In early summer, torrential rains often arrive suddenly by evening.

The sky was gloomy, with dark clouds pressing down on the majestic palace walls. The once resplendent golden palaces now appeared somber under the shroud of dark clouds, resembling enormous cages that firmly imprisoned those within.

In the spacious bedchamber, the gauze curtains seemed aged, covered with thick layers of dust. Despite the hot weather, one could still feel a trace of coldness. Clothes and ornaments were scattered across the floor, as if a catastrophe had just occurred.

A woman knelt on the ground, raising her head to look at the person before her.

This woman was barely thirty, yet her face was as aged as an old woman’s. Her features bore deep resentment, and her eyes were like stagnant water, resembling a long-abandoned dry well, unable to shed tears, yet filled with unfathomable hatred.

“Your Majesty, please,” the eunuch beside her held out a white silk cloth, his voice full of impatience. “This humble servant is waiting to report back to His Majesty.”

Shen Miao’s gaze fell upon the eunuch. After a moment of silence, she spoke slowly, her voice hoarse and unclear: “Xiao Li Zi, when I first promoted you, you were merely a dog at Eunuch Gao’s side.”

The eunuch arrogantly lifted his chin: “Your Majesty, times have changed.”

“Times have changed…” Shen Miao murmured, then suddenly threw her head back in laughter. “How fitting—times have changed!”

Just because of this phrase “times have changed,” those officials and servants who once bowed respectfully to her could now order her around. Because “times have changed,” she would meet her end with three feet of white silk and her head separated from her body. What were those past times, and when had these current times begun? Did it start when Madam Mei entered the palace? Or when the Crown Prince was deposed? Perhaps when the Princess Imperial was sent far away in marriage, only to die tragically en route? Or when she returned to the palace after five years as a hostage in Qin?

From “past times” to “current times,” from Empress to deposed Empress—all because of one sentence from Fu Xiuyi! With that, the entire court changed their attitude, and the Ming Qi dynasty could reverse black and white! How fitting indeed—”times have changed”!

The chamber door creaked open, and a pair of boots embroidered with dragon patterns stopped before Shen Miao. Above them was the hem of an imperial yellow robe.

“In consideration of your twenty years by my side, I grant you an intact corpse. Express your gratitude,” said the Emperor.

Shen Miao slowly raised her head to look at the towering man. Time had left no mark on his handsome face. He was the enlightened ruler of the world, the legitimate Emperor, the man she had loved passionately for twenty years, the husband with whom she had shared life’s joys and sorrows. Now he was saying to her: “I grant you an intact corpse. Express your gratitude.”

“Why?” Shen Miao asked with difficulty.

He did not answer.

“Why did you execute the entire Shen family?” she asked.

Prince Ding Fu Xiuyi—the late Emperor had nine sons, each with their own merits, but the Crown Prince was often ill. The late Emperor had delayed changing his heir, causing fierce competition among the princes. She had admired Prince Ding’s exceptional talents and, ignoring her family’s objections, finally achieved her wish, thereby binding the entire Shen family with Prince Ding.

For this reason, she had wholeheartedly assisted Prince Ding, transforming from a pampered daughter who knew nothing to a Princess who participated in court affairs. She schemed and planned, finally helping to secure the throne. On the day Fu Xiuyi ascended the throne, he established her as Empress, the mother of the nation—a moment of great glory.

She thought she was the most illustrious Empress. When the rebellious princes had just been subdued, Ming Qi’s foundation was still unstable. The Huns invaded, and neighboring countries watched with predatory eyes. To borrow troops, Shen Miao volunteered to go to Qin as a hostage. When she left, her daughter and son were barely a month old. Fu Xiuyi had said: “I will personally bring you back.”

Five years later, she finally returned to Ming Qi, only to find that the palace had gained a new beauty—Madam Mei, who excelled in both appearance and talent.

Madam Mei was the daughter of an official whom Fu Xiuyi had met during his eastern campaign. Fond of her intelligence and understanding, he had brought her back to the palace. Madam Mei bore Fu Xiuyi a son, Fu Sheng, who received great imperial favor. Meanwhile, Shen Miao’s son, Crown Prince Fu Ming, did not win the Emperor’s heart.

Fu Xiuyi had once declared before the entire court: “Fu Ming’s nature is too gentle; Fu Sheng resembles my character more.” His words indicated his intention to change the crown prince.

Madam Mei made Shen Miao feel threatened. In the palace, Shen Miao and Madam Mei had fought for ten years. Madam Mei often had the upper hand, even persuading Fu Xiuyi to marry his daughter, Princess Wanyu, to the Huns. The Huns were warlike and violent; Princess Wanyu died of illness on her journey and was immediately cremated. Everyone knew something was amiss, yet Shen Miao, as her mother, was powerless.

Finally, things had come to this day.

With one imperial edict, Fu Xiuyi declared that the Shen family had committed treason. The Crown Prince was deposed and forced to commit suicide as penance. She, the Empress, was to be deposed and granted three feet of white silk.

She just wanted to ask one question: “Why?”

Shen Miao said, “Fu Xiuyi, do you have any conscience? We have been husband and wife for over twenty years, and I have never wronged you. When you ascended the throne, it was my Shen family who helped you. When you went to battle and the Huns invaded, I wrote surrender notes for you. When you wanted to win over officials, I knelt to beg them to assist you. I went to a neighboring country as a hostage, enduring unspeakable suffering. How have you repaid me? When Madam Mei asked for Wanyu to be married off, you issued the edict, and Wanyu died at just sixteen. You doted on Fu Sheng and neglected Fu Ming—the entire court knows this. Now you slaughter my entire family. At the point of death, I ask you just one question: why?”

“Shen Miao,” Fu Xiuyi frowned. His expression showed not the slightest emotion, like a cold statue. “When my royal father was alive, he had already planned to deal with several great families. The Shen family’s power threatened the throne and could not be allowed to remain. It was I who persuaded my father—I gave the Shen family twenty extra years. That was already an enormous grace to your family!”

“An enormous grace to the Shen family!” Shen Miao swayed. She had cried so much these days that she had no tears left. Facing Fu Xiuyi, she said word by word: “Why did you spare the Shen family? Not because of your mercy, nor your grace. You only wanted to use the Shen family’s military power to increase your advantage in the succession fight. ‘When the cunning hare is dead, the hunting dog is cooked.’ Now that your throne is secure, you burn the bridge after crossing it. Fu Xiuyi, how cruel your heart is!”

“Shen Miao!” Fu Xiuyi shouted angrily, as if she had touched a sensitive spot. He snorted coldly and said, “You can fend for yourself.” With that, he stormed out.

Shen Miao lay on the ground, clenching her fists. This was the man she had loved all her life. She had competed with Madam Mei for his favor in the palace, only to discover in the end that it wasn’t about competing for favor—this man’s heart had never been with her! All those sweet words and whispers were nothing but jokes made in passing!

She spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

“What’s wrong with sister? You look so miserable,” a melodious voice sounded.

A woman in light yellow thin clothes approached. With a face like a lotus and a willow waist, she was exquisitely beautiful, moving with elegant grace.

This was Madam Mei, who had fought with Shen Miao all her life and now held the winning hand.

Behind Madam Mei stood two women in palace attire. Shen Miao was startled: “Shen Qing, Shen Yue!”

These were the daughters of her second and third uncles—her two older cousins. Why were they in the palace?

“His Majesty summoned us sisters to the palace,” Shen Yue covered her mouth and smiled. “Fifth Sister need not be surprised. In the past few years, Fifth Sister loved to make marriage inquiries for us sisters. Now there’s no need. His Majesty treats us sisters extremely well.”

“You…” Shen Miao felt as if a storm was raging in her heart. In a flash, she seemed to understand some things she had never thought through. Her voice was filled with disbelief: “You two delayed marriage for this day?”

“Indeed,” Shen Qing stepped forward. “Back then, His Majesty made a pact with my father and third uncle. If they could persuade you to marry His Majesty, eventually my sister and I would have the same destiny.”

When Shen Miao married Fu Xiuyi years ago, the second and third branches of the family had indeed put in considerable effort. Thinking back, her admiration for Fu Xiuyi seemed to have sprouted from her second and third aunts’ constant praise of Prince Ding’s outstanding talents. So it had been a prearranged agreement? The second and third branches had harbored evil intentions all along, waiting for today’s events.

Shen Qing, fearing Shen Miao might not understand, continued: “His Majesty is handsome and talented. My sister and I have admired him for a long time. Unfortunately, only Uncle held significant power, so we had no choice but to let Fifth Sister take the lead. Fifth Sister has enjoyed many blessings in recent years; now the time has come.”

“Shen Qing!” Shen Miao suddenly straightened up and cried out, “His Majesty has executed the Shen family, yet allowed you two to enter the palace. How could the second and third branches remain safe?”

“Of course, the second and third branches will be safe,” Shen Yue covered her mouth and laughed. “Because we are great contributors. The evidence of Uncle’s treason was all provided by our two branches out of righteous indignation against our relatives. Fifth Sister, His Majesty will even grant our two branches high offices.”

Shen Miao looked at her two cousins in shock and said, “Have you gone mad? When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? The Shen family is one family. Fu Xiuyi wants to deal with the Shen family, yet you frame your relatives…”

“Own relatives? Fifth Sister, we never acknowledged the first branch as our own family,” Shen Qing sneered. “Besides, you’ve enjoyed far too much. Now the Crown Prince is dead, the Princess is gone, and the Shen family has fallen. You should hurry to the underworld to reunite with them.”

Madam Mei gracefully approached and smiled: “Sister, the empire is established. It’s time for you to step down.”

After ten years of struggle, Shen Miao had ultimately lost completely—lost terribly, lost her son and her clan, lost to become a massive joke!

She said bitterly, “If I don’t die, you all will remain mere consorts!”

“Eunuch Chen, proceed,” Madam Mei gave the eunuch a look.

The corpulent eunuch immediately stepped forward, one hand firmly gripping Shen Miao’s neck, the other placing the white silk from the tray around her neck. He pulled forcefully; the white silk tore into flesh and bone, making a crisp cracking sound.

The woman struggling on the ground widened her eyes, silently making a vicious vow.

Her son, her daughter, her parents and siblings, her sisters and servants, everyone in the Shen family, high and low—all had been harmed.

Fu Xiuyi, Madam Mei, Shen Qing, Shen Yue, all who had harmed her, all who had harmed her loved ones—if there was another life, blood debts would be repaid in blood!

On this day of my death, I vow that you shall all perish with me!