Page 3 of Empire's Curse

“And why are you here?” Daiyu stepped forward, even as Lanfen tried pulling her back. She stopped until she was in front of the man and peered up at him with narrowed eyes. “We have done nothing to warrant the emperor’s men charging in here?—”

“We are here on orders to bring one of you to the palace.” His gaze flicked from Daiyu to Lanfen, and then to the rest of their family. “We heard a beautiful young woman lives here. Someone eligible for the royal selection.”

Father came forward, his voice soft. “Please, we have nothinghere for you. You must have mistaken us for someone else. Please leave.”

One of the guards snorted. “We’re not leaving without the woman.” He jerked a thumb at Lanfen. “I think she’s the one.”

Lanfen gasped, and Daiyu shielded her with her body. “What do you mean?”

“The royal selection,” the guard said with a huff, sounding annoyed. “We’re to round up all the beautiful women in the nearby villages.”

“No.” Qianfan, her little brother, ran to stand between Daiyu and the guards. He balled his hands into fists. “I won’t let you take her away!”

The older guard’s eyes narrowed as he stared down at him. “Do you know what you’re saying, boy?”

Qianfan’s lower lip trembled. “I won’t let you!”

The tension in the room thickened and one of the soldiers placed a hand on the pommel of his sword. “Are you saying you wish to go against the emperor’s orders?”

Mother began sobbing, and Father looked as pale as snow. Her other brother, Ran, stilled as the implications seemed to set in. Going against the emperor meant death, even for a child. The emperor’s words and his orders were absolute. Their entire family could be put to death for refusing.

Daiyu touched her brother’s shoulder and pushed him behind her as well until the only thing standing between the guards and her siblings was her.

She squared her shoulders. “We aren’t going against the emperor’s orders. We will comply. However”—her voice trembled—“take me instead of my sister. She’s too young?—”

“Afraid we can’t do that, miss.” The guard stared down at her. “You’re too old and not much to look at compared to your little sister right there.”

Daiyu stilled; she had always been told she was beautiful, but it was true that Lanfen was much prettier than her. But to be told that she was too old? She was only twenty-four! Definitelynot too old. These men didn’t seem to like her, though. She could tell by the way they were looking around the room, likely irritated by her lack of compliance.

“Please,” she whispered, stepping closer. “I’m still young and unmarried! I’m better suited than my sister. Please take me instead.”

“No,” the younger guard snapped. “The emperor doesn’t want an old woman like you.”

“But—”

The man reached forward and took a hold of Lanfen’s shoulder and yanked her forward. Lanfen screamed, and Daiyu grabbed the guard’s arm. “Please! Take me instead!”

“Back off!” One of the guards shoved her and she slammed to the floor.

Qianfan cried, holding on to Daiyu as two of the guards took Lanfen. The older of the guards stared down at Daiyu with contemptuous eyes.

“You should be grateful your sister is being taken to the royal selection. If she’s chosen, you lot will live in luxury instead of”—he waved a hand at their home with a sneer—“thishovel.”

Daiyu balled her hands together as the men dragged Lanfen, who screamed and kicked, out of their home.

Minutes passed and Mother continued to cry, while everyone remained frozen where they stood. Daiyu’s mind was blank as she unsteadily rose to her feet.

This can’t be happening.

Why was Lanfen chosen for the royal selection? Their village was close to the capital—a few days’ ride away—but their village was poor. Why would the emperor want to round up women from such a small village anyway? Wouldn’t it have made more sense for him to take concubines from noble families so he could form an alliance with them? What good would farm girls do him?

The pit in her stomach grew. Lanfen would be used as a bed warmer, nothing more, nothing less, if she was chosen by the accursed emperor.

Daiyu had heard tales of Emperor Drakkon Muyang. Of his injustices. His brutal strength. The strange magic he held—some said he was part dragon, part demon, part … something sinister.

Heng had died fighting against that monster. Had died in Emperor Yan’s army as Drakkon’s forces usurped the throne four years ago. And now that monster wanted her sister.

Daiyu would never let him take Lanfen.

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