The Empress's Dagger by Amanda Roberts

Author:Amanda Roberts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Empress Publishing

Jiayi was in terrible pain. She could barely even open her eyes as every part of her seemed to throb. She was being rocked back and forth and could hear people screaming at her. Finally, she raised her head to look around, but she could only open one eye. The other was swollen shut. The light was blinding, as though she had not seen the sun in days. She tried to raise her hand to shield her eyes, but her arms were bound fast behind her.

She cried out as she realized she was in an iron cage being rolled forward by a donkey. She was on her knees in a filthy gown covered in foul-smelling muck. The people around her shook their fists and threw cold and rotten food at her. Up ahead, she could see a raised platform—and an executioner holding a long sword.

“No!” she gasped as she realized she was being dragged to her death. The maid must have been caught after all and was about to be publicly executed for the crime. Jiayi had never died in one of her visions before. She had no idea if a death in a dream could lead to her death in real life—and she had no desire to find out.

As the donkey stopped, the iron cage lurched and she lost her balance, falling forward. The door of the cart was pulled open and a man grabbed at her ankle. Jiayi pulled her foot back and tried to scoot as far away from the man as possible.

“This is a mistake!” she said.

“Get over here!” the man said, leaping toward her and managing to get ahold of her leg. She screamed as her skin scraped against the bottom of the cart. She twisted and flailed, wanting to grab ahold of something, but her hands were bound fast.

As the man nearly dropped her to the ground, she more acutely felt the pains throughout her body. She had been beaten, starved, tortured, and raped.

“I’m sorry,” she cried, hoping the maid could hear her. “I…I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

A bystander splashed a bowl of cold noodles and soup into her face as she reached the steps to the platform. She froze in shock, but the man escorting her pushed her, causing her to trip on the lowest step and slam her arm into the wooden beams. He then grabbed her by her bound arm and jerked her to her feet, practically dragging her up the stairs.

Once she was on the platform, the people began to cheer. How could they be so happy to see a young woman put to death?

Jiayi looked around, trying to figure out what to do or say. Some way to escape. But there was no way out. The platform was surrounded by an angry mob calling for her blood. On the platform, the guard blocked the stairs, the executioner stood ready with his sword, and the Minister of Justice, who she recognized by his tall hat, motioned for her to step forward.

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