Author's Note: This chapter contain some intense and traumatic scenes that might be uncomfortable to some readers. It is not my intention as a writer to be unsensitive regarding these topics. Readers discretion is advised upon reading this chapter. Thank you.  

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"Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden."

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"Your highness the man seating on the white horse upfront is your husband."

"Dijun?" Feng Jiu excitedly expressed. Feng Jiu's hopes were awarded when she saw that the man on the white horse was her beloved husband Song Xuanren Dijun. He was alive and was asking for her return. Her heart skipped a beat when she was able to recognize him from afar.

"Your highness it is best to go back to your chambers before the guards notice that we are missing, and things get more complicated."

"I want to run to him now!" Feng Jiu broke her maid grip and ran as fast as she could towards the gates. Unfortunately, she was caught by the guards.

"Let me go, Dijun, Dijun right here, I'm right here!!!" She screamed her heart out.

Song Xuanren heard her voice. "If you lay a finger on her, I will burn the entire city with you on it Yin Zheng. Let her go now! This is my last warning."

The guards took Feng Jiu by force and brought her to Wen Chang. He immediately ordered his guards to let her go. "Li'er, do you really want to go back to Song Xuanren?" He earnestly asked her.

"I don't belong to you , I'm not your wife. You made me believed that I was married to you."

"I know, but Li'er you are the queen of my heart; I sincerely care for you. If you go back, I'm afraid that I will not see you again." Wen Chang sadly told her.

"What makes you think that you will see me again? Obviously, I'm not your queen and you will not claim Chen Yu as your own. All that you did for me was to gain favor and power. I'm not a pawn to be played on a gameboard." Feng Jiu angrily replied.

"No, you're not, Li'er and whoever made you believed that is wrong. I sincerely care about you and I want you to be happy." Wen Chang pleaded.

"Then let me go and I'll be happy."

"But I know that you will not be happy. I know my tigress well" Wen Chang delicately held her hands.

"Why you say that?" Feng Jiu confusedly asked him.

Wen Chang met her eyes and tenderly said: "What is good and bad, sweet Li'er are in the eye of the beholder. Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections. You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future." Wen Chang told her.

Feng Jiu could sense truth in his words however she wanted to part ways with him "Let me go, Yin Zheng think about your people. They don't deserve to die because of me. I will talk to Song Xuanren to retrieve our army and leave in peace before he goes on a killing spree. You are a king, and your people depend on you now more than ever. Stop this war now and let me go. I will be all right. I won't forget how you took care of me when I needed it the most. For that I will be eternally grateful. But this needs to end Yin Zheng, my heart belongs to another."

Wen Chang closed his eyes realizing that the day he most dreaded came at last. "Know this Li'er, if you ever need my help in anything, I will be here for you. Our kingdoms will always be at war for reasons beyond your knowledge. Today Song Xuanren wins, tomorrow who knows? Please take care of yourself and remember that my palace and my heart will always have a place for you. Send me a missive if you ever need me and I will do the impossible to help you. That is a promise Li'er." He gently kissed her hands. "Now go"

Feng Jiu didn't understand his words. But was at ease that he agreed to free her. "Thank your majesty." She bowed to him and turned around and left him. The front gates opened, and Feng Jiu ran in the direction to her beloved. Wen Chang sadly saw her beloved leaving. "If you only knew Li'er." He mentally said.

Song Xuanren opened up his arms and met hers. "Dijun, you came for me" Feng Jiu cried at his embrace.

"Of course, I came for my queen" Song Xuanren told her. He looked at Feng Jiu and caressed her face "Come let's go home." He placed Feng Jiu on his horse and got up with her. They rode off from Qin leaving behind a heartbroken king with his city and palace. Feng Jiu felt right at home in her husband embrace. She closed her eyes and smiled. "At last we are together now"

They continue their trip until they arrived at Chen Yu's palace. Everyone was waiting for their queen return. It was a victorious occasion. Dijun grabbed her hand and entered the palace together. Many beautiful women bowed to her when she entered the throne room. "Who are they husband?" Feng Jiu curiously asked.

"They are my consorts" Song Xuanren said.

"Consorts?" She was being skeptical.

"Yes, my queen. They are all happy that you are back. Now you can resume your duties and take care of them."

"I thought that we agreed on not having a harem." She replied at him.

"When did we made that arrangement? Hmm. You know how important is to leave heirs for Chen Yu, so far you haven't been able to give me one. You were gone for almost a year now, so I had to secure a future heir on the throne in case..."

Feng Jiu's heart pained. She looked at her husband eyes and faked a smile "Of course Dijun. I understand. If you excuse me, I need to refresh myself. I'm tired from the trip."

"That is totally understandable, your room is ready for you. Anything that you need just tell the maids to get it for you. I will see you later. I will stay for the banquet." Song Xuanren told her.

"My room? I thought...I mean... we don't share one?" Feng Jiu asked him confused.

"Of course, we don't, we never had. Are you all right?" furrowed his brows. Men Li please accompany your mistress and tend to her, she needs to rest"

"Yes Dijun." Men Li bowed to him. "This way your highness."

"Please excuse me with our guests." Feng Jiu left the throne room sad. "Something is off here, Dijun is not the same with me anymore."

"Your highness needs a warm bath, let me prepare you one."

"Thank you, Men Li,"

Feng Jiu soaked for a while on the bathtub trying to recollect her thoughts. "Ever since I came back, Dijun has not hold me or kissed me. What is going on here? And now he has all these consorts?" "Maybe I'm overreacting, we haven't got the time to be alone. I will wait for him."

Nighttime came and Feng Jiu was exhausted, she felt asleep waiting for Song Xuanren to come to her room. She woke up early in morning. She called Men Li to show her Dijun's chambers. Men Li took her to his room. Feng Jiu opened the door and walked to his bedroom only to find him with another woman in his embrace.

"Ji Heng!!! What is she doing here? Dijun!!!" She shouted.

He opened his eyes and saw Feng Jiu's angry stare. "I waited on you last night, now I know why you never showed up. What is she doing here?" She pointed at Ji Heng.

"She is my consort; she has the right to be here." Song Xuanren blatantly answered her.

"Oh since when?" Feng Jiu shouted.

"How dare you come to my chambers uninvited." Song Xuanren angrily told her.

Feng Jiu was livid "Answer me Dijun since when? I don't need an invitation to come to my husband's room!!!, YOU GET OUT NOW!!!!" Feng Jiu angrily glared at Ji Heng.

Ji Heng gathered her clothes and quickly ran outside his room.

"You can't barge into my room and dismiss my consorts from my bed. What is wrong with you?" Song Xuanren said.

"I will barge to your room any time I want, and I don't need permission from you or anybody else to dismiss anyone I please to dismiss. I patiently waited for you and here you are entertaining another. You quickly backed out from your promise to me. I'm your queen, I just got back. Don't you care about me anymore?" Feng Jiu's anger was building up.

Song Xuanren looked at her in disbelief. "You have never been like this with me? So rude and disrespectful."

"Rude and disrespectful?" Feng Jiu raised an eyebrow at Song Xuanren and angrily slapped his face.

"Is this the welcoming that I receive from my husband? You build a harem behind my back, against your promise, faked your death and left me for almost a year in another kingdom so you can have the time to entertain your carnal desires with the excuse of producing an heir to throne and brought Ji Heng to your bed???? And on top of that you are accusing me of being rude and disrespectful???

Why did you wage war against Yin Zheng to turn around and hurt me like this? Tell me Dijun when did I failed you? Am I that despicable in your eyes that you need to have other women to satisfy your needs? Speak to me!!! Feng Jiu clenched her fists.

"Li'er calm down." Song Xuanren serenely said to her.

"Li'er??? Who am I to you Dijun?"

"You are my queen and a feisty and jealous one with a mean right hand I shall add." He touched his face and smiled. "Only you dare to slap my face."

"Are you mocking me?" Feng Jiu got close to his face and challenged him.

Song Xuanren got up and strongly grabbed her arms. "I will show you not to challenge me again." He pushed her to his bed and forcibly got on top of her. "Since you are being aggressive and came to see me because you miss me, I will let you have what you came for." His eyes full of rage met hers.

"Let me go you monster. You will not touch me again." Feng Jiu was struggling to free herself from his strong grip.

"Want to bet? You are my wife, and I will do as I please with you. You think that I will let you have your way with me? Oh you are gravely mistaken! You need to learn to respect me and I will gladly give you a lesson my dear wife". Song Xuanren ripped Feng Jiu's chemise to expose her nakedness. "My wife is surely beautiful."

Feng Jiu fought hard but Song Xuanren was stronger than her. She tried to free herself by kicking him relentlessly, but he slapped her face hard, numbing her senses. He then tied her hands and feet to the bed posts, gagged her, and took her several times having his way with her. After he was satisfied, he cut her ties to let her rest. "That's more like it. Finally, my feisty wife turned submissive." Song Xuanren wickedly smiled at her condition.

"You miserable coward you will pay for this!!!" Feng Jiu clawed onto his robe to reveal his bare chest. She saw that he was not showing her imprinting mark. "Who the hell is he?"

"I had enough of you GET OUT!!! And never barge to my room again! The next time you try I will not be so lenient with you!" He threw her out of his room bare naked.

Feng Jiu laid at floor humiliated and hurt. She was bleeding. "That was not Dong Hua, what have I done!!!" She cried inconsolably. The maids saw her mistress naked on the floor, they came and quickly covered her. They carried Feng Jiu to her chambers. Men Li called the physician to tend to Feng Jiu's injuries. She was badly beaten.

"Who did this to you my queen?" The physician asked her. Feng Jiu looked at him and tears came down from her face. "Song Xuanren" she weakly answered. The royal physician lowered his head and held her hand. "I will prescribe something for the pain and the swelling. You need to rest your highness. I will come in later to check on you." He got up and left her side.

Men Li accompanied the doctor. "This is the first time that his majesty has behaved like this. I'm afraid for my mistress life." Men Li whispered to the doctor.

"I am too. I pledge my services to her highness, if she needs help, let me know what I can do to assist her. Don't leave her alone and make sure she gets rest; she doesn't look good. I will be back later." The doctor told Men Li.

Men Li returned to her room only to find Feng Jiu asleep. She stayed by her side for a while and then left to bring her something to eat. Feng Jiu finally was able to open her eyes only to see a familiar face next to her.

"Si Ming, what are you doing here?" Feng Jiu halfheartedly asked him.

"Dihou, I'm here to see you." Si Ming sadly said looking at her beaten form.

"Where is Dong Hua? Why he hasn't come?" Feng Jiu weakly asked Si Ming.

"He is being held off by a higher power, preventing him to get to you."

"Did he send you?"

"Yes, he did your highness. But I'm also here for another issue."

"Tell me"

"The man who did this to you is a puppet created by Miao Lou. He is not the real Song Xuanren. Miao Lou has Ji Heng here to guarantee that her plan will succeed. Dijun was supposed to take Song Xuanren body but he couldn't. You will face a painful death your highness since you failed to complete your love trial with Lord Wen Chang. That is your punishment decreed by heaven for deceiving fate. I'm sorry Dihou, but Dijun is not able to come right now. He's fighting hard to get to you." Si Ming told her.

"Is he in trouble?" Feng Jiu asked worryingly.

"Yes, but don't worry, he will overcome it. You two will be reunited again soon. That is all I'm allowed to share with you right now."

"Painful death huh?"

"I'm sorry Dihou. After this, your ascension trial waits for you at Qing Qui. Dijun will help you with your ascension."

"Thank you, Si Ming."

"Rest Dihou it will be over soon" Si Ming placed a sleeping enhancement on her and put some medicine on her water to speed up her healing. He was truly worried about her condition. "If Dijun sees what happened to her I don't want to imagine what he will do." Si Ming disappeared on a mist.

Feng Jiu woke up to see that her maid was laying down on the floor next to her. "Men Li, wake up"

"Your highness, how are you feeling?"

"I'm still sore but not as bad as yesterday."

"Your highness you been sleeping for a week."

"A week? Si Ming must have given me some medicine" she thought.

"Yes. The physician came to check on you the first day but was not able to accomplish a complete exam because you were sleeping. Your bruises are healing well, and your face is back to normal. Are you hungry my highness?"

"Yes, I am, before you go, get my sword Men Li. I have a feeling that I will use it."

"I hid it underneath your pillow your highness. Please be careful, I will bring you something to eat and will let alert the physician that you are awake."

"Thank you, Men Li, I will be all right."

Feng Jiu placed her hand under her pillow to feel her sword. She sat on her bed and inhale some air. "At least I don't have any crack ribs." "Dong Hua I'm worried about you. I know that Fate will do anything in her power to separate us. Look what happened to me. I hope Si Ming will not tell him this. I don't know what he will do to this realm if he finds out."

Men Li came back with a tray of food. "Here your highness be careful."

"Thank you, Men Li, you have been good to me." Feng Jiu held her hand.

"I worry about your health mistress, if you want to escape this place let me know, I have someone who can help us. But you need to get strong first to withstand an escape."

Feng Jiu nodded at Men Li. She ate her food and took a bath. After her bath, she felt better. "Men Li please accompany me outside to get some fresh air. I want to see the flowers."

Feng Jiu went outside her courtyard and found a small retinue of soldiers guarding her place. "What are you doing here?" Feng Jiu asked them.

"We are following our majesty orders your highness. Today is the new queen coronation and were told not to let you leave your courtyard." One of the guards said.

"So your coward emperor dared to strip my title without letting me know. Typical tyrant."

"We are sorry your highness, we value your life, we don't want to harm you" The guard said.

"Don't worry. I will not do nothing stupid. I'm only going for a stroll to see the flowers" Feng Jiu kept casually walking around her courtyard to get familiarized with the place.

"Men Li, I wrote a missive to Yin Zheng asking him for help, I want you to use your contact and deliver this for me, be discreet."

"Yes your highness."

Feng Jiu sat on a bench near a pond to admire the flowers. The guards saw that she was alone and let her be.

"Why my life must be so complicated? I will not desist on my happiness. Dong Hua and I will be together and face whatever we need to face together." One of the guards disrupted her silence. "Your highness, you have been summoned to the throne room by his majesty. We were told to use force if it needs to, but we respect you enough not to even touch you. We are aware that you been treated unkindly but I'm just following orders here. May your highness let us escort you."

She long sighed and got up. "Very well let's go and get this over with."

Feng Jiu was mentally preparing herself to whatever Song Xuanren has in mind. They finally arrived at the throne room only to see that his new queen was Ji Heng. She was seating next to Song Xuanren with a triumphal smile. The coronation ceremony ended they were enjoying the banquet. The hall was full of Chen Yu' officials and council members. Her dignified posture filled the hall with wonder. Everyone started to murmur at her. She sensed that her time was near.

"Madame Li'er, I summoned you here so you could meet my new queen. Given the fact that your health is better I decided to invite you as part of the festivities. I know how much you love celebrations, so I made an exception today. Everyone has welcomed my new queen except you. Address your highness just like the rest of my consorts have done." Song Xuanren demanded.

Feng Jiu didn't move at all. This was going to be her last defiant act as a true queen.

"Li'er you heard me, don't make this difficult." Song Xuanren warned her.

Feng Jiu looked around the court and regally said: "Let me remind this court of the qualities of a true queen: A true queen is also a very capable leader, in which ever environment she is in. A true queen as a leader she is benevolent, compassionate, and inclusive, keen to be receptive to the needs of her subjects. She rules with kindness but also with a firmness and strength, not tolerating those who act against her and seeking retribution against those who invoker her wrath. Her people understand her strengths and respond to them with loyalty and respect. When this woman sitting next to his majesty develops those qualities then you should address her as such. Otherwise she is just a bed warmer to please his majesties carnal desires with ornaments to make her look pretty."

Song Xuanren scoffed at Feng Jiu. "You really know how to deliver a speech my dear wife, but my patience is running low, what will it take for you to properly address your highness hmm? Is just a bow that's all you need to do."

"Then you bow to her and kiss her feet, if you are able to do that, then I will bow" Feng Jiu openly mocked him

"That is enough Li'er!!!" He got up from his seat and came close to Feng Jiu. He took her face in his big hand and sneered at her. "You will do as I said!"

"I will not!" She took his hand off her face and met his glare. "I have lost all respect towards you the moment that you put a hand on me. You are a coward imposing your authority on those who are weak, especially defenseless women that you abuse for your pleasure. Mark my words, your reign is coming to an end. Even if I die today, you will all remember my words."

She turned around to leave the court room when she felt a piercing on her back. Ji Heng shoot an arrow that pierced her heart. She turned around to see who it was then closed her eyes and fell on the floor.

"She is losing too much blood", she could hear voices around her. Feng Jiu was phasing in and out of conscience. "Her pulse is too weak. Stay with me, stay with me, fight for your life, don't leave me."

"Dijun, Dijun" Feng Jiu faint voice was calling her beloved.

Feng Jiu opened her eyes. "Where am I?"

"You are in a hospital. You are lucky to be alive." The nurse told her.

"Hospital, what happened to me?" Feng Jiu was looking at her arms that were connected to several machines. She felt pain all over her body.

"You were ran over by car, the driver got away. Lucky another driver that saw the accident stopped and helped you. It turns out he is a doctor and works in this hospital. He's the best of the best"

"Accident, Doctor, who?"

"Dr. Dijun."