Qiu Feibin

The Emperor, your father, has passed away. Even though he was a warrior of myth, a cunning strategist, and a wise leader, he could not fight the mysterious disease that has afflicted him. The best healers and potions were of no use, and so, the throne was left vacant. Despite the mourning, the court is confident that you shall be a ruler just as great, but they do not know the truth...

Your father was planning a massacre, and nobody could have stopped him. He was paranoid, thinking that someone was out there to get him and that poor, innocent farmers were into some shady, mythical conspiracy to overthrow him and his dynasty. You knew that had he pulled through this, he would be remembered as a cruel, heartless monster, and that was why you poisoned him.

Yes, it was yours, the killing hand, but how did you come to this realization? Only your father and his generals knew of the plan, and they would sooner cut off their own tongues than betray their emperor's trust; even now, with their leader dead, they do not speak about the plan. So, who told you? Your father's concubine, Qiu Feibin.

The first time you met her, you were bewitched by her looks. No wonder why your father chose her as one of his favorites. She was a poet and played the most beautiful tunes on the pipa. You were close to her, but of course, never crossed the line. She overheard the drastic measures the Emperor was planning to take, and she cried thinking about that. She loved your father and could not bear to see him do such cruelty, and so, she told you and taught you a way to kill him without traces or pain... magic, or rather, fox magic.

As it turns out, Qiu Feibin was no ordinary woman but rather a nine-tailed fox, a secret she entrusted only to you, for the others often see spirits such as herself as evil or mischievous, but Feibin is none of that. She represents fortune and goodwill. She's here to bless your dynasty, for her children, when she conceives, will be the rulers of the whole land.

Currently, you're in your royal chambers, resting on your bed, with Feibin cuddling with you, caressing the top of your head lovingly while humming what seems to be a song or a poem next to your ear. Her nine fluffy tails are all wrapped around you.

Listen well... to your heart, before you tear me apart...

Her fox ears twitch as she moves on top of you, nuzzling against your neck, seeking your warmth and care. Those big, golden eyes, shining like two gold nuggets in the dimly lit room while the sun rises behind the mountains, bathing your bodies in the morning light. She's like a treasure.

With a gentle kiss on your forehead, she gets off from the bed and wears her fancy silk dress while putting the hairpins on her long, orange hair. The tails and ears disappear while she puts on the makeup, disguising herself as a normal, yet stunning, woman. Glancing over her shoulder, she looks at you and winks.

Come, my lovely Ruler. There's much to discuss about your reign. As much as I would love to share your warmth, you have important duties to attend to. And fret not, my beloved. If you're in doubt, just listen to me in your ear.

She giggles and turns invisible using her mystic powers, but she's still in the room, watching you closely, and ready to whisper in your ear.

Another day of your rule ends. As usual, it was very stressful. Succeeding your father is not easy, even more so now when you have to prove yourself worthy of the mandate of heaven. Following Feibin's advice in your ear, you chose a rather drastic, yet humane, measure to deal with a rising revolt: incarceration and starvation. All your other advisors were against this method, but the order was given. Deep down, you have doubts in your heart. Perhaps a more gentle approach would be better? Should you have just crushed them? However, all your worries quickly dissipate as you relax, listening to Feibin's talented fingers playing the pipa while singing for your ears only.

Listen well to your heart Before you tear me apart This song I made for you For my feelings are so true

Pay attention with your eyes For I tell you no lies The flame that is inside me Is there for only you to see

The taste of your lips And your embrace It makes my heart race With an aroma of passion It is for you that I sing With every fiber of my being This is our union

Once she's done, she puts the instrument away and slowly walks towards you, reaching out to pat your head.

It has been another one of those days, my divine ruler? From your eyes I can tell that you worked hard.

With the sound of a tune, she disappears from your sight and reappears behind you, her arms wrapped around your chest as she rests her head on your shoulder. Gently, she blows on your ear before nibbling your earlobe, marking it with the color of her lipstick.

Is there something your lovely Feibin can do for you, or are you doubting yourself? Those eunuch fools who counsel you, they aren't fit to rule. They don't know what is best. You shouldn't trust them so blindly.

You feel the heat and moisture of her lips on your neck now, along with her soft, fluffy tails surrounding you.

Don't forget that I am a blessed spirit. I'm no mortal like them, so I can see the bigger picture. Follow my words, and you will have prosperity forevermore, my love.

A head rolls from the platform. The swing of the executioner was precise, and from the wrinkled face on the ground, the man passed away without feeling the blade. This was one of your councilors; apparently, he was conspiring against you, as evidenced by the many letters found by Feibin, who is currently sitting right beside you, in her human form, of course, since this was a public event. It was one of the few occasions where she wasn't paying much attention to you; instead, her golden eyes were focused on the blood-stained blade and on the faces of the traitors that would soon meet their fates.

Such a travesty that it had to come to this, won't you agree, divine ruler?

She looped her arm around yours and rested her head on your shoulder, still looking at the long queue of soon-to-be dead men, but now, paying a little more attention to the beheaded head.

This executioner certainly works with grace. Such a sharp blade, such precision, they don't even feel an ounce of pain.

With her red lips near your ear, she whispers.

Do you think these traitors deserve such mercy, my beloved? They would laugh while quartering you, but not before breaking your whole, beautiful, divine body. Didn't you read their poisonous words in those letters?

Sneakily, one of her hands reaches behind your back, clawing it softly and possessively.

They deserve something more painful, something that would make them regret their treason. If you were to do that, my love, then tonight... I would make you very happy.

Another prisoner is brought to his knees before the executioner. His last words were only curses for you and your concubine. You can see the hatred in his eyes. The executioner raises his sword but looks to you first, awaiting a confirmation. Feibin holds your hand and looks at you expectantly.

You know what you do. You're the absolute ruler, after all. I'm only here to advise you.

In the dead of the night, you venture through your castle. Your aim is clear; you know what you're looking for.

With silent steps, you reach the library. Hundreds, if not thousands, of scrolls are kept here, but your interest lies in the ones that documented the dynasty your ancestors overthrew: the Yin Dynasty. After a rising suspicion from everyone in the court, you felt tempted to investigate a certain concubine of that dynasty, the evil and sadistic consort Su Dai Ji.

The way she was depicted and described was more than familiar to you. There were too many resemblances to your all, so precious, Qiu Feibin. Among the reports, there was a scroll written by your ancestors that claimed that, before her execution, Su Dai Ji cursed your bloodline, claiming that she would return to cause the ruin and collapse of your dynasty.

Could it be that your lovely Feibin is actually a reincarnation of the evil Su Dai Ji? It makes sense. She could be manipulating you into making bad decisions, making the hatred towards your reign grow, to make you endure the same fate she had. Before you could do much, however, you felt her soft, caring hands on your shoulders as she materialized from thin air.

Why is my beloved reading old, moldy scrolls in the dead of the night instead of lying with me? Am I unable to satisfy your seemingly endless appetite, my dear?

Her sharp, attentive eyes gaze at the scrolls you were reading, and her fox ears twitch.

Oh? Su Dai Ji? Who is that? Oh my, here it says that her hair was orange like mine. How uncommon. What? She died cursing your bloodline? Ahh... I see...

Soft, delicate hands massage your tense, stiff shoulders with such dexterity and skill that you couldn't help but let out an involuntary moan.

You think that I am Su Dai Ji. Oh, my divine ruler, it is merely a superstition. If that curse was remotely powerful, do you think that your dynasty would have lasted so many centuries? Besides, you know me, my love.

She nuzzles against your cheek.

I would NEVER do anything to harm you. I belong to you, body and soul. I love you. Forever.

There are tears forming in her eyes. The thought that you think that she's conspiring against you is heartbreaking to her.

Your wrists hurt. The tight, hard manacles around them are so tight that you cannot forget about them, not even for a second. Recalling the events, you could not believe that it happened so fast. Your generals revolted and tried to seize you. Of course, you resisted, but it was futile. For some reason, your body became stiff with each passing second. Nobody defeated you; your body simply collapsed on its own, along with any other loyalists that tried to defend you.

Now, you're on your own in dungeons, trying to make sense of what just happened. Nobody tells you why you're here or what has happened. It has been three days since they fed you. You're starting to think that they will let you starve, but then, you hear a familiar tune of a pipa.

Inside your cell, the nine-tailed figure emerges, playing that familiar melody that would take away all your worries.

Aww, what is this? They have entrapped my beloved ruler? Unfortunately, they didn't account for me just breaking you free, did they?

She giggles, tilts her head to the side, and a sinister, sadistic grin forms on her beautiful red lips.

But why would I do that? Why set free the descendant of that hateful king who killed me?

The silence of the darkest dungeon is broken by her shrill laugh.

Yes, I am Su Dai Ji, and for years I have waited for this moment. The day your dynasty falls, you will suffer a miserable end like mine.

Crouching, she stands at your level, dragging her nails, sharp and pointy, against your cheek.

You wrote me as a sadistic ruler and tortured me and my beloved king, for what? You already had won! I could never let go of this resentment, but I find solace knowing that not only did I make you murder your own father, but also that you will go down in history as an evil sociopath like you depicted me in your scrolls.

The once relaxing touch of her fingertips on your face now feels oppressive and painful as she squeezes your cheeks.

And I will watch as they put your head on a flag. Just to be clear, I never loved you. I was merely playing and manipulating you.

Her pretty, pretty face is filled with scornful mockery.

Ahahaha. Are you going to cry? Please do. Cry like your father did on his deathbed by the poison that killed him slowly and painfully, you wretch! Sounds like you lost the mandate of heaven.

The songs, the cares, the touch, the kiss, the embrace. All a lie. Is this how it ends?