Chapter 2 The Imperial Edicts
I stood outside the Chu residence gates, staring at the plaque.
My heart raced as I stared at it.
During my ten years as empress, Zhao Yan had said that external relatives must not wield too much power. So he slaughtered my entire clan.
My father, the valiant general who had spent his life on battlefields, died with bitter hatred in his eyes.
“For seventeen years I raised you with care, paved a bright future for you. And you—for a fleeting romance—destroyed our entire family.”
Every day after that, I lived in regret.
Now the heavens had granted me a second chance.
I sat in the study all night.
At dawn, word came that the emperor had issued a decree betrothing Zhao Yan to Zhang Ruhua.
At the same time, another decree arrived for me.
One Zhao Yan had requested on my behalf.
It ordered me to depart south in two months to take up a post in Jinling.
I went to the Eastern Palace at once.
But Zhao Yan refused to see me. He only sent a message.
“You and I share the same heart as ruler and subject, inseparable friends. Planning this future for you is This Prince’s duty. No thanks are needed.”
He spoke of shared hearts and no need for gratitude.
In our ten years as emperor and empress, our hearts had drifted far apart, and he had come to want my death the most.
Still, going to Jinling would benefit my career immensely.
I was genuinely pleased.
Even my father drank two extra cups at dinner and laughed heartily. “After two years of experience, my son will return with a brilliant future.”
In my previous life, at this very time, I had already resumed my female identity and spent a passionate night with Zhao Yan.
Snow fell heavily. He knelt three full days before the emperor’s sleeping quarters.
The emperor was furious.
“Between the realm and a woman, can you truly not tell which matters more?”
Zhao Yan kowtowed.
His tears fell.
He had always been mature beyond his years, hiding all emotion, yet he wept then.
“Imperial Father, if This Prince cannot marry Chu Bingzhi, then This Prince would rather not be heir.”
In the end, the emperor relented.
He even pardoned my crime of deceiving the throne.
But from that day on, my father was never trusted again.
His hair turned white overnight.
Now, none of that would happen.
From this day forward, I poured all my energy into my studies.
Zhao Yan busied himself preparing to welcome his Crown Princess.
He no longer summoned me.
Lu Yinchuan of the Chengping Marquis household was on friendly terms with me.
He was carefree and flirtatious, and he asked me outright.
“You and His Highness have always been close. He even secured an official post in Jinling for you—enough to make the rest of us jealous. Why haven’t I seen you together lately?”
I only smiled and said nothing.
But I knew that from now on, Zhao Yan and I would only grow further apart, becoming true ruler and subject.