The Crown Prince staged a coup, ascending the throne in a swift turn of events that saw Emperor Chunming imprisoned overnight. The imperial court was thrown into chaos.
In the grand hall of Taihe Palace, the new emperor, clad in solemn black-and-gold imperial robes, sat upon the towering dragon throne. He proclaimed the long list of crimes committed by Emperor Chunming and the Empress, laying bare their treachery before the court.
The ministers exchanged uneasy glances, their voices stifled by fear.
Only now did the uninformed officials learn the truth: Prince Rui had not merely stumbled into power by chance. Instead, he had schemed meticulously, even colluding with foreign enemies at the cost of the late emperor and fifty thousand soldiers’ lives. All to eliminate Empress Huigong and her unborn child—paving the way for his own ambition.
Now, with the new emperor on the throne, Emperor Chunming, the Empress, and Feng Yu were sentenced to death by a thousand cuts, their heads to be displayed on the city walls for three months as retribution for Emperor Jingyou and Empress Huigong.
Those who had once aligned with Emperor Chunming were swiftly arrested and interrogated. His former accomplices faced exile at best, execution at worst. Meanwhile, loyal ministers who had been suppressed during his reign were reinstated, filling the vacancies in the court with remarkable speed.
As for the imperial harem and Emperor Chunming’s children, Prince Chen was sentenced to death. The rest were either exiled or confined to the imperial mausoleum, forced to spend their lives praying for Emperor Jingyou and Empress Huigong. Only those concubines without children or offenses—whose families had aided the new emperor during the coup—were pardoned and allowed to return home.
Within two months, the new emperor’s iron-fisted reforms had reshaped the entire court.
One day, during a council meeting in the imperial study, Grand Tutor Pei Zhi stepped forward. "Your Majesty, your swift actions in purging corruption and restoring order have brought great fortune to the realm. Now that the court is stable and new policies are progressing smoothly, it is time for Your Majesty to expand the imperial harem and secure the imperial lineage."
Several elder ministers echoed his sentiment.
Emperor Xiao Qi'an, now past his twentieth year, had delayed marriage due to the wars in the northern frontier. Emperor Chunming and his Empress had further obstructed his marital prospects, leaving him without a consort or heir.
Now that the traitors were gone, the selection of imperial consorts could no longer be postponed.
Xiao Qi'an smiled faintly. "We already have someone in mind. The Imperial Astronomers have selected several auspicious dates. Let us deliberate and choose one."
The courtiers were taken aback. Who could the emperor have chosen? Before they could speculate, Cao Yuanlu announced the proposed dates: one in late May, two in June, two in July, and three in August.
The ministers were stunned—these dates were alarmingly soon.
The traditional betrothal rites were elaborate, and the empress’s wedding robes would take time to prepare. May was barely days away!
But the emperor’s eagerness was understandable—most men his age already had children.
The officials buzzed with discussion.
Xiao Qi'an dismissed their concerns. "The betrothal rites can proceed immediately. The wedding robes and phoenix crown are already being crafted. With extra hands, they will be ready before June."
The Minister of Rites nodded. "In that case, the sooner the better."
But then the newly appointed Vice Minister of War, Sheng Yu, stepped forward. "Your Majesty has only been on the throne for a month. Major court affairs are still unfolding. A late-May coronation seems too hasty."
An elder grand secretary agreed. "What about the eighteenth of June?"
Who wouldn’t want the emperor to secure his lineage swiftly?
Sheng Yu hesitated. "June is sweltering. The heavy wedding attire and lengthy ceremonies may exhaust both Your Majesty and the empress."
Xiao Qi'an frowned.
The ministers reconsidered. "Then July?"
Sheng Yu shook his head. "July is the Ghost Month, when the gates of the underworld open. It is inauspicious for weddings."
Xiao Qi'an: "..."
The ministers: "..."
Not only did the emperor’s expression darken, but the elder officials also silently grumbled.
"The emperor, who has long avoided women, finally wishes to wed—yet this man keeps obstructing him. What is his game?"
"You may be a lone wolf, but the emperor’s marriage concerns the stability of the realm and the imperial bloodline. How can it be delayed?"
"His Majesty rescued you from obscurity and entrusted you with high office—is this how you repay him?"
After a pause, Xiao Qi'an spoke. "Then let it be the eighteenth of August. What does the father of the empress think?"
His casual remark sent shockwaves through the hall. The officials exchanged stunned glances—the emperor had just addressed one of them as "father of the empress"!
After a long silence, Sheng Yu, the Vice Minister of War, bowed. "This humble servant dares not presume. Since Your Majesty has decided, let it be as you decree."
The ministers finally realized—the empress-to-be was Sheng Yu’s daughter!
"But wasn’t he a widower with no children? Where did this daughter come from?"
Such questions remained unspoken. Instead, they offered congratulations. "Vice Minister Sheng is renowned for his noble bearing. The empress must be a peerless beauty, worthy of her station."
Sheng Yu could only smile wryly.
After leaving the council, he reviewed documents at the Ministry of War.
When the emperor ascended, many expected Sheng Yu to replace Feng Yu as Commander. Instead, he was promoted to the Ministry of War—a clear elevation of status for the empress’s family.
By noon, he returned home, only to find the imperial betrothal envoys had arrived before him.
Cao Yuanlu, bearing the imperial edict, led a grand procession of palace eunuchs carrying betrothal gifts—gold, silver, and jade. The spectacle drew crowds and gossip.
Sheng Yu turned to Chun Chan. "Where is the young lady?"
Chun Chan, overwhelmed, whispered, "She went to the market to listen to storytellers."
Sheng Yu hurriedly bowed to Cao Yuanlu. "My daughter has not yet returned. I will send someone to fetch her—"
Cao Yuanlu waved his hand. "No need to rush. This servant can wait."
Still, Sheng Yu dispatched servants to search.
Inside the hall, Cao Yuanlu noticed Sheng Yu’s furrowed brow and offered reassurance. "Do not worry, Vice Minister. The young lady was His Majesty’s first love, standing by him through hardship. Their bond is extraordinary. His Majesty’s devotion is clear—once she enters the palace as empress, she will want for nothing."
Sheng Yu was not concerned about her treatment. As a subject, he dared not interfere in the emperor’s marriage. For any family, this was an unparalleled honor.
But he had only just reunited with his daughter. A few months of companionship could never make up for years of absence.
Once she entered the palace, no matter how favored she was, she would be bound by endless rules—perhaps even forced into the treacherous intrigues of the inner court.
He could not bear it. Yet he could not change it.
The emperor would make her empress. She was willing.
What right did a father who had missed most of her life have to stand in the way?
Previously, when His Majesty came to the estate to fetch her, he could only use ancestral customs and marriage traditions as reasons to keep her a little longer.
Sheng Yu sighed, "My daughter is innocent and pure, and having spent many years in the palace without freedom, now that she’s finally allowed outside, I only wish for her to embrace her true nature and enjoy a carefree, happy life."
Cao Yuanlu reassured him, "His Majesty adores the young lady—how could he bear to confine her in the palace? In the half-year you were away, every time His Majesty left the palace, he took her along."
Sheng Yu was slightly surprised, though a worry lingered in his heart—was it only because she could ease his headaches that he kept her so close?
Cao Yuanlu continued, "On the Lantern Festival night, he personally accompanied her to the lantern market. And in Pingzhou Prefecture, he spent extravagantly just to ensure she had the time of her life."
Sheng Yu finally couldn’t help but smile. "Truly?"
Thinking of that little girl whose eyes lit up at the sight of silver, he could just imagine how delighted she must have been with such lavish gifts.
Seeing the tension on his face finally ease, Cao Yuanlu chuckled, "Whatever the young lady asks for, His Majesty grants without hesitation. Even things she wouldn’t dare request, he finds ways to fulfill. So rest assured—once she enters the palace, His Majesty will never let her suffer."
Sheng Yu gave a slight nod, then quickly clasped his hands in deference. "This humble official wouldn’t dare presume such things."
Since the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the court had undergone a bloody purge. Only by the fifth month did things gradually settle.
Yun Kui, unable to bear the monotony, had been itching to go out every day.
The world beyond the palace was utterly new to her.
In her childhood, those ten years outside the palace had been a struggle—scraping for meals, enduring disdain, never even having coins for a stick of candied hawthorn. Later, entering the palace ensured her basic needs were met, but the freedom to roam outside was lost.
Now, with an endless supply of silver in her pockets, she could stroll the streets daily, seek out decades-old eateries in hidden alleys for hotpot, or idle away half a day in teahouses listening to storytellers while snacking on tea and pastries. It was sheer bliss.
That time in Pingzhou Prefecture, His Majesty had given her three thousand taels and demanded she spend it all in one night. Though she indulged extravagantly, it went against her frugal habits. She much preferred keeping coins in her pocket, leisurely browsing shops for cheap but beloved trinkets and treats—even haggling was part of the fun.
Of course, she also checked on the dozens of thriving shops His Majesty had gifted her. As their hidden owner, she took secret delight in seeing their prime locations and bustling business.
When tired, she’d retreat to one of her teahouses, settling into a secluded spot with Huai Qing and Huai Zhu to listen to more tales.
"The legendary Jade-Faced War God is not only renowned for his valor and strategy, leading every charge himself—wherever he goes, the Northern Wei dogs tremble in fear..."
"Bravo!" The crowd erupted in applause.
"The Jade-Faced War God treats his soldiers with exceptional discernment and respect, sharing their meals and quarters—even shielding them from enemy blades with his own body..."
The listeners gasped in admiration and concern. "What happened to the Jade-Faced War God then?"
The storyteller flicked open his paper fan. "The Jade-Faced War God sweeps through armies like a storm—did you think mere cowards could best him?"
The crowd sighed in relief.
"Not only is the Jade-Faced War God peerless in battle, but he’s also devastatingly handsome—with sharp brows, starry eyes, towering stature, and eight defined abdominal muscles..."
Female patrons blushed, while others teased, "How do you know he has eight? Have you seen them?"
The storyteller grinned. "Naturally, someone has."
Yun Kui was engrossed, completely unaware someone had taken the seat beside her.
Giggling behind her hands, she suddenly heard a voice murmur coolly in her ear, "The Jade-Faced War God—devastatingly handsome, with eight abdominal muscles?"
She jolted, whipping her head around to see a man in dark gold brocade robes gazing at her with an amused smirk.
"Y-Your Majesty... What are you doing here?" She nearly tripped over her words.
Xiao Qi'an replied, "The envoy came to deliver the imperial decree, but the future Empress was too busy enjoying herself to be home. So I had to fetch you myself."
Yun Kui’s eyes widened. "A decree? For the empresshood?"
Xiao Qi'an frowned at her reaction. "What, unwilling?"
She shook her head hastily. "It’s just... so sudden."
I’m not done playing yet!
The thought had barely formed when she remembered—he could read minds. Flashing an ingratiating smile, she shoved a handful of sunflower seeds into his palm.
Xiao Qi'an’s expression darkened. "That dear father of yours pushed back the date to the eighth month."
Yun Kui counted on her fingers. "That’s still three months away!"
Noticing the glee in her eyes, he gritted his teeth. "Don’t want to enter the palace? Don’t want to marry me?"
"Of course not!"
He scoffed. "You’ve grown too comfortable. Your heart’s gone wild, and now I’m just an afterthought."
There it was—when pleased, he said "I"; when displeased, it was "We."
Yun Kui lifted her chin. "This future Empress hasn’t just been idling around. I’ve been working hard to improve Your Majesty’s reputation among the people."
Last month, imperial bulletins had exposed Emperor Chunming and his consort’s crimes—their heads now hung on the city walls. No one could believe the benevolent Emperor Chunming had orchestrated the deaths of the late emperor and fifty thousand soldiers. Meanwhile, the new emperor, once feared as the bloodthirsty "Jade-Faced Asura," left the people anxious about harsh laws and crushing taxes.
Roaming the streets, Yun Kui noticed that even with the truth revealed, His Majesty’s reputation remained grim. Rumors spread easily—Emperor Chunming had exploited this to tarnish the Crown Prince’s name.
So Yun Kui had hired storytellers to extol the Jade-Faced War God’s heroism in teahouses and taverns, even planting enthusiastic bystanders to chime in. Slowly, the new emperor’s valor replaced the old fears.
Xiao Qi'an frowned. "Valor is one thing, but must the whole realm know about my... abdominal muscles?"
Yun Kui sneakily patted his waist. "You don’t understand. A husband’s looks are his wife’s pride. Why should I hide such a fine specimen?"
Her bright, dark eyes held his, and the brush of her soft fingers through the thin fabric sent a shiver through him, stirring his blood.
Xiao Qi'an’s gaze deepened.
Before he could speak, Huai Zhu approached to report that envoys had arrived at the estate, urging Yun Kui to return for the decree.
She scrambled up. "I should go—"
"Tell them your mistress is resting upstairs," Xiao Qi'an interrupted coolly. "She’ll return in two hours."
"...Is that appropriate?"
Before she could protest, he swept her into his arms.
Carrying her upstairs, he glanced down. "Why wouldn’t it be? I issued the decree. You’ll receive it whenever you please—who dares question it?"
Yun Kui was the owner of the teahouse and often came to listen to storytelling, offering the narrator advice and critiques. For convenience, she kept a private room on the third floor for her daily rest.
This place served as their "secret hideout" outside the palace, and it wasn’t Xiao Qi'an’s first time visiting either. Familiar with the way, he went upstairs, headed straight to the easternmost room, kicked the door open, and carried her inside, placing her directly onto the bed.
