My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

The words were spoken plainly, without twists or turns, without sidelong insinuations. The palace maids within the building were as silent as cicadas in winter. The room was eerily quiet, and the old, nameless matron stood motionless, her gaze fixed on the ground, her composure unbroken. Even the snow outside seemed to grow hurried in pace under the tension wrought by the elegantly dressed woman's words.

The plump, slug-like figure of the woman quivered uncontrollably. Her body, soft and fleshy, now resembled the ceaseless waves of the sea. The wine cup in her hand fell to the ground with a sharp crash.

She hurriedly picked up the wine cup, her body nearly stiffened in its chair.

Cold wind swept in from outside, carrying with it an imperial majesty. Min Ming didn't even dare to shrink back. Her head hung low, bowed so deeply that if not for Empress An forbidding her to kneel days earlier, she would've already dropped to her knees and prostrated herself flat against the ground to beg forgiveness.

Common folk cannot withstand even the dragon chariot of the Heavenly Family. As for her—a woman whose life was as fragile as paper—facing such questioning from Empress An, how could she remain unmoved?

Empress An cast an icy, disdainful gaze upon this woman, who was so weak as to lack even a shred of dignity. Little wonder the lustful wretch wouldn't lay a finger on her.

"A fine woman famed throughout Capital City—why, can't you even respond?"

Empress An sneered, her gaze wandering over her body, pausing at the soft, plump flesh that even she herself could not compare to. Then, in a cold voice, she said:

"What an alluring shell you have. It's a pity about what lies within. Why don't you tell me…"

Min Ming raised her delicate face slightly and presented it before Empress An. She was not unlovely—in Empress An's eyes, she might have been comparable to herself in her youth, albeit falling short by two or three degrees. But this woman's figure, it was especially ripe and matured. If not for the calamity that had befallen the Min family, it was likely that at fourteen years of age, the streets would have been crowded with carriages and horses of suitors coming to propose marriage.

Seeing Min Ming's prolonged silence, the old matron finally spoke in a deep voice: "Reply!"

Under the gaze of both women, Min Ming's hands trembled violently. Clutching the jade wine cup tightly, she dared not remain silent any longer:

"Your Majesty, this humble girl is naught but a lump of cold stone inside, unworthy to compare to the many women your Majesty has seen, much less those who could be called beauties..."

Upon hearing these words, Empress An's expression not only failed to soften, her willow-shaped brows rose in irritation, revealing an anger that was difficult to hide:

"Ah, not a beauty then? Truly, you claim you are not a beauty? In that case, does your younger sister Min Ning count as a beauty?"

Min Ming's entire body stiffened, and she could no longer heed Empress An's previous orders. With a thud, she fell kneeling from her chair, hurriedly pleading:

"All sins—all blame—let them fall upon me alone. I beg your Majesty—I beg your Majesty to spare Min Ning…"

"Blame, is it?"

Seeing her kneel, Empress An's tone grew heavier instead. She lifted her wine cup and strolled leisurely, circling Min Ning.

"E Huang and Nü Ying, who shared one husband—indeed, theirs was a tale of beauty and harmony. In the future, you will both be sealed as titled noblewomen within the palace. Do you call this blame? Are you saying I, Empress An, am an unfeeling demon?"

Min Ming pressed herself lower still against the ground, unable to breathe under the oppressive gaze of those phoenix-like eyes.

Crash.

Wine splashed over her head, soaking her hair.

Min Ming still dared not lift her head, her forehead pressed against the floor, letting the wine drip and flow freely.

Empress An's gaze grew cold. The seasoned old matron, who had served the Grand Empress Dowager for decades, caught a faint glimmer of killing intent.

Thus, the old matron chastised sharply:

"Her Majesty's painstaking efforts—how can you, foolish wretch, not awaken to them?!"

A voice broke out suddenly; Min Ming lifted her head abruptly and saw the expression of utter disappointment on the face of the nation's Empress Dowager. In that instant, her heart realized something, and she frantically replied:

"This humble girl—this humble girl is guilty!"

"Where lies your guilt?" Empress An's brows showed no relaxation.

"My guilt—my guilt lies in the face of the Heavenly Family… in lacking self-respect, and degrading myself." Min Ming stammered out.

Only then did the anger on Empress An's face subside slightly. She turned away, leaving behind a simple command:

"Rise."

Min Ming trembled as she stood, and at Empress An's signal, she tried to sit carefully once more. But terror seemed to seize her; she stumbled, falling heavily into her chair.

Smack.

The sound rang clear upon her landing, and Empress An squinted slightly in thought.

To ease the tension, the old matron chuckled and said:

"A loud tumble means good upbringing—there's sense in the crude sayings of the common folk."

Min Ming's pale cheeks flushed red at these words.

Empress An studied the silent woman closely, then said pointedly:

"Aren't you going to refute that statement?"

The courtesan's face turned pale again, and after catching her breath, before Empress An could speak further, she blushed furiously and said:

"Perhaps—perhaps Chen Qianhu dislikes pounding drums…"

These words brought about a moment of silence before one of the palace maids couldn't help but stifle a laugh. The old matron laughed along as well.

Even Empress An curved her lips slightly but refrained from laughing outright, instead beckoning a maid to pour wine.

Min Ming's wine-soaked hair still dripped as her face burned crimson. Her earlier words were a jest commonly murmured between brothel women.

After the laughter within the building faded, Min Ming's ears were greeted by Empress An's voice once again.

"Did you find fault with what I just said?" Empress An asked evenly.

Min Ming froze momentarily, then shook her head and replied: "How dare I feel discontent?"

Empress An frowned again and said: "Even a clay Bodhisattva holds three parts fire; but you, you lack even that?"

Min Ming didn't know how to respond; facing the authority of the Heavenly Family, her mind became muddled with uncertainty, not even knowing where her words might go astray.

Seeing this, Empress An sighed softly and said:

"You—aside from that extra flesh—fall short in every other regard."

"Your Majesty's criticism is correct…"

"Don't always tell me I'm correct. At least refute me a little, so I know whether I'm truly correct."

"..."

Min Ming remained unable to answer. Having fallen into the ranks of the low-born, even encountering the daughters of respectable families left her bowing her head; how then could she bear the direct scrutiny of the Great Yu's Empress Dowager? Now, faced with repeated admonishments, how could she possibly endure?

Seeing that the woman had reverted to self-loathing once more, wallowing in her own degradation, Empress An interrogated coldly:

"A fine appearance you have, yet within, are you this spineless, swayed by mere breezes?"

Min Ming feared her like a tiger, trembling all over. This time, she seemed to learn some cleverness and feebly argued back:

"Your Majesty, this humble girl is but a courtesan. Seeing your Majesty's august presence, I feel ashamed. To even reply—it requires courage as bold as heaven itself."

At last, Empress An appeared slightly satisfied, though inwardly she remained disappointed. She had harbored high hopes for Min Ming, only to find them dashed by the woman's profound self-abasement. A woman like this, even if admitted into that man's residence, would hardly manage a single word against him; she would surely ruin Empress An's meticulous plans.

Indeed, Empress An could see clearly that Min Ming's feelings of degradation ran deep—rooted firmly in her very bones.

Were it not so, this courtesan wouldn't have been scared witless by Chen Yi's words, nor would she have harbored thoughts of self-destruction in anticipation of his retaliation—and even carried that same disdain toward her own sister, Min Ning.

"The palace redeemed you from your past—you are no longer bound to disgrace." Empress An said flatly.

Min Ming froze in surprise, unable even to kneel and offer thanks for the boundless imperial grace.

Empress An stepped before her, speaking coldly:

"Sit down. With no outsiders present, there's no need to kneel."

Min Ming's knees felt weak; she almost wanted to kneel in gratitude for the order 'no need to kneel,' her bottom already lifting from the chair.

"Useless as sludge!"

Empress An finally seemed to lose her patience. Over the past few days, she had allowed the woman to accompany her closely with the sole aim of dissolving Min Ming's sense of awe toward imperial authority.

With a crisp slap, she struck Min Ming's pale cheek, leaving it bright red.

Smack!

The sting swept across her face, leaving Min Ming dazed, dumbly staring into those phoenix-like, furious eyes.

"How I mistreat and humiliate you—would you dare to lash out?"

Min Ming saw that lofty, noble face now contorted with anger.

"Would you dare? Would you dare?"

If that man were to treat you today as I have—mistreating and humiliating you—would you dare to lash out then?!"

The words struck her like sharp thorns. Min Ming's face turned ghastly pale, and tears began streaming uncontrollably from her eyes. She trembled violently but still could not muster a reply.

Empress An's patience seemed thoroughly spent. Turning to her attendants, she commanded:

"Take her. Strip her, seal her pressure points, bind her, and throw her into Chen Qianhu's courtyard to await his return. Oh, and strip Min Ning as well. Apply the proper medications to both!"

At the mention of her sister, Min Ming finally reacted, her voice hoarse as she cried out:

"Dare—I dare! This humble girl dares!"

A ruler regards his subjects as weeds—then subjects regard their ruler as a foe! Your Majesty mistreats and humiliates me now; this humble girl can only regard your Majesty as an enemy!"

The exalted Empress turned, raising her hand to stop the approaching palace maids.

"In that case, you administer the medicine yourself. As for where—choose for yourself."

Min Ming bowed her head, murmuring faintly in response:

"This humble girl obeys the command."

She naturally understood what that medicine was.

Empress An stepped lightly away, softly brushing the bright red handprint upon Min Ming's cheek. She tilted the girl's lowered face upward gently.

"This slap,

let it remain, endure it."

If you have the strength—"

return it to me."