mention, Beiyao sending their Hostage Prince meaning Nanyi must also send a Hostage Prince. Yingyi felt resentful to this Prince as well as Beiyao because there is a big chance her Royal Brother will be selected. Yingyi is terrified at that thought despite her Mother Empress continuous reassurance.
In the end, the Fourth Imperial Brother was selected. One who has no backing and the son of a Maid. Without maternal family to back him, even with Huang as surname, he is the lowest status amongst them. Huang Yingyi watched as the carriage had left and felt like she's really lucky. She could have been the one to be shipped off like that.
Her Royal Aunt had reassured her that it won't happen. However, while Huang Huiwen did looked relieved, she sad as well and sorrowful, because there was even consideration that her own cousin sister, Beiyue should be shipped off.
Then Huang Yingyi doesn't know who got off lightly amongst the children with the surname Huang.
Each and everyone of them, siblings and cousin are in a situation, although different, who's worse off can it be figured out?
Yingyi though, maybe I am lucky?
But am I really?
Witnessing the… Brutality of that Execution Battle... It shaken Yingyi, who wasn't?
The fall out of that made Yingyi shuddered. Not even the fag order of the servants prevents Yingyi from knowing.
The Secret Army her Maternal Grandfather were being taken care of, Nanyi is even in the verge of Civil War.
It's Chaotic.
The power Marius Jing An amassed, cowardly and despicable means, is by no mean not something to scoff at. Mu Family lost its Prestige and plummeted sharply while her Mother Empress only now has hollow tittle. Without authority same to her Royal Grandmother.
On the bright side, her Royal Brother and Yingyi weren't included in that punishment and fiasco but even Yingyi can tell, the foundation and support for Huang Zhanye was shaken badly.
It is estimated that the tittle 'Crown Prince', the effort Huang Zhanye must put will be doubled and the pressure will increase tremendously. There is the First Prince Faction and Third Prince Faction. The Crown Prince Faction is almost in shambles.
Huang Zhanye has to rebuild his own fortress under his own command all while keeping himself afloat and not sink. In order for that to happen, he must improve his status in strength and kept Huang Jing and Huang Qing in line.
It's not out of greed but self preservation because Huang Zhanye and Huang Yingyi doesn't have insurance. Without their Maternal Family, when own of their brother's ascend the throne, will they guarantee to leet both them brother and sister off?
Answer is No.
Maybe their Brothers will, but their maternal family will refuse to do so.
Power struggles are complicated and bitter like that, that's what her Royal Brother said, I don't want to die too, Yingyi, and I don't want you to die as well, we can only fight and survive.
Seeing her brother struggled so much, looking so exhausted while Yingyi couldn't even do anything to help or advice. Her uselessness in that situation, something was awakened in Yingyi.
It made her question, what was she doing all these years. Can I be someone that strong to smash down my own problems without utilizing the surname Huang?
Yingyi has so much to think about, the words of her family went from Ken ear to another.
"How could Father do this!?" the grief of her Mother Empress
"How dare they be so bold within my territory!? Was Royal Sister disappointed in me for not seeing such a thing?" the Guilt of Father Emperor.
"My daughter and my granddaughter, I wronged you very much." The regret of Grandmother Empress Dowager
"To think I have looked down on your cowardice without seeing what you went through." The feeling of incompetence by her Royal Brother.
"I declared us as sister and yet I am oblivious to your pain, how can I face you, Beiyue?" and heartbreak of Yingyi herself
They have their own fair share of worry and troubles, their own concern, Yingyi could see that everyone has their own thoughts and of course, she is also aware that despite the 'Trash' status Beiyue has, she is indeed very envied by them. In a sense, they had thought Beiyue is much more free than them who are direct descendant of the Emperor. Even without talent, Beiyue is set for life with her mother to pave way for her, but as a result, they are all collectively slapped to the face.
Everyone has their own issues and matters to deal with, Huang Yingyi has her own share.
For the first time in a long time, Huang Yingyi sat down in her bed room and looked, she revisit her past and reviewed as much as she could.
Beiyue's situation had slapped her to reality. Surname Huang means nothing if you're in the face of those who did not fear it, someone who has the strength to defy it, isn't that why her Maternal Grandfather threatened her Royal Aunt and Grandmother Empress Dowager? Because the situation is favorable on his side, but not for long.
Yingyi though, would I still be able to survive long enough to wait the time the advantage shift to her side?
Definitely not.
Not when her opponents are faster and stronger than her. If Yingyi is silenced and without evidence, who can say so?
Will I be like Royal Aunt, or my Imperial Sisters? If not for Beiyue standing out, will be buried and attribute it to just being an accident?
Yingyi always feared that and she had never witnessed death so close and so vividly.
She's terrified. Not of her cousin, but being the receiving end of someone's mercy and delivered to Hell's Gate.
Yingyi is a coward little girl under all that Imperial Princess persona.
Yingyi, who has been playing around for years, looked at her sword and picked it up, "Its time for training." She said firmly and more determined.
Huang Yingyi, with all her scrambled thoughts and experience learned one thing. Even if you're a coward, you still fear death. Humans are tenacious and will find a way to adapt and survive.
She is no master expert but she can feel the shift in the air. Danger is coming in the nearby future and this time, Yingyi doesn't plan to be swept to the side and wait for death.
'I'm not doing it for myself as well, I can't always be selfish.' She heard a vague whisper in her mind sounding like herself, 'My Royal Brother always supports me, but who will support him?'
After all, once in a while, cowards has their moment of bravery as well.
Royal Brother, Beiyue, I am going to be late in catching up to support you too, but…. I am going to do my best so that you won't need to worry about me at all…..
"And perhaps in the future, you can lean on me too."