Esmeria

“Your Royal Highness, please wait!” A man hurried to catch up with the girl striding ahead of him, but his pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears. Wu Zhao, the princess of Luo Yang, continued walking with a smile, seemingly oblivious to his presence.

“Wu Zhao, please wait!” Jian Yi, her loyal bodyguard, finally caught up with her in the midst of a dirty back alley strewn with refuse.

Turning around, Wu Zhao regarded Jian Yi with a playful glint in her eye, despite her plain attire that concealed her royal identity.

“Isn’t going incognito outside the palace fun?” Her smile widened as she spoke.

“I get to see how the citizens truly feel and interact with non-royalties.”

“But it’s dangerous out here, especially heading toward that place!” his concern was evident, but Wu Zhao gently pressed a finger to his lips to silence him.

“Nuh uh, every corner of Luo Yang is a treasure, and so are its citizens,” she replied with conviction.

“We mustn’t look down on anyone.”

“But they aren’t—”

“Please, Jian Yi,” she interrupted firmly but kindly, preempting his objection.

“Prejudice breeds discontent, which leads to hatred. We must strive for understanding.”

As they emerged from the back alley into a different district, the scene unfolded with humans mingling alongside humanoid creatures.

The humanoid beings appeared gaunt and underfed, their features reminiscent of beasts, giving them an almost desperate air as they navigated the dingy streets.

As they strolled through the streets, Wu Zhao and Jian Yi witnessed a distressing scene: a group of four human children tormenting another child who appeared different from them.

The bullies had pushed the child to the ground and were in the process of stripping his clothes off.

“Take that, you mongrel!”

“Beasts like you don’t deserve to wear human clothes!” They taunted and jeered at the defenseless child, even urinating on the bread they had snatched from him.

“Go eat dog food, you dumb animal. Human food is too good for the likes of you!”

“Neh heh heh” The bullies reveled in their cruelty, enjoying their power over someone they perceived as inferior and unworthy.

Wu Zhao’s expression hardened with anger as she strode purposefully toward the group.

“Stop this bullying right now!” she commanded firmly.

The bullies glanced at her but ignored her warning, continuing their assault on the helpless child lying on the ground.

“Who are you to tell us what we can’t do?”

“Old hag should stay away or just die”

“Just shut up or we will hit you!”

“My father is Liang Sheng, lord merchant of this district!”

The children persisted in their abuse, unaware of the gravity of their words and mistaking Wu Zhao for an elderly woman due to her pale white hair.

“Wu-” Jian Yi began to intervene, but Wu Zhao signaled him to stop.

Ignoring their threats, she walked toward the apparent leader of the group, seized him by the shoulder, and swiftly turned him around. With a resounding slap across his face, she silenced the bullies.

Onlookers gasped in disbelief, knowing well that antagonizing Liang Sheng, the powerful merchant lord of their district, could only bring further misery to their already difficult lives.

“How dare you hit me! Even my father hasn’t laid a hand on me!” The leader cried out, feigning toughness despite the stinging slap.

“How does it feel to be on the receiving end?” her voice was firm, confronting him with the consequence of his actions.

“Guys, attack her!” The leader attempted to rally his friends, but their fear of Jian Yi standing behind Wu Zhao kept them at bay.

“Don’t get cocky just because you have a bodyguard! I’ll have my father make you two slaves!” The children shouted as they hastily retreated.

Wu Zhao approached the child still on the ground, extending her hand.

“Can you stand?”

The child nodded, taking her hand and rising to his feet.

“What is your name?”

“Ru’ya…”

“Big sister, you’ll get into trouble if you help me, you know…?” Ru’ya spoke softly, holding back tears.

“It matters not whom I help, as long as they are citizens of Luo Yang, even if they are beastmen.” Wu Zhao gently patted Ru’ya’s head and embraced him, offering comfort and reassurance.

“I’m dirty… your beautiful clothing will get ruined…”

“Clothing is merely a protection for the body; it does not matter if it is clean or dirty,” Wu Zhao reassured him gently.

Ru’ya sobbed, clutching Wu Zhao tighter.

“Ru’ya, let me escort you back to your home,” Wu Zhao offered kindly.

The kid nodded gratefully, and she walked him through the winding streets to his humble abode.

“Mmm… I didn’t bring much gold since we’re incognito, but this should be enough to tide him over for some time…” Wu Zhao whispered softly, handing him ten gold coins.

“Thank you, big sister, uncle, thank you…!” Ru’ya exclaimed tearfully, overwhelmed with gratitude as they approached his dilapidated home, which seemed barely habitable.

“Pft…hahaha, he called you uncle…hahaha,” Wu Zhao burst into laughter as they walked away.

“Please don’t tease me, Wu Zhao, I’m only twenty-two!” Jian Yi protested good-naturedly.

“Well, you certainly don’t look like it…hahaha,” Wu Zhao teased further, unable to stifle her amusement.

Jian Yi sighed and shook his head at her teasing antics.

“I will change this place once I ascend the throne,” Wu Zhao declared solemnly.

“The system of using Beastmen as slaves should be abolished.”

As they walked along the streets, a group of men suddenly appeared, causing other passersby to quickly scatter and hide.

“It’s her! She was the one who hit me for no reason! I want you guys to beat her up!” shouted the kid who Wu Zhao had slapped earlier, now accompanied by about twenty men who seemed eager to comply.

“Hmm, here comes a fool bringing reinforcements to soothe his wounded pride,” Wu Zhao remarked, her smile tinged with sarcasm.

“Shut up! I’ll cripple you and make you my slave!” the kid retorted angrily, further incensed by Wu Zhao’s nonchalance.

“Will you be okay?” Wu Zhao asked Jian Yi calmly.

“Even with my limited skills, I can handle this group of men alone,” Jian Yi assured her.

“Don’t let that kid escape, capture him,” Wu Zhao instructed quietly.

“Yes, your- my lady.” Jian Yi replied, careful to use a respectful term that wouldn’t reveal Wu Zhao’s true identity.

The group of men charged at Jian Yi, attacking him together, but their blows missed as he swiftly dodged and countered. With a quick move, Jian Yi disabled one man by striking his neck and then swiftly disarmed him, taking his sword.

“One down,” Jian Yi calmly declared after swiftly incapacitating the first man.

He followed with a precise strike to another man’s stomach with the sword, saying,

“Two down.”

“Three down,” he continued as another assailant swung at his back, only to meet a swift counter.

Executing a swift [Three-fold slash], Jian Yi efficiently dispatched a few more, stating,

“Seven.”

The remaining men hesitated, unsure whether to press the attack, which allowed Jian Yi to swiftly incapacitate several more. Hidden slaves, observing from their hiding place, silently cheered for him.

“...Nineteen,” Jian Yi announced a short while later, having defeated all but one of the assailants.

“Don’t move! Move and I’ll kill this girl!” The last man, seizing an opportunity, slipped past Jian Yi and held Wu Zhao hostage, demanding that Jian Yi drop his weapon.

“My lady… please do not fool around in this perilous situation,” Jian Yi cautioned calmly.

The man expected Jian Yi to back down and became confused at what he heard.

“Fine, fine…” With a swift strike of her elbow, Wu Zhao incapacitated the man, sending him sprawling.

“That’s twenty,” she remarked with a devilish smile.

After a while, all twenty men lay defeated, and both Jian Yi and Wu Zhao emerged unscathed.

“I used the back of the sword, so they aren’t in danger of dying,” Jian Yi reassured.

“Good job, mine dear bodyguard,” Wu Zhao teased, smiling as she patted his arm.

The slaves who had been hiding and watching felt a surge of relief and accomplishment at Jian Yi's actions, as if a burden had been lifted from their hearts. However, they refrained from celebrating aloud, wary of the presence of Liang Sheng, the merchant lord.

“How is this possible…?! How can one person defeat twenty men?!” the kid exclaimed in disbelief, trying to flee but halting abruptly when a sword thudded into the ground before him.

“Eeek!” Trembling, the kid involuntarily wet himself in fear.

“It’s your turn not to move, kid. The next throw will be directed toward your head instead of the ground,” Wu Zhao warned coldly, her tone carrying a chilling edge.

With his legs buckling, the kid collapsed onto the ground, his pants soaked with urine after Wu Zhao’s threat.

“Now, now, it’s time to pay a visit to your beloved father, who took such great care in raising you,” Wu Zhao continued, her voice firm as she prepared to escort the humiliated kid back to his mansion where his father resides.

‘Bang!’ The gate slammed open with a resounding force, echoing through the lavishly furnished mansion, sending a kid sprawling across the floor.

“Which scoundrel dares to invade my mansion?!” bellowed Liang Sheng, an overweight man clad in a gaudy robe, as he surveyed the scene.

His outrage turned to concern as he recognized his own son among the disarray.

“My boy! How dare they do this to you!” he thundered, his face contorted with fury as he moved toward his son, who lay on the ground.

“Papa… torture them and kill them for me…!” the boy whimpered, his voice trembling with fear and indignation, the first time his father had seen him bullied to such an extent, enraging him further.

“Pleased to meet you, Mister Merchant Lord of the slum district, whose name escapes me,” greeted Wu Zhao, offering a courteous curtsy despite the tension.

“Grr… Guards! Kill these two right now!” Liang Sheng roared, his anger unabated.

“Yes, my lord!” The guards swiftly encircled Wu Zhao and Jian Yi, brandishing their weapons menacingly.

“What a grand reception. You certainly know how to treat your guests well,” Wu Zhao remarked, a hint of mockery in her voice.

“Hold it,” Liang Sheng commanded suddenly, halting his guards in their tracks.

“What’s the matter?” Wu Zhao’s smile widened into a devilish grin as she challenged Liang Sheng.

“Capture them alive. I want to torture them, especially this girl!” Liang Sheng ordered with a vicious glint in his eye.

“Yes, my lord!” The guards surged forward, closing in on Wu Zhao and Jian Yi with intent to subdue them alive.

“Duck down.”

“Sure~” Wu Zhao swiftly crouched as instructed, while Jian Yi poised himself in a combat stance.

With a deft spin of the sword he had taken from one of the guards earlier, Jian Yi sent them all flying in one powerful swing.

Liang Sheng stumbled back, landing unceremoniously on his rear, utterly shocked at the swift defeat of his guards.

“Ai ya, what’s the matter, Mister Merchant Lord? Cat got your tongue?” Wu Zhao taunted, her tone laced with amusement.

“Y-y-y-y-you! Who are you?! Wait… that hair and eye color… don’t tell me…” Liang Sheng stuttered in realization, his face paling.

“Eeek!” His fear escalated when Jian Yi planted the sword into the ground between his legs.

“You are currently speaking to the Princess of Luo Yang,” Jian Yi declared calmly, his voice carrying the weight of authority.

Liang Sheng scrambled to his feet and immediately began prostrating himself before Wu Zhao.

“Now, now, let’s tally your transgressions,” Wu Zhao continued, pacing in front of him.

“One, disrespecting the royal princess. Two, threatening the royal princess. Three, assaulting the royal princess. Four, attempted murder of the royal princess. What else, mmm?” she walked back and forth in front of Liang Sheng while slowly counting with her fingers the number of crimes he committed.

“P-please spare me, Your Royal Highness!” Liang Sheng pleaded, still prostrating himself on the ground.

“Mmm… Oh, your child did the same thing too! So, double the amount,” Wu Zhao remarked casually.

“Jian Yi, what are the punishments for these?” she inquired, turning to her bodyguard.

“My Lady, I believe it would be the death penalty,” Jian Yi responded evenly.

“Please have mercy, Your Royal Highness! Please spare my life!” Liang Sheng implored desperately.

“Mmm… What should I do?” Wu Zhao pondered aloud, her expression unreadable.

“Death penalty…” Wu Zhao reiterated solemnly.

Liang Sheng started to sweat profusely, imagining the gruesome fate awaiting him.

“Would be a punishment too light for you, you will work under me or be sent to get dismemberment by five horses, what will you choose, mister merchant lord?”

“I will work under you, Your Royal Highness! I will dedicate my lowly life to serving you!” Liang Sheng quickly chose the first option without hesitation.

“Very well. First, release all the slaves. Pay them fair wages if they choose to remain in your service. Treat them as equals to any other human,” Wu Zhao commanded firmly.

“Y-yes, Your Royal Highness! And what about my wretched son who offended you?” Liang Sheng asked meekly, bowing his head again under Jian Yi’s stern gaze.

“You will ensure he learns proper manners and respect. Any further indiscretions, and he will be assigned to manual labor,” Wu Zhao replied decisively.

“Thank you, Your Royal Highness, thank you! I will heed your counsel. My son will learn respect for all, not just towards Your Royal Highness,” Liang Sheng vowed earnestly.

“You are not to mention to anybody that she is the princess, any information leaked will be off with your head!”

“Y-yes, I shall bear this in mind!”

“My lady, please do not endanger yourself in the future!” Jian Yi's concern echoed again as they walked through the streets, drawing bewildered gazes from onlookers who recognized Wu Zhao as the one who subdued the merchant lord.

After a brief pause, Jian Yi spoke again. “Wu Zhao, please do not endanger yourself in the future!”

“Ah, were you talking to me just now?” She turned around with a playful smile.

“Yes, I was,” Jian Yi replied seriously.

“Why did you let him live?”

Wu Zhao’s smile widened.

“As I said before, every citizen of Luo Yang is a treasure. Isn’t it fun to experience life incognito outside the palace?” She continued strolling along the bustling streets, Jian Yi trailing behind, still trying to process the events that had unfolded.