Emperor Yuming, who conquered the world on horseback, passed away. Apart from being forbidden from eating meat and wearing bright colors, the people seemed to be unaffected.

Those who were truly affected were Emperor Yuming's concubines and sons.

According to the custom of the previous dynasty, after the emperor's death, all the concubines in the harem, except for the empress, had to be buried alive with him. But this time it was different.

Consort Qin produced an imperial edict personally drafted by Emperor Yuming, which stated that Consort Qin was not required to be buried alive with him after his death. If she wished to go elsewhere, that was her choice; if she did not wish to leave, she could simply remain a Dowager Consort.

In contrast, the Empress aged considerably overnight. As the mother of the nation, she did not need to be buried alive with the emperor; she only needed to wait for the new emperor to ascend the throne, after which she would become the Empress Dowager.

But she had already packed her things and was going to guard the imperial tomb.

This act shocked the world, and in later historical records, the emperor and empress's deep affection for each other was described as touching. People affectionately called her "Empress Xiaozhen".

Empress Hyojin and the other concubines walked towards the imperial mausoleum. Among them were several unfavored noblewomen who tried to escape under the cover of night. They were caught and brought back. They should have been beaten to death for fleeing the capital, but the Empress calmly let them go.

Upon learning of this, the concubines all followed suit, and the empress said nothing. Finally, when they arrived at the imperial mausoleum, apart from the guards, there were only a handful of people left.

After all, who wouldn't want to live? Many of these beauties were still in the prime of their lives, and even if they went back, they could still find another marriage. The Empress said nothing, simply watching all this calmly, like a Buddha who had seen through life and death, looking at the world with both compassion and cruelty.

She had fought for him. She had married him without hesitation to follow in his footsteps, even knowing it was all his doing, she was still happy to accept it. But he still forgot their past affection and betrayed her for someone else.

She had schemed. She had even tried to slip abortifacients into the food of the other concubines in order to make her son the eldest son of the legitimate wife. But despite her evil deeds and sleepless nights, she still couldn't stop the other concubines from giving birth to the imperial heir before her.

She even went so far as to kill Qin Xi. She once sent someone to assassinate Qin Xi, and she couldn't explain why. Perhaps it was out of jealousy, or perhaps it was because Qin Xi was the niece of Consort Qin.

She couldn't kill Consort Qin because she had Emperor Yuming protecting her, but she couldn't even kill Qin Qi. Those groups of assassins all disappeared without a trace, and the old woman was utterly useless.

She was even implicated in the death of Emperor Yuming.

But when she came to her senses, she was shocked to realize that she was no longer the teenage girl she once was. Her once black hair had turned gray, and her beautiful face was gone, replaced by wrinkles.

The Empress closed her eyes, her hands clasped together in prayer before the imperial tomb, her prayer beads adorning her wrists. She was alone; even Minhua had been sent out of the palace.

She was once the legitimate daughter of the Cai family, and many people fawned over her. Later, she became Empress, and even more people flocked to her. Never before had her surroundings been so empty, yet she remained calm, eerily calm, as if nothing in the world could arouse her interest.

What's your name?

"I was just passing by; it was nothing, Miss, please don't mention it."

'But how am I supposed to find you if you don't tell me?'

"If fate allows, we will meet again. Young lady, I shall take my leave."

...

'My benefactor, it's you! Do you remember me?'

'Remember. '

...

"Your Majesty, I, Zhao Cai, pay my respects. Long live Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, rise. From this day forward, you and I, husband and wife, shall share in the splendor of the world."

...