I don't own Code Geass
...
The Imperial Garden, The Forbidden City, Chinese Federation
Jiang Lihua, known to the world as the Tianzi, Empress of the Chinese Federation, fidgeted nervously behind her table. The herbal tea set out for her and Lady Sumeragi had grown cold as the young girl waited on her.
"This is a disgrace!" Lord Cheng Zhong said from beside her. "A low Eleven making Your Majesty wait this long! The presumption! The arrogance!"
"I'm sure she'll be along soon," Jiang said. She was cowed by a harsh glare from the High Eunuch.
"She was to be here over an hour ago," he said. "An Empress should not wait for a peasant girl."
"She's not a peasant!" Jiang said, feeling outraged for her friend. "She is a noblewoman of Japan!"
"A nation that no longer exists has no nobility, Your Majesty. Collaborators have as much power as their masters allow." Lord Zhong smiled, a silky line across his pale face. "She is unlike you, Your Majesty. She does not command an entire Empire."
But I don't command an Empire, Jiang thought but didn't say. Despite her title, she probably had even less power than Lady Sumeragi. All I do is sit here and let you run things. That's the way it is. She bowed her head unhappily.
"Announcing Lady Sumeragi, of the Kyoto House and Sumeragi Consortium." Jiang's head shot up. A big smile threatened to split her face.
Lady Sumeragi stepped through the arch that acted as a door to the garden, her every step measured and elegant. A small, warm smile was settled on her snow-white face. She bowed deeply before the Empress.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, for my tardiness," Lady Sumeragi said. "I have no excuse, and will bear whatever consequence you deem just."
"The impertinence you display is unseemly," Lord Zhong said, scowling. "To keep Her Majesty-"
"I was speaking to the Tianzi, Lord Zhong," Lady Sumeragi said forcefully. "Mind your tongue, lest the Empress remove it for your rudeness."
Jiang stifled a laugh when she saw how red Cheng Zhong turned. "There is no need for an apology, Lady Sumeragi. All is forgotten. "
"You have my gratitude. May we speak alone, Your Majesty?" Lady Sumeragi asked. "I feel we will be more entertained should the matters of state be kept at arm's length."
Jiang nodded excitedly. "I would very much like that, Lady Sumeragi." She turned to Hong Gu. "You may go, Lord Zhong. Lady Sumeragi and I are not to be disturbed."
"But Your Majesty," he said, leaning toward her, "what if some crisis should occur that requires your immediate-"
"I said you may go, Lord Zhong," Jiang said, steel in her eyes. "Do not make me repeat myself."
The High Eunuch rocked back on his feet, fury warring with shock in his expression. Finally he huffed and said, "As you command, Your Majesty." He sent Lady Sumeragi a venomous glare and left.
Lady Sumeragi clapped. "Now that High Ball-less is gone," Jiang flushed red, "let's go have some fun!"
Lady Sumeragi grabbed her by the hand and pulled her up to her feet, whisking her away into a chase around the garden. Jiang did not know how long she spent splashing through the bird pools, capturing the butterflies that fluttered in the air, and sword fighting with the flowers they uprooted from the ground.
When tired they lay together in the grass, guessing the shape of the clouds in the sky. "I wish every day could be like this," Jiang said as she stared at the bright blue sky.
"So do I," Lady Sumeragi said. Jiang could hear the smile in her voice. "Unfortunately, we all have responsibilities, Jiang."
"Not me, Lady Sumeragi," Jiang said. "All I do is wait to be shuffled to wherever the Eunuchs wish me to be."
"But you are Empress, Jiang," Lady Sumeragi said. "Your word is law."
"No it isn't. I have no power, no control, no…" Jiang trailed off. She tried to contain her tears.
"No freedom?" Lady Sumeragi asked.
Jiang only nodded.
"Then let's make a change of that." Before Jiang could ask what she meant, Lady Sumeragi dragged her up and marched her to one of the door guards. "The Tianzi wishes to take a tour of the city," Lady Sumeragi said. Jiang's eyes bulged wide in shock.
The guard shook his head. "Lord Zhong has strict orders that the two of you are to remain here," he said.
"And to whom do you owe service?" Lady Sumeragi asked. She settled her hands on her hips. "The Tianzi, or her advisor?"
"Well, to the Tianzi of co-"
"Then form an escort for us and open the door."
"I can't just-"
"Do as she says." Jiang looked around for a second, startled at the voice. It took her a moment to realize it was her own.
The soldier looked unsure. "Your Majesty, I-"
"Are you deaf man?" Jiang's voice rose. "Do as she says!"
The guard spluttered and made a hasty bow before rushing off to carry out her order.
"Nice work." Jiang turned to Lady Sumeragi. The older girl sported a huge grin. "You really told him what for."
Jiang quailed. "I didn't mean to yell at him," she said, her head bowed. "I should-"
"Don't apologize," Lady Sumeragi said, her voice stern, "it's a sign of weakness. It was your right to command that man as you did. He was in the wrong for questioning you. Hold your head high." She settled her hands on Jiang's shoulders. "You are the Empress. No man should see you cry."
Jiang nodded uncertainly.
"Oh, and by the way," Jiang looked up at the smiling girl, "please start calling me "Kaguya.""
…..
Tokyo Settlement Boundary, Area Eleven
Nina wrung her hands nervously. She wore a plain coat and hat, the hood pulled up and over to mask her Britannian features. A small pistol, purchased anonymously online, was stuffed into her coat pocket, and it took her all her self-control not to grip it in her trembling hands. Shinjuku Ghetto sprawled in front of her, a haunting playground of bombed-out buildings and crumbling roads. Pre-war cars, out of service and, in some cases, burned black by explosions, rested on either side of the rubble strewn road.
Dark figures stumbled to and fro in the distance.
Nina took a step back from the ghetto's outskirts. Maybe I shouldn't be doing this, she thought. She took another step back-
-Her hand held out, red hair akimbo behind her visor, black uniform conforming to her full breasts and wide hips, soft lips set in a grim slash-
Nina opened her eyes and shook her head. She stared determinedly at the hellhole before her. No, I can't stop now. If I do, I'll never…
Nina didn't complete the thought. Instead she gripped the gun in her pocket, pulled the hood more snugly over her head, and took her first steps into the Shinjuku Ghetto.
…
Beijing, Chinese Federation
Li Xingke, General of the Federation Military, glared sourly at the carriage that housed his Empress and the Japanese girl trying to get her killed. When he had learned of the Empress' intention to leave the Forbidden City, he had at first tried to talk her out of it, then been forced to lead the guard contingent when the little Eleven egged her on.
What is that girl thinking? Xingke wondered. Her impetuousness is likely to get Her Majesty killed. His hands clenched into angry fists as he considered the ramifications of what Sumeragi was making the Empress do.
"I know you're concerned about the Empress' safety, My Lord," Zhou Xianglin, his advisor, said, "but worrying like this when we can't do anything will do you no good."
"If the Empress continues on her present path, the Eunuchs will try to have her killed," Xingke said. "Sumeragi has to be removed from the Empress' presence."
"Removed how, My Lord?"
Xingke's frown deepened. "By any means necessary."
Zhou looked startled. "Any means, My Lord?" she said. "And what would Zero have to say about that?"
"An overly theatrical terrorist holds no sway over me," Xingke said. "The man is putting Her Majesty in danger through his idiot ambassador. If the Tianzi comes to harm, I will kill him with my bare hands."
"We cannot protect her from the world forever," Zhou said. "If the Tianzi is to reclaim her power, perhaps it's best that it begins now."
"When she has no power," Xingke spat with a scowl, "no support, no means to defend herself?"
"She has us," Zhou said quietly.
"We have few friends, Zhou. A coup attempt now would fail. We must gather more support."
"Maybe they are waiting for the Empress to reclaim it herself," Zhou said.
"Or be killed in the attempt."
"No battle is without risk."
"Some are unnecessary."
"Then what shall we do, Li?" Zhou said, exasperated. "Keep her locked up in a tower like some silly European fairy tale? The Tianzi must assert her authority at some point, else how can anyone follow her?"
"We shall keep her safe!" Xingke snarled. "As best we can, which cannot be done when you spit in the face of the people who hold the dagger to her throat!"
"We-"
"Enough! We shall speak of this no more."
The two friends fell into an uneasy silence, glaring out of opposite windows of their carriage. Xingke frowned when the Empress' carriage halted and the driver opened the door. The driver leaned inside and looked around. Xingke felt the hairs on his neck stand on end.
He flung open the door of the carriage and stormed over to the Imperial carriage. "What is going on?" he asked the carriage driver.
The driver trembled before him. "The Tianzi, she's disappeared!"
"What?" Xingke shoved the man aside and stuck his head through the door and was that the carriage was in fact empty. "Where is she?" he shouted, grabbing the driver by the throat. "Where is the Empress!"
….
Jiang giggled as she and Kaguya pushed their way through the throngs of people hawking and purchasing wares in the market. They had hidden servant's cloaks underneath the seats in the carriage, and had taken their chance to jump out as they passed an alley.
I never knew so many people could be in one place, she thought. How does anything get done?
"Jiang, take this." Kaguya crammed a long stick with a cooked brown fish speared through the middle on it. The older girl was already taking a huge bite out of one of her own. Jiang looked at her own a bit skeptically. Kaguya saw her dubious expression and laughed. "Don't worry, Jiang," she said, "it won't bite."
Jiang blushed slightly, but took a bite out of the fish. She choked on it. "H-hot!" she stammered.
Kaguya laughed. "Of course it is, silly, it just came off the fire! Blow on it!"
Jiang blew on it and took a more cautious bite. The explosion of flavor made her eyes water. "It's wonderful!" she said, and took another bite. Kaguya laughed again.
"I knew you'd like it out here," she said.
"Xingke said that one day, he and I would leave the Forbidden City, and travel the entire world," Jiang said. "If the world is anything like this, I want to see every bit of it!"
"Then why don't you?" Kaguya asked.
Jiang sighed. "The Eunuchs wouldn't let me. They say it's too dangerous for me to go out in the world. Better to stay home, where it's safe, and let them handle day-to-day matters," she said.
Kaguya snorted. "More like the day-to-day theft," she said. "The Eunuchs are no more than common thieves in rich clothing. They keep your birthright from you so that they can steal from your people."
Jiang frowned. "They're not that bad," she said. "They've kept me safe all my life. All they ask is that I go to a few social functions-"
"-And ignore the plight of your people," Kaguya interrupted. Jiang was surprised at the stern rebuke in her eyes.
Jiang looked around her. "The people seem happy to me," she said.
"This is an illusion, Jiang, a lie that the Eunuchs tell you. If you like," Kaguya held out her hand, "I can show you what lies beyond the mirage."
Jiang looked down at her friend's hand hesitantly. She looked back up at her, at the firm resolve etched into her face. Jiang took and deep breath, looked once more at Kaguya's hand, and took it.
…
Shinjuku Ghetto, Area Eleven
Nina stumbled behind a wall covered in gunshot holes and long cracks that reached up to the next floor. A group of Elevens stalked by, talking in hushed tones about a meeting being held deeper in the ghetto.
Maybe it's the Black Knights, she thought. She waited until the group was a good ways off before following them down a side street at a distance.
As she followed the Elevens, Nina couldn't help but glance around at the ragged people hunched around small open fires, or nibbling at fish bones and meager rice bowls, or just sitting down and staring blankly off into the distance.
How can they live like this?
The group took a sudden turn around a street corner and Nina lost sight of them. She hastened her pace as inconspicuously as possible. She rounded the corner-
"How long you been followin' us, Brit bitch?" A pair of powerful hands grabbed her by the shoulders and flung her around, bringing her face to face with the Elevens she had been following.
"Did you think you were foolin' anyone with that hood of yours? That stuff's too nice looking for the ghettos."
Nina's breathing quickened into short gasps as she tried not to panic. "Please don't hurt me, please, I only-"
"Who sent you?" Nina looked up at a red haired man who was scowling hatefully at her. "You intelligence? Infantry?"
"No! I'm not anything like that, I'm just a student!" Nina cried.
"Yeah? Well I'm the Emperor of Britannia!" The redhead ripped her hat and hood away, exposing her dark green curls and big glasses. His eyes went wide. "The Hell? Yer just a kid."
"Is Britannia using kids to ferret us out, now?" one of his friends, a man with blue hair, asked. "They must be getting pretty desperate."
"No, I swear to you, I'm not a soldier!" Nina said. "My ID's in my pocket. Let me show you." Her hand fumbled through the coat pocket, and alighted onto the plastic ID card. She tugged it out.
There was a metallic clank as her pistol followed it and dropped to the ground. Nina froze. She hazarded a look up.
The expressions on the Elevens' faces had become impassive. Their eyes were hard and cold. The redhead leaned down deliberately slowly and grabbed the gun off the ground. He examined it in his hands.
"Just a student, huh?" he said calmly. His flat tone was scaring Nina more than the angry yelling had. He held the pistol up to her. "What do you call this, then?"
She shook her head and held up her hands. "I-I-I-I-It's n-n-not wh-what you think-" she babbled, "I-I-I just wanted to meet the Black Knights."
"Yeah, I'll bet you did," the blue haired man said. "Hey Tamaki, what'd you think we should do with her?" he asked the redhead.
"I think we oughta take her to meet C.C." the redhead, Tamaki, said, his mouth twisted into a cruel smirk.
"Ah man, you serious?" one of their companions guffawed. "Damn, man, I wouldn't wish that witch on my worst enemy."
"It's the only way, big man," Tamaki replied, still grinning. "I don't wanna do it, but these spies really leave us no choice. Gotta know what they know, am I right?"
"I'm not a spy!" Nina screamed. She looked left and right for an escape route, but they had her surrounded. She glanced down at the pistol in Tamaki's hand. The redhead followed her gaze.
"Sorry, spy," he said, and his scowl returned, "you ain't getting this back." As he went to stuff it into the back of his pants, Nina struck, charging into him, grabbing the gun's barrel.
The air around her was suddenly filled with angry shouting as the Elevens grabbed her from every side and ripped her off their leader, the pistol jerked sharply out of her hand. She thrashed in their grasp but she wasn't going anywhere.
"Enough!" Tamaki stomped forward and brought the gun grip down on the top of her head.
Darkness swallowed Nina whole.
…
Beijing, Chinese Federation
Jiang had never been so afraid in her life. The streets here were sparse, nearly empty, the road cracked, overgrown with weeds, the windows shuttered and rooves patched together with weak wood. Those few out in the open kept their voices low and moved furtively, performing exchanges that Jiang could not begin to guess the terms or contents of.
"Pull your hood up a little bit more," Kaguya whispered. "Don't draw any more attention than necessary."
Jiang complied immediately, hiding even more of her silver-white locks beneath the cheap robe. Kaguya tapped her on the shoulder. "Follow me," she said.
They made their way into the alleys, stepping daintily over puddles of mud and mounds of feces, past lumps of rotten food being picked apart by skeletal dogs that lacked even the energy to look up at them. Jiang heard angry screams coming from one of the houses, followed closely by the dashing of metal. She huddled closer to Kaguya. "This place," she whispered, "it's… it's…"
"No fairy tale," Kaguya finished. Jiang only nodded.
"Welcome to the real world, Tianzi," Kaguya said. "The world the Eunuchs have kept from you, the world they made, the world made by all men like them. They enrich themselves off the blood, and sweat, and tears of the common man, and allow them to keep mere scraps of the fruits that are rightfully theirs."
Jiang's eyes burned. . This is what they've been hiding from me. No. She shook her head violently. This is what I didn't want to see. I am their Empress, and I abandoned them because I was afraid… because it was easy.
She heard shouting, the thwack of wood against flesh, pleading and begging. She ran off in its direction, sprinting and jumping over the refuse, both human and otherwise, until finally she came to a stop in a small cul-de-sac ringed by shuttered buildings and leafless trees. In its center two men garbed in leather police armor stood above a thin, frail-looking man whose few strands of hair had gone white a long time ago. His face was misshapen, covered in blood and cuts, large purple-yellow bruises mottling his leather skin. One of the two policemen slapped a wooden baton against is open hand.
"You're late with your payment again old man," he said. His voice was so smug Jiang was surprised he didn't choke on it. "The magistrate sent us to collect."
"I-I-I-I don't have it," the old man whimpered tearfully. "How can I give you something I don't have?"
"The magistrate's been very kind to you old fools," the other policemen said. "You spend your worthless days selling your nasty fruits, and then you can't even bother showing your appreciation? You sicken me!"
"But he keeps raising the rates!" the old man howled. "How can I pay him if he keeps raising the rates?"
"Dog! You have enough to pay for the food on your table and the bed you sleep in! And you dare to claim you have no money!" The policeman raised his baton and smashed it across the man's ribs three times, one crunching blow after the other. "Learn your place, cur!"
The old man shook with sobs, blood dripping over his lips. The policeman raised his baton for another strike.
"Stop!" The policemen pivoted around, readying their weapons, only to be stopped by Jiang's piercing glare. "Leave that man alone!"
The policeman that had done the beating rolled his eyes. "Just a damn kid," he scoffed.
"Leave here, little girl," the other said, scowling at her. "Go home, before something bad happens to you."
They turned back to the quivering man. "Now, where were we?" The big policeman raised his baton.
"I said stop!" Jiang took several steps forward. "I order you to let that man go!"
The two policemen turned around, and Jiang was terrified by the sudden murderous gleam in their eyes.
"You order me?" the policeman with the baton asked. He slapped the baton against his hand. "By whose authority do you dare to order me, girl?"
"By my authority as Empress of the Chinese Federation, I order you to cease your attacks and render assistance to this man!" Jiang shouted.
The two policemen looked at one another for a second in shock. Jiang was startled when they burst out laughing.
"You, the Empress?" the man with the baton said, his belly shaking with laughter.
"That little witch is in the lap of luxury!" the other guffawed. "The Hell would she be doing here?"
"That was a good one little girl." The policeman wiped a tear from his eye. "I needed that."
A wave of fury swept through Jiang. "I am the Empress," she said, and pulled the hood from her head, the two gawking as her silver locks and red eyes shown at them, "and I order you to lay down your weapons and submit yourselves to the Crown's justice."
The two stared at her silently, the whimpers of the old man being the only noise to break the tense silence. The policeman without the baton turned to his partner and said, "I don't see her guards anywhere, do you?"
"No, I don't," the other said, "and these are some very dangerous streets. Who knows what could happen to a beautiful young girl without her guard?"
"Especially one that doesn't hide her looks."
"Truly, my friend, it's a tragic shame what happened to our beloved Tianzi." The two men stepped forward slowly. Jiang took a step back, her glare giving away to fear. "Raped and murdered by a known degenerate."
"Thankfully a pair of noble officers saw the disturbance and slew the perpetrator, though they were too late to save Her Majesty. They will be greatly rewarded." Jiang took another step back, her arm coming up to shield her.
"And perhaps the big people will learn to stay inside their gilded halls, and leave the real world to the ones in charge."
Jiang tripped over a loose piece of board on the ground. The hard ground knocked the wind from her lungs and forced her eyes shut. When she opened them the men loomed large above her, their eyes shining with something she couldn't understand. Her eyes grew big as they reached for her.
….
Unknown Location
Nina Einstein came back to the world sluggishly, her hand cradling her aching head. She lifted her face from the cool metal of a small table, wincing at the bright light that emanated from the ceiling. One eye closed, she tried to examine her surroundings, but saw only shadows that danced sickeningly about the small room. She closed her eyes to fight the urge to puke.
A loud metallic clang forced her to reopen her eyes, and she watched as a figure sat down in a metal chair in front of her. When her vision had cleared, she saw that it was a woman, perhaps a little older than her, with long, flowing green hair and sharp yellow eyes. There was a hint of laziness in the way she sat, her head cocked to the side and her eyes half open, almost as if she was bored with the proceedings. She lifted a foot up and rested it on the table in front of her, lounging languidly like a cat on a couch.
"Why aren't you in school, Miss Einstein?" she asked.
Nina quirked her eyebrow at her. "What?"
The woman rolled her eyes. "School, Miss Einstein. Why aren't you at school right now?"
"Then," Nina winced, but pressed on, "then you believe me? You believe that I'm a student?"
"Clearly," the woman said, a note of irritation in her tone. "Ashford Academy educates the students of multiple influential families in Area Eleven. We keep a watch on it by necessity. All it took to confirm your story was going over our own surveillance records. Now answer the question: Why. Are. You. Here?"
"I," Nina swallowed nervously, "I want to meet the Black Knights."
The woman chuckled. "Well, you've succeeded beyond your wildest dreams." She raised her hands mockingly, and Nina saw for the first time the silver crane of the Black Knights stitched into a black sleeveless top across her chest. "Welcome to the secret lair of the Black Knights, hidden in the bowels of an active volcano, surrounded on all sides by liquid hot magma."
"Really?" Nina asked, feeling excited despite her headache. "How do you account for the high temperatures, or the massive pressure, or-"
The woman burst out laughing, the merry peals bouncing off the walls, forcing Nina to cover her ears and squeeze her eyes shut. "Tamaki must have hit you harder than I thought," she said, still laughing, "for you to actually believe that. Or maybe," and suddenly the laughter was gone, her eyes turning to predatory daggers, "you're even more dumb than I thought."
Nina swallowed nervously. The woman leaned forward, all signs of mirth gone, her entire body poised to strike. "Now what are you doing here, Nina?"
Nina quailed slightly under the woman's dangerous glare. "I, well, there's someone I want to meet," she said.
"And who would that be?"
Nina bowed her head, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden. Her heart sped up slightly. "The redheaded Black Knight."
The woman's eyes widened in shock. "You want to meet who?"
Nina blushed intensely. "At Lake Kawaguchi, there was a female Black Knight with red hair. She saved my life. I want to thank her, and, well…" Nina trailed off into silence.
"What?"
"Just, you know, thank her," Nina said lamely. She filed the somewhat more choice images of what she wanted to do out of her mind.
The woman's head bowed forward, her green hair hiding her face. Her shoulders began to shake. Did I do something wrong? Nina wondered. "Um, Miss," she ventured. The woman refused to look at her. Nina raised her hand. "Miss," she tried again, "are you-"
"Pfffffft HA HA HA HA HA HA," the woman exploded, suddenly clutching at her sides as her body shook with uncontrolled laughter.
Nina bowed her head in shame. "Well, you don't have to laugh," she whispered.
"I'm not laughing at you, silly girl," the woman said before howling into laughter again.
"Well, um, then what are you laughing at?"
"Fate, dear girl, just Fate, and the sense of humor she seems to have."
…
Beijing, Chinese Federation
The sound of gunshots rang out through the air. Something wet landed on Jiang's face. The two policemen screamed in pain and collapsed away from her, each man clutching their arms.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Xingke was suddenly before her, eyes kind but determined. A cohort of soldiers suddenly filled the cul-de-sac, their rifles trained on the now cowering policemen. "Please, Tianzi, are you okay?" Xingke asked again, this time his voice filled with a fear that snapped Jiang out of her stupor.
"Yes, I'm fine," she said. "Please, check on that man on the ground. See that he's alright." Xingke nodded and made his way over to the man. Kaguya replaced him by her side.
"Are you alright, Your Majesty?" she asked.
Jiang nodded tightly. "I'm fine, just-fine."
"Here, let me clean that off," Kaguya said. She used her sleeve to wipe off Jiang's face. Jiang saw that her sleeve came away red.
"Someone get me some morphine," she heard Xingke say, "we can at least ease his passage."
His passage? Jiang looked to where Xingke stood beside the old man. His expression was grim. That man, Jiang thought, he's going to die. Jiang shoved Kaguya away from her and hurried over to the broken man.
Xingke saw her coming. "You're Majesty, please," he said, holding out his arm, "keep away, don't look."
"Get out of my way, General." Xingke looked stunned. "I will see to my subject." Xingke hesitated for a second, but seeing her hardened eyes, stepped away.
Jiang knelt down next to the dying man. "Hello there, Honored One," she said gently, smiling down at him.
The old man looked up at her. "You Majesty," he gasped, "I am unworthy of this great honor."
"Nonsense, it is I who am unworthy to speak to you," Jiang said. She took his hand in hers and rubbed the back of it in soothing circles, not entirely sure of what she was doing, but somehow knowing that it was right. "How long have those old shoulders borne your burden?"
"All my life, Your Majesty," he said.
"What is your name?"
The old man scrunched up his eyes in concentration. "It's strange Your Majesty. I can't seem to remember much of anything. Not even my name."
"Then what name would you like to carry with you into the next world?" Jiang asked.
The old man pressed his lips together. "You," he said finally, "Zhi You."
Jiang smiled wide at him. "Then go, Zhi You, and claim your freedom."
Zhi You managed a small smile that faded from his face a moment later. The light vanished from his eyes, staring forever at something that only he could see.
Jiang stood up. "Xingke, see that he gets a proper burial. It is the least the Crown may do for him."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
"As for these two," Jiang's eyes blazed with fury, "give them the gift of all regicides."
"It will be done, Your Majesty."
Jiang stood tall as her soldiers set the two men up against a wall, begging her for clemency. When the sound of gunfire ripped through the air, Jiang felt her eyes begin to burn, but she fought against them savagely.
No man should see the Empress cry.