Pei Huaizhen was practicing calligraphy when the Emperor stormed in furiously. Seeing her in such a leisurely mood, his pupils constricted sharply in an instant. But the loss of composure lasted only a moment. Immediately afterward, his face donned the mask he wore unchangingly year after year. “Empress, is your mood so good today?”

Pei Huaizhen raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the young man before her dressed in dragon robes.

He had an upright bearing and handsome features. Even before entering the palace, she had known the husband she was to marry possessed the most noble and handsome appearance under heaven. Previously she had always thought the outside world exaggerated, but later discovered there truly were such exceptionally handsome men in the world. Only, at this moment, not a trace of happiness could be seen on his face. His eyes were filled with anger and disdain.

Disdain—what about her was worthy of his looking down on her? Pei Huaizhen looked at him coldly. “Isn’t Your Majesty very busy? How do you have time to come to my hall?”

The corners of the Emperor’s mouth lifted upward rapidly. Though his face smiled, there was no hint of a smile in his eyes. This strange expression destroyed the beauty of that face. “I heard the Empress has been so bored recently that she’s started managing affairs of the outer court, so I specifically came to see if you truly have nothing to do.”

Pei Huaizhen set down her brush, her beautiful eyes appearing unusually calm. “Your Majesty, the ministers spoke correctly. Princess Qixia is of age now. Remaining in the palace is improper. If Your Majesty truly has her interests at heart, you should select an excellent prince consort for her, giving her someone to rely on for life, rather than for your own selfish reasons keeping a young girl in the palace to waste her years while allowing rumors and gossip to spread everywhere.”

“The Empress is indeed virtuous. However, Qixia is the younger sister I love most dearly. No man under heaven can be worthy of her. Before obtaining her consent, I won’t casually decide her lifelong fate. I hope the Empress will understand my intentions and not act as a petty person without cause.” The Emperor smiled, his tone and manner refreshing as a spring breeze, yet his eyes contained a hidden deterrent force that involuntarily made one’s spine turn cold.

Female Official Xin lowered her head, hardly daring to look at her mistress’s expression.

Pei Huaizhen did not become angry but responded with gentleness. “Your Majesty, matters of the court are for Your Majesty to decide. Since Your Majesty’s mind is made up, this subject wife will not speak excessively again.”

The Emperor’s gaze was ice-cold as he looked at her. “In that case, then many thanks for the Empress’s understanding!”

The Emperor left with a cold laugh, leaving Pei Huaizhen alone in the hall. She only felt the Empress’s pendant ornaments on her head were layer upon layer, complicated and chaotic, making her involuntarily feel as if needle points were stabbing at her temples. Just now her husband had come to warn her not to meddle excessively, not to presume to interfere between him and Princess Qixia. Unfortunately, not everything in the world would develop according to his ideas. Pei Huaizhen watched the Emperor who had already walked into the courtyard, her gaze distant, a faint smile floating at the corners of her lips.

In the evening, rosy clouds shone into the great hall. Pei Huaizhen sat before the bronze mirror, her eyes staring at herself in the mirror, her face faintly leaping with a trace of strange emotion, as if rejoicing in something, anticipating something.

Female Official Xin was somewhat trembling with trepidation, not daring to look directly at her. She had a peculiar feeling—today’s Empress was somewhat unusual. She had always accompanied the Empress, yet did not understand this noble personage who was mother to the realm. She was always so noble, so reserved, like a beautifully carved ice statue, impossible to fathom.

Pei Huaizhen knew she was beautiful. From the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, countless infatuated men had waited outside the Pei residence, hoping to steal a glimpse of her face when she occasionally went out. Those coming to propose marriage swarmed in endless streams, nearly breaking down the Pei family’s threshold. She was very clear that besides the illustrious surname of the Pei family, she possessed the beauty and wisdom all men in the world craved. Before marriage, she had imagined what her husband would be like. He must be the world’s most outstanding man—handsome in appearance, noble in status, talented in both civil and military arts, wise and decisive, worthy of her respect and admiration, worthy of her assistance and support. The two would treat each other with the respect due to guests, staying together for life. After entering the palace, she discovered Yuan Jinfeng satisfied all her imaginings, even better than what she wanted, even more worthy of her heart’s stirring. But the one thing she hadn’t anticipated was that he didn’t love her—had never loved her.

From the wedding ceremony onward, Yuan Jinfeng had always left her in this cold palace, never once staying the night here. At the beginning she was full of confidence, believing Yuan Jinfeng was merely quarreling with his domineering father and therefore venting his anger on her. One day she would surely obtain his heart. But every day thereafter, she waited in vain. Finally, in the whispered private words of palace maids and eunuchs, she discovered this enormous imperial court concealed a secret, a tremendous secret—that person already had a lover to whom he’d pledged life and death. But even so, Pei Huaizhen had never become discouraged. With her beauty and talent, what kind of man could she not obtain? Among the world’s beautiful women, who could compete with her? Time slowly passed. Her confidence and spirit were gradually worn down. A loneliness and fury she’d never before experienced ignited her heart. She was gradually tormented to the point of being unable to eat or sleep, no longer able to endure that feeling that corroded her heart and eroded her bones. So she put away her haughty posture and began to adorn herself carefully, displaying perfection. She wanted Yuan Jinfeng to know what kind of woman he was slighting. She wanted him to know what a huge mistake he had made. However, the result still disappointed her.

At this moment, looking at the delicate face in the bronze mirror that shone like stars in the heavens, Pei Huaizhen stood up and said, “Let’s go.”

She found the person she sought in the secluded plum blossom pavilion in the imperial garden. However, all the palace maids who saw her were full of alarm and unease, attempting to prevent her from approaching yet not daring to.

That person was lowering her head, earnestly embroidering something. Only when she heard the startled cries of the palace maids beside her did she abruptly raise her head, her face showing a trace of surprise.

Princess Qixia, famous for legendary stunning beauty—every time Pei Huaizhen saw her, her dress was plain and simple, tranquil and serene. Just standing there without powder or rouge, even brilliant rosy clouds would dim by three parts. Even more rare was that her body possessed a nameless power that made people feel settled.

Pei Huaizhen took a deep breath, suddenly feeling her formal makeup made herself seem somewhat ironic.

From the perspective of appearance, she was not inferior to Qixia, yet the other party had never had any intention of competing with her. This made her incomparably frustrated. If you prepare carefully but your opponent is weak and frail, victory becomes meaningless.

Qixia looked at Pei Huaizhen. The other’s phoenix robe was embroidered with gold thread. The golden crown still shone dazzlingly in the rosy light. But these worldly objects couldn’t compare to her beauty that surpassed all under heaven. Such a beauty, yet her expression was so cold, so unapproachable.

“I have words I wish to say to the princess.” This was how Pei Huaizhen opened.

“Please sit, Your Majesty.” Princess Qixia proactively yielded her seat, herself only sitting to the side.

“The matter in court—the princess should know all about it. The ministers are demanding His Majesty quickly select a husband for the princess.” Pei Huaizhen spoke directly to the point.

Princess Qixia was instantly stunned. Very clearly, the Emperor had blocked the news from her and had not told her about matters of the outer court.

Pei Huaizhen’s expression was calm and cold, her brow tips darkly containing a baleful air. “The princess has already reached marriageable age. Constantly wasting years in the palace—the ministers cannot bear it in their hearts, so naturally they must select an excellent golden and jade match for you.”

Princess Qixia was like someone who’d had a basin of cold water poured over her head, staying frozen without moving.

Pei Huaizhen lowered her head and picked up the embroidery piece set to the side. Her slender fingers caressed the exquisite peony flowers on it as she smiled. “The palace has newly cultivated a Wei purple peony, said to be the queen of peonies. I look at the color and find it very beautiful. However, evil purple usurping vermilion—ultimately it’s not a good thing.”

After saying this sentence, she raised her head to look at Princess Qixia, her expression motionless, but her smile slightly contracting. “Does the princess understand my meaning?”

In Qixia’s heart there had always been a thorn covered in blood, flesh and skin together. Now it was suddenly touched painfully by someone, immediately becoming dripping with fresh blood. Subconsciously, her mouth opened and closed rapidly, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately nothing came out.

Pei Huaizhen knew Princess Qixia’s pain. She appreciated this pain, appreciated the humiliation and sorrow in the other’s eyes. What these lovers had given her, now she was returning to them a hundredfold, a thousandfold. Seeing Qixia’s eyes—like crystal—brim with tears yet still desperately suppressing them, Pei Huaizhen felt exceptionally pleased.

Pei Huaizhen was proud, skilled in methods. She could handle this matter even better, could do it without revealing the slightest trace, leaving the Emperor with no way to blame her. She could even arrange things secretly, quietly waiting for Qixia to marry, at which time she would naturally have ways to make Yuan Jinfeng turn back. But she personally severed this path.

Turn back? No, no one could turn back. Since things had already reached this point, everyone must struggle like this—a dying struggle. So she came, openly and before everyone’s eyes. She fervently looked forward to the Emperor knowing about this matter, his reaction. She wanted to enrage him.

This enraging was a thrilling game. She clearly knew there was absolutely no benefit, yet she enjoyed it endlessly.

I suffer, so you must suffer even more than I do.

Since you cannot give me love, then hate me—hate me forever and ever, because I tore apart you lovers who love each other. I am the most venomous woman in the world.

However, Princess Qixia’s lack of the expected excessive reaction greatly surprised her.

Qixia, you’ve lived this long—you shouldn’t be an idiot, right? Why not refute? Why not strike back?! Pei Huaizhen smiled. “The princess’s performance seems completely innocent. Those who don’t know would truly think I bullied you.”

Princess Qixia’s face lost all its color, becoming pale and transparent, but her expression slowly became resolute. “Your Majesty, I will marry. Let this matter end here. I hope no one will mention it again.”

The light in Pei Huaizhen’s eyes gradually ignited a trace of sarcasm. “Don’t you love him very much? You’re giving up this easily?”

Princess Qixia quietly looked at the noble and elegant empress before her, her gaze frank. “No, I still love him. At that time he wasn’t yet the Emperor, only a prisoner. I wasn’t a princess, only the sole little sister accompanying him. However, I don’t know when it started—we fell in love. Perhaps this was some people’s sinful arrangement, perhaps this was heaven’s mercy. We were like cold cicadas in darkness, clinging to each other for survival until now.”

Pei Huaizhen’s hands clenched tighter bit by bit. “Are you showing off to me?”

Princess Qixia gently shook her head. “No, I only want to tell you—to remain by his side, I can cover my eyes, block my ears, play deaf and mute in this deep palace, never leave the palace for life, never see other people, even offer up this life to him. I don’t care how outsiders view me, but… I care how others view him. He has too many things he must do, yet I’m like a basin of filthy water, only making his life become dirty and unbearable. So, these days were stolen by me. I should return them to you now.”

Pei Huaizhen did not feel happy. She stared at the other party, her expression shaken. “You’re yielding to me?” No, she didn’t need others to yield. She was Pei Huaizhen. She had never lost to anyone.

But Qixia smiled faintly. Her smile looked more beautiful than evening clouds. “Empress, you love him using the Empress’s status, but I love him with a woman’s feelings. You’re angry because you feel we humiliated your dignity. But I want to say—no man is a fool. They can distinguish. Why you love him—he knows perfectly clearly. If you’re willing to put down your pride, he will love you. Someday he will love you.”

Pei Huaizhen was stunned. She looked at the woman before her, slowly understanding a bit why she was so deeply loved by Yuan Jinfeng.

If she were a man, she probably couldn’t help but fall in love with her too.

“Look, it’s raining.” Qixia turned her head, smiling as she looked outside the pavilion.

For a very, very long time Pei Huaizhen said nothing. Only when the sky had completely darkened did she silently speak. “Loving him wholeheartedly with a woman’s feelings—does it truly work?”

Qixia had been watching the rain threads outside. At this moment she turned her head back, her smile serene. “I believe there’s no one in the world who wouldn’t love you.”

As if a warm current was slowly flowing into her body, unknowingly filling the emptiness in her heart. Pei Huaizhen slowly calmed down. She looked at Princess Qixia. Indeed, how could there be anyone in the world who wouldn’t love Pei Huaizhen?

A month later, Princess Qixia married as agreed. A procession of palace musicians dressed in deep purple long robes opened the way magnificently. Hundreds of palace maids holding precious and dazzling gifts crowded behind the sedan chair. Looking to the very end of the ceremonial procession, there was still a dense mass of dark figures—all civil and military officials from court who had come to celebrate. The princess’s wedding appeared grand and solemn, even faintly exceeding the specifications of when the Empress had entered the palace. However, amid the boiling clamor, only Pei Huaizhen knew that the bride sitting inside the flower sedan had used the method of refusing food to force the man who deeply loved her to yield. She was so resolute, so heartless, deeply wounding the Emperor’s heart.

No one could wound the Emperor whose heart was like iron and stone, invulnerable—only his lover, his most beloved Qixia, could.

But Pei Huaizhen faintly had a premonition—all of this was only just beginning. What would happen next, no one would know.