From the room of the noble palace, a faint, whispering-like song could be heard.
Empress Xinfa, scorched by the poison of fire, hummed the song as if to hold on to her fading consciousness. It was an ancient song.
“…Xinfa.”
Someone had arrived in the scorching chamber.
Dressed in luxurious embroidered robes, it was the Emperor. His head, speckled with white hair, hung low as he knelt beside the Empress. He reached out his arm toward the Empress, who was lying down.
“Ah, is it truly burning… What a terrible thing.”
“…Please do not touch.”
The Empress stopped singing and lifted her gaze.
“You must not let the Emperor hurt his fingers. Even if you burn yourself, this poison cannot be undone.”
Her words were not fitting for one addressing the Emperor. But perhaps because of this, the tone of her words was gentle.
“I’m sorry, Xinfa… I couldn’t protect you.”
The Empress looked at the Emperor and narrowed her eyes with affection.
“It’s all right. I will soon be able to detoxify. That girl consumes poison. She is the dwelling place of the phoenix. Hehe… It was good that I didn’t have her executed, just as I said.”
With a soft voice, she continued the song, weaving its next verse.
“She is like the bamboo fruit. But she still lacks enough poison to ripen. The poison you’ve been giving her, my dear, is not enough.”
Her translucent eyes reflected the aged Emperor. The Emperor spoke in a trembling voice, almost as if clinging to her.
“Everything you say is a divine prophecy. I will do whatever you wish. If you want that girl, I will give her to you at any time. So please, stay by my side.”
“Yes, I will stay. I will forgive you for not being able to protect me from the poison… Hehe, I will forgive you. Only I can forgive you… only me.”
The flower that bloomed at the top of the harem smiled. So calmly, it seemed impossible that it was being consumed by the burning poison. It was as if it was showering equal love to all.
