I am the emperor, yet I am devoted solely to you.
Li Zhi's monologue:
I am the Son of Heaven, ruling over a vast empire. But do you know that without you by my side, this dragon throne is nothing but a cold, lifeless seat?
That year at Ganye Temple, we first met. You knelt beneath the plum tree, your tears soaking the canal transport blueprints. I should have walked straight past, but inexplicably, I stopped. Only later did I understand that it was destiny.
"Your Majesty," you said, raising your tear-filled eyes, "the Guanlong Group needs reform."
At that moment, words that even many senior officials in the court dared not utter were spoken by a nun. I remained outwardly calm, but inwardly, a storm raged within me.
Since ascending the throne, I have heard far too many flatteries and witnessed far too much sycophancy. Only you dare to look me in the eye and point out the flaws in my empire.
Therefore, I brought you into the palace despite the heavy pressure, not for your beauty, but for your heart that dares to speak the truth.
You always say that I treat you too well and make too many exceptions for you.
But they don't understand that it was you who gave me the most precious thing—true love—when I needed it most.
I remember in the second year of Xianqing, when I was seriously ill, you knelt outside the palace for three days and three nights.
The Imperial Medical Academy said there was no cure, but you refused to give up.
That night, you held my hand and said, "If Your Majesty passes away, Meiniang will burn all these reform plans, because there is no one left in this land who understands it."
Because of those words, I escaped death.
Later, when you gave birth to Taiping, I looked at that little girl who looked just like you and suddenly understood what a weakness was.
Cheng Wuting said I spoiled you too much, to which I retorted, "If you've ever seen someone cry for you, laugh for you, and stand against the whole world for you, wouldn't you cherish them?"
Yes, I am the emperor.
An emperor should bestow his favors equally upon all and weigh the pros and cons.
But I am also a person, an ordinary person who can be moved by the person I love.
Therefore, I changed the reign title to "Sun and Moon" and gave you half of the imperial seal.
Those old ministers said I was crazy, but they didn't understand—without you, the empire is nothing but a magnificent map.
With you in the world, this is my true home.
Last night, you were again reviewing memorials by candlelight, and I secretly adorned your hair with a crabapple blossom. You turned and smiled, just like our first meeting at Ganye Temple.
If there truly is an afterlife, I will still be the emperor, and I will still come to find you.
But next time, I'll go earlier, so you won't shed so many tears in the temple.
Because I may not be a wise ruler, but I cannot not be your husband.
——
When Princess Taiping was sorting through her parents' belongings, she found two wooden boxes placed side by side.
One contained an old wooden hairpin from Ganye Temple, and the other contained a prescription from the second year of Xianqing.
The hairpin was engraved with the words: "I wish to be the stars and moon by your side."
The prescription read: "I wish to be a good medicine to cure your illness."
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