"Your Majesty the Empress?"
She awoke from her dozing and saw her trusted maid standing before her, eyes lowered and barely daring to breathe, as if to frighten her.
But she knew that wasn't the case; she was just afraid that she would get angry and take it out on her.
The empty palace, now filled only with luxury and cold elegance, was devoid of any human presence, as quiet as a tomb.
She didn't want to curse or raise her voice, but she couldn't help it. She always thought that if she didn't have any vitality left, then this cold and desolate Empress's palace would truly be a tomb. But the worse her temper became, the quieter the palace became. The former gentleness and virtue of Consort He had now transformed into the arrogance and vulgarity she displayed as Empress, into her petty triumph and unworthy dignity.
But what could she do?
She became empress as she wished and forced the imperial concubine to commit suicide, but she found that her life was not as good as that of Consort He, who was carefree under Emperor Hui's protection.
She was not of noble birth, but she gained the favor of Emperor Hui and became empress. However, she was unable to suppress the concubines in the harem who had the support of the regent.
When the Imperial Concubine was around, they were all as quiet as chickens, wishing they could kneel down to speak, and were always very careful.
But when that domineering and detestable imperial concubine died, these vixens lost all reverence for the empress.
They shamelessly seduced Emperor Hui in the palace, dressed in flamboyant clothes and fawning over him, showing no regard for her whatsoever. Even when she was angry and pointed at the concubines, scolding them and ordering them to be beaten, she only received ridicule, disdainful glances, and exclusion.
When Consort Yang was alive, would they dare to touch Emperor Hui even a hair on his head?!
She couldn't understand how she, gentle and intelligent, could be no match for that concubine who had nothing but a pretty face. She only remembered that back then, it was because Emperor Hui had backed her up that the concubine could be so domineering and arrogant, doing whatever she wanted. So she tearfully complained to Emperor Hui.
Emperor Hui used to cherish her so much, wanting her to wear fine clothes in secret, to guard his favor but not to announce it to the world. Therefore, he wished he could show her all his love, protect her, and safeguard her. But after she became empress and ruled the harem, when she wanted his support again, she only saw his weary eyes.
"You are already the Empress, do you expect me to look after your harem?!" Emperor Hui also found it extremely pointless.
The regent talks about returning power to the emperor, but it's just rhetoric. He still holds the reins of power, just like before.
The only difference is that before, there was a concubine who would point at the regent and curse him as a traitor without caring about anything. But now, the only person who would stand by him unflinchingly, even unto death, when he was surrounded by enemies and had no one to help him is gone.
The Regent treated him like a figurehead in the court, but now that the Consort He was no longer the powerful figure to keep him in check, the concubines in the harem started popping up everywhere, leaving him exhausted. He had thought that with the title and honor of Empress He, she would be able to help him in small ways, without needing to be too forceful, just enough to keep these ambitious concubines in check.
Don't think Emperor Hui didn't know.
These concubines were hardly interested in the emperor.
They were interested in the imperial bloodline.
Emperor Hui had been on the throne for many years but had no children. If he had a son, he would be the eldest son. Moreover, compared to an infant who knew nothing and would take more than ten years to rebel, Emperor Hui, who was always looking to turn the tables, posed a much greater threat to the regent.
If a prince is born, it may very well be the day Emperor Hui dies.
Therefore, Emperor Hui was in great distress. He dared not touch the concubines in the harem, and he even dared not touch the empress whom he truly loved.
He lived cautiously, not only rejecting the tender affections of beautiful women but also resisting the aphrodisiacs in soups and broths that stirred his restlessness. Alone in the imperial palace, he dared not summon any woman, and when the urge became unbearable, he had to relieve himself. For a dignified emperor to have to do it himself filled Emperor Hui not only with shame but also with a suppressed despair.
How could he dare to sleep with women as long as the regent was alive?
If the Imperial Concubine were still alive, and if she were to give birth to a prince, given that she was of one mind with him and was also shrewish and capable, the Regent would probably not dare to use her prince.
Who could know the bitterness and longing in Emperor Hui's heart?
But he hadn't told the Empress any of this, not wanting to worry his beloved woman. He simply stayed by her side, exhausted. But before he could even cry, the Empress was crying and begging him to make the decision.
How could she be so useless?!
"But..." the Empress then argued with Emperor Hui, "What does the Empress mean to them?"
"That's because you're useless!" Emperor Hui said, somewhat agitated and reckless, "When Consort Gui was around, did they dare utter a single word?! She wasn't even the Empress yet! Think about it, how peaceful was it for me when she was here? How come, even though you have my favor and I'm your backer, you still can't control a few women?"
He didn't want to speak to the Empress like this, but for some reason, he kept thinking about the Imperial Concubine. Back then, he disliked the Imperial Concubine's domineering jealousy, but now he realized how much he missed those virtues.
"Do I have to teach you?! Just do what the Imperial Concubine does!" After he finished speaking, seeing the Empress crying with tears streaming down her face, he felt extremely frustrated and a heavy pressure weighed on his heart. He then turned and left.
The Empress listened with teary eyes as he mentioned the Imperial Concubine more and more frequently, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
When the imperial concubine was alive, he would curse her countless times in front of her every day. But when the imperial concubine was deposed and she finally became empress, she thought they would stay together forever, but she was shocked to find that the emperor still mentioned the imperial concubine's name as frequently as before.
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