Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 111252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“Who says the emperor has not completed a new Dragon Scroll since the passing of Crown Prince Ju?” Jiang Chong grinned as he lifted his free hand. “I held it in my hand and passed it along to the head eunuch just the other day.”
“What? Why hasn’t it been announced?” Liu An demanded.
“I’m afraid the emperor remains skeptical of the skills of the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Guangling,” Jiang Chong corrected, using the formal titles of the emperor’s two eldest sons.
The four conspirators twisted to stare at each other as they took in Jiang Chong’s words. A mocking smile continued to play on the vampire’s lips, chilling Xiang to his core. He had no doubt that what Jiang Chong said was the truth. He alone held the emperor’s full trust.
“I-I don’t understand,” Luo Jia Wei stammered. “If Emperor Wu doesn’t wish to make Liu Dan or Liu Xu the next crown prince, whose name is on the Dragon Scroll?”
“You can’t mean Liu Fuling!” Xiang’s father gasped. “The child hasn’t even reached his sixth birthday yet. The emperor’s health is far too fragile for him to remain alive long enough to guide the youngest prince to his majority. A regent would need to be named—”
Jiang Chong’s deep sleeves swung out like a pair of black wings as he placed his hands before him and bowed to the small gathering. “Regent Huo Guang, at your service. I am prepared to guide the nation and oversee the training of the young crown prince until he is of proper age to ascend to the Dragon Throne as the next emperor.”
The fierce howl of the wind was the only thing to break the suffocating silence of the room, as it rushed past the windows and battered the walls. Winter’s cold reached in to freeze Xiang’s thoughts. Jiang Chong, in a new disguise, was going to claim the title of regent? He was going to be running the nation?
This felt…wrong.
Frightening for all the people of their nation.
But it was the will of the emperor. Xiang’s one job now was to protect the emperor and carry out his will.
As he straightened, Jiang Chong huffed a laugh and added, “You need not worry about the new crown prince’s mother. Emperor Wu has already ordered that Consort Zhao will not live to see his last days. After suffering under the thumb of the Grand Empress Dowager Dou at the beginning of his reign, he does not wish for the crown prince to fight a similar battle for power with his mother.”
Jiang Chong clapped his hands together, the sharp sound seeming to startle the gathering of conspirators from their thoughts. “But you won’t have to worry about the future of the Dragon Throne or this nation for another moment.” He placed his hands together so that they were lost within the voluminous sleeves and turned his head to Xiang on his right. “Complete your duty to your emperor,” he commanded, his voice colder than the icy wind still crying outside the building.
Xiang stepped forward, his fist tightening on the hilt of his sword. His step hesitated for a heartbeat when he felt a tug on his sleeve, reminding him that Junjie was still holding on to him. But on the next step, Junjie moved around him, approaching the men standing on the left.
Lifting his sword, he stared deep into his father’s pale-brown eyes. Nearly a decade had passed since he’d last stood before this man. There were more lines crisscrossing his face, reaching out from his eyes and bracketing the thin lips of his mouth. Gray hairs filled his temples where his hair had been pure black not that long ago. Even his figure was fuller now with middle age, as if the hard man had softened with luxury and excess from living within the imperial capital.
Regardless of his reasons, no one had a right to sway the mind of the emperor regarding the heir to the throne. The emperor’s will represented heaven’s will, not man’s.
His father was just a man.
And now he was a traitor.
“I was raised to be the protector of the Dragon Throne. We are the emperor’s blades.”
When he lowered his sword, hot blood splashed across his face and the light faded from his father’s eyes, but neither touched the coldness that had settled over his soul.
1 A-die – father. Sounds like AH-dee-ah
2 -er – an addition to a name to signify a close relationship. Often added to a child’s given name by parents
Chapter 1
Li Xiang
July, 2023
Adragon’s hoard.
He was trapped in an actual dragon’s hoard.
This was ridiculous.
Okay, so his cage was exquisite. Stunning and rare furniture filled the cavern. Rich fabrics and rugs were everywhere, providing comfort and warmth. Glittering gems were on every surface. There were even weapons!
Not that he wanted to use them and risk tarnishing their brilliance—but still, he had a chance of protecting himself.