...
Southern Chu.
In previous years, Southern Chu had been plagued by internal strife. Emperor Li Yuanli spent several years stabilizing domestic and foreign affairs, restoring peace to the nation and firmly securing his throne once more.
Time flowed quietly, and over the years, whispers and rumors about Qing State inevitably reached Li Yuanli’s ears.
As summer approached, the weather grew increasingly sultry. The roses in the Southern Chu palace bloomed in vibrant splendor. Dressed in his dark imperial robes, Li Yuanli dismissed the unnecessary palace attendants and made his way through the layered thickets of roses to a hidden prison deep within the imperial gardens.
The prison was concealed underground, nestled in a partially abandoned limestone cave. The cavern was bitterly cold and damp, its frozen pool encased in ice, the chill lingering for years.
At the center of the pool stood a crystal ice coffin, empty and silent, as if awaiting the arrival of a destined soul.
Strange runes and symbols were intricately carved around the coffin.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." A voice tinged with excitement echoed through the cave. From the other end, the aged Lu Yun approached with visible delight, bowing respectfully to Li Yuanli.
Li Yuanli remained expressionless. "Is everything prepared?"
Lu Yun nodded eagerly. "Rest assured, within three months, this matter will be settled! You shall embrace your beloved, and I shall have my chance to avenge my sister."
Li Yuanli’s gaze swept over the coffin, his eyes flickering with emotion. Two years prior, after capturing Moxun, who had secretly infiltrated Southern Chu, Li Yuanli had stumbled upon the secrets left behind by the late Empress of Southern Chu—secrets concerning the mysteries of time and space.
Before long, Shen Wei would awaken within this ice coffin.
A faint smile curled at Li Yuanli’s lips.
Even if he could possess Shen Wei for just a fleeting moment, it would be enough to make his life complete.
With that thought, Li Yuanli turned and left the hidden underground cave. The warm summer breeze greeted him as he stepped outside, the roses in the courtyard blooming like clouds at sunset.
"Chirp, chirp..."
A plump white fox lay beneath the rose tree, basking lazily in the sun. Time had passed, and the once lively and playful young fox had aged into a frail and weary creature. The lifespan of a fox was limited, and it was now an elderly shadow of its former self.
Upon seeing Li Yuanli emerge from the cave, the fox let out a couple of soft cries before settling back into its nap beneath the roses.
Li Yuanli crouched down, his long, elegant fingers stroking the fox’s fur.
"Your Majesty, news from Qing State." A shadow guard appeared silently, presenting a letter with reverence.
Li Yuanli unfolded it, his brows furrowing slightly as he read.
A new emperor had ascended the throne in Qing State?
Li Yuanli was taken aback.
He had always assumed Li Yuanjing would remain on the throne for at least another decade. Who could have guessed that Li Yuanjing, still in the prime of his life, would suddenly abdicate under the pretense of "ailing health," defying his ministers’ protests and passing the throne to the Eighth Prince, Li Chengtai?
It defied all logic.
A gut feeling told Li Yuanli that Li Yuanjing’s inexplicable decision to step down as emperor and retire as the Grand Emperor was undoubtedly influenced by Shen Wei’s machinations.
No matter how bizarre the circumstances, if Shen Wei was involved, it would always seem perfectly reasonable.
Because Shen Wei herself was a miracle.
She always achieved her goals.
"Whether he abdicates or not, it changes nothing in my plans." Li Yuanli’s expression darkened, his gaze resolute.
...
Deep within the underground cave, Lu Yun hummed a cheerful tune as she made her way back to the stone chamber hidden in the depths.
"Sister, I will avenge you. I will kill the Emperor of Qing and destroy Shen Wei," Lu Yun murmured to herself.
After years of patience, her efforts had finally borne fruit. She had her chance to exact vengeance upon Li Yuanjing and Shen Wei!
A smirk played on her lips as she strode past the inner chambers. The deepest room was sealed with a massive stone door, leaving only a narrow passage for food to be delivered.
As Lu Yun passed by, a sharp voice rang out from within the stone prison: "When is Li Yuanli going to release me? This place is damp and freezing—prolonged confinement will give me rheumatism! I’m his ancestor! He carries my blood in his veins! Is this any way to treat one’s forebear?!"
The voice belonged to the unfortunate Moxun.
She continued ranting, "Tell Li Yuanli not to recklessly activate that device! It’s still in the testing phase—the elemental energy is highly unstable. One wrong move, and lives could be lost!"
Moxun was beyond frustrated.
Years ago, influenced by the "Taihua Notes," she had abandoned her post as a royal physician in Qing State and traveled to Southern Chu to investigate her origins. After years of twists and turns, she had finally uncovered clues in the mausoleum of the late Empress of Southern Chu.
Her memories had swiftly returned.
She remembered her true identity—a senior researcher at the 49th Bureau’s Institute of Physics. Due to an experiment malfunction, she had been transported back in time, becoming Li Qingxun, a princess of Qing State a century ago.
After founding Southern Chu, her health had deteriorated rapidly, and she had died young, leaving Zhang He'an to oversee the state. Logically, her death should have returned her to the institute, but somehow, she had reincarnated as an ordinary wanderer named Moxun.
Before she could unravel the mystery, Li Yuanli had discovered her.
That unfilial descendant! How dare he imprison his own ancestor and attempt to use the device she had left behind!
"You’d best save your breath. His Majesty has no intention of seeing you," Lu Yun taunted from outside the stone door before gliding away with a smirk.
Moxun banged her head against the wall in frustration.
Li Yuanli’s stubborn and obsessive nature—who on earth had he inherited it from?!
For generations, the Southern Chu imperial family had been plagued by violence, madness, and unyielding obsession, frequently producing deranged tyrants. Moxun fumed—it was undoubtedly the result of Zhang He'an’s inferior genes!
Rubbing her temples, Moxun sighed and glanced around the stone chamber. Though furnished with all necessities, she had been confined here for two years.
If this continued, she really would develop rheumatism!
...
...
Moonfall Lake.
By the lakeside manor, palace servants bustled about in orderly fashion, meticulously cleaning every corner.
From now on, this would serve as the temporary residence for the Grand Emperor and Empress Dowager.
The summer breeze was gentle, and the scenery of Moonfall Lake was breathtaking—endless lotus leaves stretched to the horizon, dotted with delicate blossoms. In high spirits, Shen Wei instructed Cai Lian and Cai Ping to set up fine wine and pastries in the lakeside pavilion.
She was going to indulge in a proper drink!
A celebration for the start of her retirement!
Back in the palace, Shen Wei had always restrained herself, wary of drunken mishaps. Even when she did drink, it was only in modest amounts, more for amusement than indulgence.
But now that she had successfully retired, she was determined to down thirty cups without hesitation!
The wine was rich, the pastries delectable. Clutching a white jade wine jug, Shen Wei drank until her cheeks flushed pink.
"Madam, the Grand Emperor is here," Cai Lian whispered in reminder.
Shen Wei instinctively set down her cup—then abruptly remembered: she was retired now!
No more pretenses!
Ignoring Li Yuanjing, she happily continued sipping her wine.
Li Yuanjing, seeing her thoroughly intoxicated, helped her up. "Your health is delicate. You should drink less in the future."
Shen Wei lifted her head, her drunken gaze brimming with bliss. "My greatest wish in life has been fulfilled. A little celebration is in order."
Li Yuanjing’s expression softened with affection and touched emotion.
Who would have thought? Spending an ordinary life with him, Li Yuanjing, was Shen Wei’s greatest aspiration!
