Hearing Li Rong call him, Li Chuan hurriedly threw down his sword and rushed toward her.

“Elder Sister,” Li Chuan’s eyes were full of urgency mixed with excitement. “Why are you here?”

“Rong’er?”

Shangguan Yue was also bewildered: “How did you…”

“Su Rongqing is waiting outside the city with troops, just waiting for Chuan’er to commit regicide.” Li Rong’s voice was calm. “Mother, you and Chuan’er should leave the palace quickly. I’ll stay here.”

“Su Rongqing is outside the city?”

Li Chuan couldn’t understand: “Why is he… why is he getting involved in all this?”

“Don’t worry about that now. Mother, leave quickly.”

“What about you?” Shangguan Yue quickly reacted. “You’ll be alone in this palace?”

“That won’t do.”

Li Chuan decisively rejected it.

“Then let’s all leave together.”

Li Rong smiled. Hearing this, Li Chuan finally agreed. He grew happy: “Good, let’s leave together.”

With that, he went to pull Li Rong along.

His hand kept trembling as he held Li Rong’s. Li Rong quietly watched him.

He was actually already much taller than her, yet before her, he seemed to always be a child.

He pulled Li Rong out of the bedchamber. Before leaving, Li Ming called out to him: “Li Chuan.”

Li Chuan stopped in his tracks. Li Ming’s voice was very cold: “The opportunity I gave you still stands. As long as you’re willing to exterminate the Shangguan clan, I can give you the Imperial Guard Army.”

As Li Ming spoke, he began coughing lightly.

He looked very unwell, but he still stared at Li Chuan: “If Su Rongqing joins forces with the aristocratic families, you won’t be able to defeat their combined military strength. Since you’re unwilling to kill me, I can still regard you as my son. Come back,” Li Ming extended his hand, “and I’ll give you the empire.”

Shangguan Yue’s eyes flashed with a trace of fear upon hearing this. Li Rong raised her eyes to look at Li Chuan, waiting for his decision.

Li Chuan looked at the world beyond the palace gates. He thought for a long while before speaking softly: “No thank you.”

“Li Chuan!”

Li Ming suddenly became anxious. He coughed rapidly: “You’ve gone mad!”

“Father, I don’t want to kill you, nor do I want to hand over Elder Sister and Mother for my own survival.”

Li Chuan spoke with some difficulty. Li Rong stood beside him. She didn’t deliberately suppress her emotions. She raised her head to look at Li Chuan, to look at her younger brother.

In the past, she would have considered Li Chuan’s disregard for gains and losses as a woman’s soft-heartedness. But when she cast aside those deliberate calculations and watched Li Chuan as an older sister, she suddenly felt that her younger brother was a very, very good person.

He was just still young. He still didn’t understand what was right and what was wrong.

Li Rong extended her hand and grasped Li Chuan’s. The moment she held his hand, Li Chuan suddenly froze. He turned to look at Li Rong, and she smiled: “Continue.”

“I,” Li Chuan spoke with difficulty, “I may not be a qualified Crown Prince, nor will I be a qualified monarch.”

He looked into Li Rong’s eyes. He couldn’t help but redden his eyes.

“But I don’t want to become like you all.”

“I want,” Li Chuan took a deep breath, “I want to be a proper person. I want to protect my family well. I want to find someone I like to be with. I want to do what I enjoy. I hope for a life that doesn’t harm anyone.”

“I want to be indecisive. I want to be naive. I want to be kind. I want to act without calculating gains and losses.”

“Li Chuan, you fool!”

Li Ming shouted in anger. Li Chuan took a deep breath: “Go ahead and curse me. It doesn’t matter anymore—you never liked me anyway. But regardless of whether you like me or not, Father,” Li Chuan gave him one last look, “I still don’t want to kill you and dirty my conscience.”

After Li Chuan finished speaking, he pulled Li Rong along.

He felt like a bird whose rope had been untied.

Though he was rushing toward life or death, he had never felt so exhilarated.

He tightly gripped Li Rong’s hand, depending on her as they walked out.

When they reached the corridor outside the bedchamber, Li Rong stopped in her tracks.

There were soldiers everywhere here. The closest ones were Li Rong’s shadow guards.

Li Rong stopped, and Li Chuan felt somewhat puzzled: “Elder Sister?”

“Chuan’er,” Li Rong looked at him, “would you be willing to give me the empire?”

“Elder Sister?” Li Chuan didn’t understand what she was saying. Li Rong’s hands were folded in her sleeves, her face bearing a smile. “I don’t like making wedding clothes for others. If this time I guard Hua Jing for you, can you give me this empire?”

“Elder Sister,” Li Chuan looked at Li Rong and smiled, “I know you don’t trust me, but I still have to say it.”

“I became Crown Prince for Mother and Elder Sister. If Elder Sister wants this empire, I’ll offer it with both hands. I was never suited for this place. In this position, I would destroy myself and perhaps harm others as well.”

“Then,” Li Rong gazed at him, “if one day I am sovereign and you are subject, would that be acceptable?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Li Chuan found it rather amusing. Shangguan Yue frowned: “What are you two still talking about? Let’s go quickly.”

“Right,” Li Chuan finally remembered, “Elder Sister, I’ll protect you and Mother…”

Before he could finish, a guard struck him from behind with a hand chop, knocking Li Chuan unconscious. The guard caught Li Chuan. Shangguan Yue’s face showed terror as she said urgently: “What are you doing!”

“Mother, I cannot leave.”

Li Rong’s voice was calm: “I need to pretend to be Chuan’er sitting in command at the palace so as not to arouse Su Rongqing’s suspicion. You take Chuan’er out.”

“But you’re just a young woman…”

“I can do it.” Li Rong interrupted her. She looked steadily at Shangguan Yue. “If we don’t leave now, no one will be able to leave. Mother, go.”

Shangguan Yue stared fixedly at Li Rong. She didn’t respond, but Li Rong already knew her answer.

Li Rong turned and walked toward the bedchamber. When she pushed open the door and entered the hall, she saw Li Ming gasping on the dragon couch.

He seemed extremely uncomfortable, his whole body wheezing. Li Rong bent down and picked up the sword. Seeing Li Rong take the sword, fear appeared in Li Ming’s eyes. Li Rong approached Li Ming with the sword. Li Ming clenched his fists, pretending to be composed.

Li Rong raised the sword and pointed it at Li Ming’s face, examining him.

After a moment, she found it rather strange: “You’re afraid of me.”

“I am not.”

“You’re not afraid of Chuan’er, but you’re afraid of me. Why?” Li Rong looked at him. She saw fear in his aged eyes. She lowered her head with a smile, withdrew the sword, and tossed it aside.

“You think I would kill you, but he wouldn’t.”

“Isn’t that the case?” Li Ming spoke coldly. “You and he are different.”

Li Rong sat by the bed. Li Rong didn’t speak. After Li Ming recovered for a while, he seemed somewhat better. Li Rong stood up, went to fetch some water from the side, and offered it to Li Ming.

Li Ming didn’t dare drink. Li Rong understood his meaning and reassured him: “Don’t worry. Killing you now would be very easy for me—there’s no need to go through the trouble of poisoning.”

Hearing these words, Li Ming stiffened for a moment. Li Rong sat down and fed him water.

After drinking the water, Li Ming felt much better. Li Rong helped him lie down and covered him with a blanket.

“What exactly are you trying to do?” Li Ming stared at her. Li Rong thought for a moment. “Nothing much. It’s the final moments. I don’t want to argue with you. I’ve never taken care of you before. Taking care of you one last time—don’t be too grateful.”

Li Ming didn’t speak. He watched as Li Rong covered him with the blanket. Li Rong thought for a moment: “Where is Consort Rou?”

“I let her and Prince Su escape.”

Li Rong nodded. She didn’t get angry. She sat on the steps below while Li Chuan lay on the couch. After a long while, he said in a low voice: “Didn’t you leave the palace? Why come back—to die in Li Chuan’s place?”

“It’s not exactly dying. I’m quite clever. With me here, my chances of survival are greater than his.”

“You’re not killing me because you’re afraid Su Rongqing will use regicide as a reason to harm you?”

“Is there such a big difference between attacking the imperial city and committing regicide?” Li Rong found Li Ming rather boring at this moment. She leaned against the bed. After a while, she chatted aimlessly. “Actually, I don’t understand what exactly you’re fighting for.”

“You want to suppress the aristocratic families, suppress the Shangguan clan, but can’t you see that Chuan’er and you are of the same mind? What’s the point of desperately trying to depose him? Moreover, that Li Cheng that Consort Rou has now is fake. Are you willing to pass the throne to a fake?”

“You needn’t slander Cheng’er,” Li Ming’s face was cold. “I won’t believe you.”

“I knew you wouldn’t believe me. If I die this time, when you get out, go verify it yourself.”

After Li Rong finished speaking, she felt the floor was somewhat cold. She stood up to find a stool, moved it over, and sat beside Li Cheng.

She also moved a small table over, placed tea and water on it, held her hand warmer, and sat down comfortably.

Li Ming watched her bustle about. Once she had sat down, Li Rong continued: “You still haven’t answered my earlier question.”

“He’s the Shangguan clan’s child,” Li Ming spoke coldly. “He can’t truly break away from you all. He can’t even bring himself to act against you now—how can I expect him to do so later when I’m gone?”

Hearing this, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh.

How could Li Chuan merely act? He could be much more ruthless than Li Ming.

When Li Ming spoke of these matters, he seemed to grow angry: “I have two sons. Li Chuan was fine, but you all ruined him. And you—I doted on you so much, yet you…”

“Yet what about me?” Li Rong turned to look at him. “I revered you so much,” Li Rong looked at him, “yet you were determined to marry me to the worst husband, wanting me not to interfere with your interests, always telling me to stay out of the way.”

“You cherish Huale in the depths of your heart, but what about me?”

“Haven’t I doted on you enough!” Li Ming shouted angrily.

“Was my reverence for you even one bit less than Huale’s?”

She had never questioned Li Ming like this before.

Like the most ordinary of daughters.

Li Ming couldn’t help but be stunned. Li Rong looked at him: “Just because I’m the Shangguan clan’s daughter, does that mean I’m not your daughter?”

Li Ming didn’t speak. Such questioning seemed to make him feel ashamed.

Li Rong paused for a moment, then smiled: “Forget it. I won’t talk to you about these unhappy things. Let’s chat about something happy. Anyway, tomorrow, either I die, or…”

Li Rong didn’t continue. She shrugged: “It doesn’t matter anymore. Father,” she raised her hand to her abdomen, as if thinking of something joyful, “I’m with child. You’re about to become a grandfather.”

Hearing this, the words “outrageous” nearly escaped his lips, but seeing Li Rong’s happy expression, he held them back.

He stared fixedly at Li Rong. Li Rong smiled at him: “Father, this is my first child in over fifty years.”

“Fifty years?”

Li Ming frowned: “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Li Rong smiled: “I’ll tell you a secret. Actually, I’ve lived two lifetimes.”

“You’ve gone mad!” Li Ming showed an expression of shock. Li Rong wasn’t surprised. Her voice was slow: “I knew you wouldn’t believe me. I’m just casually telling you. I say you’re confused because you simply don’t understand Chuan’er. Do you think he’s weak? That he doesn’t want to sweep away the aristocratic families? No—he later became much more ruthless than you.”

Li Rong calmly recounted everything Li Chuan had done. Li Ming listened quietly.

At first, his face showed disgust, thinking Li Rong was deceiving him, but as she continued, he actually began asking questions. Every detail was there, without any flaws.

The two conversed in question and answer. The palace lamps were also lit.

Pei Wenxuan galloped with Zhao Chongjiu through the outskirts. Before long, he realized something was wrong.

He gave the person beside him a look. The guard suddenly accelerated and blocked Zhao Chongjiu’s path. Zhao Chongjiu was somewhat surprised: “My lord?”

Pei Wenxuan pulled on the reins behind him, his voice cold: “Where are you trying to trick me into going?”

Zhao Chongjiu was startled, not expecting Pei Wenxuan to react so quickly. Pei Wenxuan’s heart was with Li Rong. He shouted: “Where is Her Highness!”

Zhao Chongjiu pressed his lips together tightly. After a long while, he finally spoke: “In the palace.”

“What did she go back for?”

Pei Wenxuan was stunned. Zhao Chongjiu dismounted and respectfully presented a letter with both hands.

“Su Rongqing may have a total of thirty thousand troops lying in ambush around Hua Jing. Her Highness is buying time in the palace and has sent His Highness the Crown Prince out. Fearing you would also be caught in danger, she had this subordinate deceive you out.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan gripped the reins tightly and stared at the letter in Zhao Chongjiu’s hands: “What is this?”

“Her Highness said to give you the letter once we reach the inn.”

Receiving this instruction, Pei Wenxuan took the letter and opened it to see Li Rong’s handwriting.

Her characters contained the framework of his characters, because after they married, she had practiced his calligraphy for a year.

In this lifetime, she seemed to have picked up this habit again.

Above was only a very short line, consistent with Li Rong’s usual habit—concise and to the point.

But this time she didn’t discuss strategies or battle situations with him.

In this final, most important letter, she gave him only one sentence.

“My lord loves me more than life itself. I feel the same, and I accept it gladly.”

“Written by: Li Rong.”

Pei Wenxuan held the letter. In an instant, he felt moisture rushing to his eyes.

He lowered his head, as if not knowing how to regulate his emotions. Zhao Chongjiu said carefully: “My lord, Her Highness is also thinking of the greater picture…”

“Which families has Su Rongqing contacted?”

Pei Wenxuan folded the paper and placed it in his sleeve. Zhao Chongjiu was stunned, then reported the names.

After Su Ronghua’s information was passed to Shangguan Ya, she had already relayed everything to him. Pei Wenxuan nodded and called to the person beside him: “Tong Ye.”

“Young Master.”

“Find the family members of these households. If they’ve left the city, pursue and capture them directly. For those whose mansions are in Hua Jing, station people around their residences. At dawn tomorrow, they’ll lead troops to surround the palace, and the number of soldiers guarding their mansions will decrease. Lead people to capture them.”

“The Wang and Su families will be at the forefront. As for the others, capture as many as you can find. Arrest them all.”

“But Young Master,” hearing this, Tong Ye grew anxious, “if you do this, you’ll bear infamy in the future.”

“Do as I say.”

With that, Pei Wenxuan immediately spurred his horse back.

Li Rong’s letter was still in his breast, like a burning coal, scorching his chest.

She rarely expressed emotions in her life. She had hardly ever said such things to him. He was plagued by gains and losses, always feeling uneasy.

But when she placed her feelings before him, he wished she would remain forever aloof and distant.

He didn’t need her to say these things.

Because when others spoke of love, it was sweet talk.

Only this foolish girl, if she said she loved you more than life, truly could exchange her life for yours.

Pei Wenxuan rode his horse in a mad dash into the city.

Hua Jing city had completely descended into chaos. Common people frantically fled toward the city gates. Pei Wenxuan couldn’t ride his horse through at all. He could only squeeze through the crowd, struggling to push forward.

As he squeezed through the crowd trying to get inside, he saw Shangguan Ya disguised as a peasant woman, squeezing out of the city with Su Ronghua. Beside them was also a young man carrying an unconscious woman on his back, leading their “mother” and struggling to push outward.

Shangguan Ya, Su Ronghua, Lin Feibai, Li Chuan, Shangguan Yue—everyone was here, except Li Rong.

They made eye contact for a moment in the air, seemingly entrusting everything to each other.

Shangguan Ya squeezed out of Hua Jing with the crowd. Pei Wenxuan struggled to enter Hua Jing. Not long after they crossed paths, Hua Jing’s gates slowly closed. Pei Wenxuan heard the common people’s cries fill the sky. He walked along the main street, raising his head to look at the pitch-black sky.

Snowflakes drifted down from above. Pei Wenxuan raised his head to look toward the distant North Yan Pagoda, raised his hand to cover his heart, took a deep breath, then rushed madly toward the Princess’s residence.

After squeezing out of the city, Su Ronghua immediately wiped the ash from his face and said urgently: “I’ll go intercept my cousin to inform him of the situation. Don’t worry, and don’t try to be brave.”

“I know.”

Shangguan Ya nodded: “Thank you for your trouble.”

Su Ronghua responded. He wanted to say something more, but then he saw Lin Feibai standing behind Shangguan Ya.

He paused for a moment. After a moment, he smiled and raised his hand: “Take care.”

After saying this, without waiting for Shangguan Ya to respond, he hurriedly turned around, mounted his horse, and left.

Shangguan Ya watched Su Ronghua depart. Lin Feibai walked up behind her.

“Can’t bear to part?”

“Hmm?”

Shangguan Ya turned at the sound and quickly said: “First settle the Crown Prince. Have someone contact Xun Chuan to see where he’s reached. Count our forces outside. I can’t accompany Her Highness,” Shangguan Ya spoke calmly, “but I must save her.”

While Hua Jing was in complete chaos, Li Rong and Li Ming were leisurely chatting.

Attendants occasionally knocked on the door to report the situation to Li Rong, and she would deploy the troops.

She transferred all available city defense troops into the palace. Hearing her actions, Li Ming understood her meaning: “It seems you’re planning a fight to the death in the palace.”

“Not exactly.”

Li Rong smiled: “If it’s a certain loss, I’ll just surrender.”

“A woman without backbone.”

Li Ming mocked. Li Rong didn’t care at all: “Where were we just now? Oh, the failure to reform the aristocratic families. Why? There are too many local strongmen. Solving one Su family is easy, solving the Shangguan clan is easy, but solving the local gentry is much harder than dealing with them. They’re too small and too numerous. Fighting them isn’t cost-effective, but if you don’t fight them, what can you do about them?”

“So Chuan’er’s policies were not only too hasty but also very difficult to execute.”

“He wanted to uproot them,” Li Ming pondered, “but the aristocratic families have been entrenched for so many years. His attempt to uproot them in such a short time is simply self-destruction. However, if Great Xia is ruined by his efforts and they fight for several more years, massacring the aristocratic families clean, perhaps the next dynasty will be different.”

Li Rong laughed softly: “It just feels too cruel.”

“Cruel?” Li Ming sneered coldly. “More like afraid of death. Neither you nor I want Great Xia to fall. That’s human nature.”

“Father is right.” Li Rong thought about it, then asked, “However, I’ve never understood—what is human nature?”

When these words fell, Li Ming also fell silent. Li Rong mentioned that person, her face involuntarily showing a smile: “Pei Wenxuan always tells me that behind power and position lies human nature. He says I don’t understand human nature, but if I did, I would be a good ruler.”

“You truly don’t understand.” Li Ming’s eyes held some desolation.

“If your previous life was truly as you described, if you understood human nature, you wouldn’t have pressed Chuan’er so hard, nor would you have pressed yourself so hard. This palace transforms a person into a ghost, and then the ghost thinks that’s how the world is and goes on to press others the same way.”

“Actually, back then you had two paths. You could either compete together with Chuan’er. When more people compete, the rules can be changed. But that path is too difficult, so you didn’t choose it. You all preferred to sink into the swamp yourselves, then pull those who hadn’t entered yet into it as well.”

“Rong Rong, ordinary people follow rules. Regardless of reasons, they only look at results.”

“But those in power—their rules aren’t meant to be followed, they’re meant to be used.”

“Therefore, they must look at both results and reasons. As a ruler, only by knowing why those who make mistakes do so can you use tools to constrain them. Like when Pei Wenxuan and Chuan’er went on their northern expedition in their early years,” Li Ming smiled, “if establishing harsh punishments could prevent corruption, then their northern expedition back then wouldn’t have failed. Only by understanding under what circumstances a person will embezzle money and under what circumstances they’ll be a good person can you have effective rules.”

“Pei Wenxuan was right. Behind power and position,” Li Ming chuckled softly, “lies human nature. I,” Li Ming sighed, “just understood it too late.”

Li Rong quietly watched Li Ming. From outside came an attendant’s reminder: “Your Highness, it’s almost time for morning court.”

Hearing this, Li Rong nodded.

Li Ming looked at her: “Are you really going to put on a complete act? You’re going to hold court in his place?”

“I’ve never sat on that golden phoenix throne,” Li Rong smiled. “Sitting on it once is also an experience.”

As Li Rong spoke, she stood up: “You should sleep for a while. I’ll go first.”

Li Ming didn’t speak. Li Rong turned and walked toward the exit. Li Ming watched her back. Just before she left, he suddenly asked: “How do you know Li Cheng is fake?”

“Su Rongqing told me,” Li Rong answered frankly. “Moreover, have you seen the physician who treated him again since, Father? If Li Cheng were real, why would Consort Rou be in such a hurry to contact Su Rongqing and the other aristocratic families? Those families—which one isn’t a wolf or tiger? How could she command them without promising great benefits?”

Li Ming fell silent. Li Rong walked out of the bedchamber and went to her original palace.

She burned incense and bathed, put on the bright red ceremonial robe with gold trim that was only worn for sacrificial rites, arranged her hair in a high coiffure, then walked toward the main hall.

At this time, dawn had not yet broken. Fulai held a palace lantern for her, leading her to the center of the great hall.

The great hall was completely empty. Li Rong had never seen it so spacious. She raised her head to look at the high seat ahead. Fulai respectfully presented an imperial edict: “Your Highness, this was just written by His Majesty and entrusted to Your Highness.”

Li Rong turned around. She looked at the imperial edict before her and took it to read its contents.

The five characters “Supervising Princess” fell into her eyes. She stared fixedly at the contents. After a long while, she lowered her head with a smile: “What is he doing? Has he believed what I said?”

“On ordinary days, naturally he wouldn’t believe it,” Fulai smiled, “but today’s Your Highness—His Majesty is perhaps willing to believe. Moreover, right now His Majesty’s life and death are in your hands. You have no need to deceive him.”

Receiving this response, Li Rong examined Fulai: “Whose person are you really?”

“This old servant naturally serves the eldest young master with loyalty.”

Fulai didn’t evade: “But if certain words, when spoken, benefit Your Highness, then naturally they will be spoken.”

Li Rong said nothing. She thought for a moment, held the imperial edict, and said gently: “Go back and take good care of him. Let me sit here alone for a while.”

Fulai bowed respectfully, then withdrew.

Only Li Rong remained alone in the great hall. She raised her head to look at the golden throne and slowly walked toward it.

She walked across the imperial path, stepped onto the soft cushion, and raised her hand to caress the smooth armrest of the golden throne.

That armrest was cold as jade, evoking an indescribable sense of attachment.

Then she turned around and gently sat down.

This was her first time sitting here. And then she discovered—

This place was truly high, truly cold.

The time for morning court was approaching. Pei Wenxuan had also stationed people at the gates of the Wang and Gu family mansions.

He didn’t know the situation outside. Right now, he only understood the situation within Hua Jing. Li Rong had withdrawn the city gate guards in advance, so Su Ronghua had taken over the gate towers and closed Hua Jing.

The Su family had all evacuated. The Wang and Gu families, feeling Hua Jing was safer, hadn’t evacuated and had left people to guard their homes.

But with Hua Jing already closed and their speculation that Li Chuan’s people were all in the palace, they had relaxed their guard on their own households.

Su Rongqing hadn’t slept all night. Everyone was staying up with him.

“My cousin will arrive at dawn.” Su Rongqing’s voice was calm. “Together with everyone’s forces, we have a total of thirty thousand available. The inner palace has been sealed off all along, but news keeps coming out. Morning court hasn’t been canceled. Li Chuan is probably going to announce his ascension at morning court. If he dares to announce it, His Majesty is probably…”

Su Rongqing glanced at everyone: “We would also be acting legitimately and couldn’t be considered rebels.”

“However, before my cousin and Lord Wang’s reinforcements arrive, we only have about ten thousand military strength in the city. I hope everyone won’t hold back, otherwise the imperial palace will be difficult to attack. If we go to morning court, we might instead be constrained.”

“Rest assured,” Gu Zichun immediately said, “since we’ve formed an alliance with Lord Su, we won’t hold back. This matter concerns life and death—there won’t be any problems.”

Everyone agreed one after another. Su Rongqing nodded.

When it was almost time for morning court, everyone set out together toward the palace. Pei Wenxuan watched as they transferred their family soldiers away, then waved his hand: “Move in.”

At the hour of mao, the palace was brightly lit. Ministers dressed in black court robes with red trim entered the palace one by one, seeming no different from ordinary days.

It had snowed during the night. They stepped on the snow, making crunching sounds that made the palace seem especially quiet. These ministers also lost their usual habit of conversing, making the sound of snow being trampled and broken even more pronounced.

They stood at the entrance to the great hall, listening to the sound of wind and snow rustling.

Today the Emperor hadn’t come out from the inner palace. He seemed to be waiting early in the great hall. The assembled ministers found nothing strange about this.

As the eunuch’s high-pitched “Enter the hall—” echoed across the plaza, the palace gates opened layer by layer.

Su Rongqing stood at the head of the assembled ministers, holding his tablet, slowly raising his head as the palace gates creaked open.

Then he saw that beyond the palace gates, two rows of bronze standing palace lamps with vermillion birds holding pearls led upward toward the depths of the great hall. At the end of the hall on the golden throne sat a woman dressed in bright red ceremonial robes with gold trim, her hair in a high coiffure with gold hairpins, her expression calm as she looked at him.

They gazed quietly at each other across the entire great hall. After a long while, Li Rong’s vermillion lips parted slightly, coldly and proudly uttering two words:

“Kneel down.”