Gu Ruiyun was filled with despair; this was not the life she should be living!

One night, she was woken up by Lu Zixuan. Unable to bear it any longer, she pushed Lu Zixuan away violently.

Caught off guard, Lu Zixuan lost his balance and fell to the ground. Gu Ruiyun scrambled up, grabbed a chair, and smashed it down on Lu Zixuan's head.

Lu Zixuan fell into a coma on the spot.

Later, Gu Chaoxi heard Lu Zhao say that when Lu Zixuan was discovered, Gu Ruiyun's hands were covered in blood, and she was laughing maniacally. No one present dared to approach her.

Despite the imperial physicians' efforts, Lu Zixuan ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Lu Zhao erected a monument for him and secretly instructed Jinyang to dispose of his body in a mass grave.

Gu Ruiyun was left all alone in the entire Prince's mansion. With no one to talk to, she eventually went completely mad, rambling incoherently in the mansion all day long, muttering that she was an imperial concubine.

...

Because Lu Zhao decided that the enthronement ceremony and the empress's investiture ceremony would be held on the same day. Considering that Gu Chaoxi was too far along in her pregnancy to move around easily, Lu Zhao also requested that the ceremony be set for a month later.

This kept the Ministry of Rites and the Marquis's residence extremely busy.

Lu Zhao was also extremely busy.

Of all the people, Gu Chaoxi was the most carefree, spending her days eating, drinking, and reading storybooks, living a very happy life.

The empress's wedding dress was finally made two days before the ceremony, thanks to the Ministry of Rites' urgency, and presented to Gu Chaoxi.

"Please try this on, young lady. This dress was specially ordered by the Prince to be made of flowing cloud brocade. If it doesn't fit, we can have them take it back and alter it as soon as possible."

Considering that they would be standing for a long time on the day of the ceremony, Lu Zhao ordered that the process be simplified as much as possible, and the phoenix crown should be simple, elegant and beautiful, and lightweight.

The gown was made of the finest flowing brocade, costing a fortune per foot, resulting in a garment as light as a cloud and shimmering with iridescent light.

Gu Chaoxi's lower abdomen was slightly protruding, her limbs were still slender, and her waist had not changed much. Wearing a phoenix robe, there was almost no trace of pregnancy.

Time flew by and the day of the grand ceremony arrived.

The new emperor ascended the throne, appointed an empress, and granted a general amnesty.

Despite Lu Zhao's efforts to simplify the process and eliminate as many steps as possible, Gu Chaoxi was still exhausted.

After the grand ceremony, there was a palace banquet. Lu Zhao and Gu Chaoxi only made an appearance before leaving early and returning to the Zichen Palace.

"Are you hungry? I've had some dishes prepared," Lu Zhao asked gently, instructing the palace servants to serve the food before Gu Chaoxi could answer.

"I want to eat this," Gu Chaoxi said, pointing to the green porridge.

Lu Zhao served her a bowl and fed her himself.

Watching Gu Chaoxi obediently open her mouth and eat the porridge from the spoon, Lu Zhao felt a sense of satisfaction and a strange excitement hidden in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, where is my palace?" Gu Chaoxi asked while eating.