The sword slid between her ribs, puncturing her lung and her heart. Blood flew out of the wounds. The Empress Dowager had moved faster than should be possible for a woman her age, with the skill of someone trained in deadly arts.
Princess Liling's mouth opened to scream.
The Empress Dowager's hand clamped over it, muffling the sound.
"Hush now, child," she whispered, her voice almost tender. "This is necessary. I will not have you spoil my plans with your petty jealousy and foolish schemes."
Princess Liling's eyes were wide with terror, with confusion, with the dawning realization that she had never been anything more than a piece on a board.
The Empress Dowager held her as she died, one hand over her mouth, the other twisting the blade deeper. It took less than a minute.
When the princess's body went limp, the Empress Dowager lowered her carefully to the ground and withdrew the sword with a soft swick of metal against flesh.
She studied the body.
Too clean.
