Li Changle’s hatred was fierce. If at this moment she had a sharp sword in her hand, she would certainly stab through Tuoba Zhen’s heart without hesitation.

That’s right—she had betrayed her own younger sister, snatched away her husband, seized the Empress position, and brazenly claimed everything as her own. But so what? She was Dali’s foremost beauty. Everything should have belonged to her. The person Tuoba Zhen had originally intended to marry was her—Li Weiyang was merely a substitute. When the road became clear and unobstructed, she naturally should make way for herself. Li Changle simply hadn’t expected that over twenty years later, her own niece would attempt to seize power from her hands using the same methods. This was something she absolutely couldn’t tolerate, so Feiyue had to die.

She had thought that after that scheming little slut died, Tuoba Zhen would return to her side. But she never imagined a great fire would destroy everything. Li Changle was unwilling, very unwilling. She absolutely refused to accept that her fate would be manipulated by others like this. So she desperately extended her hand, trying to grab a corner of Tuoba Zhen’s robe: “You… won’t succeed… ha…” Strange sounds issued from her throat, seeming to mock, seeming to warn.

Tuoba Zhen naturally knew what Li Changle was saying. He understood this Empress of his too well. When young, she could rely on her exquisite beauty and outstanding talents to make herself seem extraordinary. When she grew older, she learned to rely on her family’s support to consolidate her Empress position. Prime Minister Li had long retired, Duke Jiang had also passed away, but the Jiang family stood firm—even becoming Dali’s foremost family, firmly controlling the military in their hands. This was because the Jiang family had outstanding descendants, outstanding enough to support this increasingly enormous family without being affected by any power struggles. But over time, even the most enormous trees would have borers. No one could prosper forever…

Tuoba Zhen smiled: “Don’t worry, the Crown Prince will come visit you shortly. I hope you mother and son get along happily.”

Li Changle stared at him fixedly, her eyes full of hatred. She absolutely didn’t believe Tuoba Zhen would let the Crown Prince come see her, because he would fear the Crown Prince would stand on her side and jointly accuse him, this heartless and ungrateful person. But Tuoba Zhen didn’t break his word. Soon she saw the Crown Prince—her own biological son.

Overjoyed, Li Changle tightly gripped Tuoba Su’s hand, tears streaming down: “Your father emperor… it was him… he set the fire!”

A wave of unease surged across the young Crown Prince’s face, yet he showed no excessive shock or indignation. Unfortunately, Li Changle was too excited to notice this peculiar emotion.

“Immediately write a letter… to Jiang Hai and the others, have them raise troops… raise troops to save me!” Li Changle desperately finished speaking and forcefully swallowed the bloody foam in her throat, unable to conceal the venomous hatred in her eyes no matter what. She wanted revenge. She wanted to let Tuoba Zhen know the taste of losing everything!

The Crown Prince’s hands trembled, his face also abnormally pale. In his growing experience, Tuoba Zhen as father emperor was too domineering and extremely suspicious, never giving him sufficient trust and help. Of course, Tuoba Zhen was like this toward everyone, not just him alone. Especially in recent years, Tuoba Zhen had become increasingly paranoid and quick to take offense, such that the Crown Prince dared not speak easily at court. At this moment, seeing his biological mother become like this, the first feeling Tuoba Su felt rising wasn’t anger but fear. He nervously glanced at the window and doorway, seeming to worry terrible imperial guards would suddenly pour out from there, and also worried whether walls had ears. In this palace, his Crown Prince position was becoming increasingly unstable. He couldn’t take such risks.

Especially since this visit was something the Emperor had personally ordered him to do. Though he sympathized with his mother from the bottom of his heart, he lacked sufficient ability and courage to help her. So he only mumbled: “Mother Empress, you should focus on healing your injuries. Don’t think about anything else, especially don’t say those treasonous words. If someone hears, even I will be implicated…”

Li Changle looked at her son in shock. She hadn’t expected that after seeing her fall into such a miserable state, he could still say such things. Couldn’t he see how the Emperor was persecuting her? Tuoba Zhen wanted her to suffer while alive, so he neither let anyone care for her nor summoned imperial physicians for her, allowing her burned areas to gradually fester and suppurate. This was cruel torment, yet her most precious son was now advising her to focus on healing? Absurd!

“How can I heal in such a place? You must go find Jiang Hai and transmit my decree!”

Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by the Crown Prince, terrified to the extreme. The Crown Prince suddenly shook off her hand, his facial expression almost flustered: “Mother Empress, stop daydreaming! Who do you think Father Emperor is? Would he allow us to communicate with the outside world? I’ll tell you the truth—Father Emperor has already announced to the outside that you’re severely injured. Now everyone in the Jiang family knows about this, but they haven’t made the slightest move. This shows they’ve already tacitly accepted everything that’s happened. Don’t you understand yet?”

What did this mean? Everyone in the Jiang family knew, but they remained silent about it. Why? Didn’t they know how important an Empress was to the Jiang family? Were they foolish enough to abandon her? No, this was impossible. She absolutely didn’t believe such nonsense!

Seeing Li Changle’s expression of disbelief, the Crown Prince walked two agitated steps in the hall, as if unable to conceal his inner anxiety. But soon he seemed to throw caution to the wind and walked before her, speaking his true thoughts: “The Jiang family no longer needs you. Jiang Hai’s eldest daughter will soon become my Crown Princess. Moreover, the Jiang family has also selected four young and beautiful maidens from the clan to enter the palace. They can’t immediately replace you as Empress, but His Majesty has already given them a place. One of them has even been enfeoffed as Noble Consort Min, and Father Emperor greatly favors her. At this critical juncture, they have absolutely no need to oppose His Majesty. This would be very unfavorable for the Jiang clan. Although they’ve flourished at court these years, many people still oppose and envy them in secret. The Jiang family has many enemies—they need His Majesty’s protection and support.”

“No, I don’t believe it! I absolutely don’t believe it!” Li Changle’s brows shot up, fury blazing in her eyes. But simultaneously she realized all this was possible, unable to help feeling bone-chilling cold from the depths of her heart.

“Mother Empress, don’t forget—from beginning to end, your surname is Li. The Jiang family is merely your maternal family. Once they have closer candidates, they will inevitably abandon you!” The Crown Prince mercilessly shattered her beautiful dream.

Li Changle immediately realized the crux of the matter. Previously, the Jiang family had spared no effort helping her because her maternal grandmother was still alive. That old lady always favored her beloved granddaughter, making everyone in the Jiang family treat Li Changle as an honored guest. While the Jiang family temporarily had no candidate they could put forward, Li Changle was the best medium for courting the imperial family. However, once they found more suitable candidates—or to put it bluntly, once they had outstanding maidens from direct or collateral lines—their thoughts would become active. Most importantly, the old Duke’s wife who could influence the overall situation had already passed away, and this generation’s Jiang family leaders only gave her, this Empress, some superficial support.

How could she have been so foolish not to realize this! Perhaps Tuoba Zhen’s many years of favor made her forget she was constantly in crisis. Perhaps her innate sense of superiority made her think the world revolved around her, such that suddenly being abandoned was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky!

Seeing Li Changle’s deathly pale face and dazed gaze, the Crown Prince seemed somewhat afraid: “Mother Empress, I still need to return to see Father Emperor…” As he spoke, he retreated backward.

Li Changle hadn’t expected that in the end even her son would leave. She grew anxious. She frantically tried to lift her hand, but suddenly fell back, her entire body trembling unceasingly. She looked as if her soul had suddenly been extracted.

The Crown Prince ran out rapidly, not caring at all about the heir apparent’s etiquette, almost as if some inescapable demon were behind him.

Li Changle despairingly watched his retreating back. Only now did she realize she had become utterly alone.

Was there any way to turn things around? She absolutely refused to believe she was finished like this. No, she absolutely didn’t believe it… So she struggled, propping herself up to climb up. However, the burns all over her body made it difficult to move. But if she continued lying like this, she could only be trapped to death in this palace—and this was her husband’s true purpose. He wanted her to watch herself rot in bed with her own eyes. She had to find a way to leave here. Li Changle finally stood up, moving her steps bit by bit, almost enduring excruciating pain throughout her body. With great difficulty she barely walked out of the palace gate. Only she didn’t know that besides being covered in burns, her hair was disheveled, her eye sockets sunken, beneath her eyes were bluish shadows, the left side of her face severely burned—altogether terrifying to behold. She didn’t know where she found the strength to harshly rebuke those palace maids and eunuchs outside the hall: “Immediately take me to see His Majesty! Did you hear?”

People looked at each other. The Empress was burned like this yet still running everywhere—what exactly did she want to do? But no one dared stop her, because at this moment the Empress looked extremely terrifying. They could only prepare a sedan chair according to Li Changle’s orders and send her to the Emperor’s Qingxin Hall. By the time she rushed over, it was already noon. The sun hung brightly overhead. She was covered in sweat, both exhausted and furious.

Though Li Changle was in great pain and needed support, that fierce momentum supported her as she charged in unstoppably.

On the high steps, a eunuch rushed out first to block her: “Your Ladyship, His Majesty hasn’t summoned you!”

Li Changle swept him aside: “Get lost!”

Then she suddenly saw a beauty with jade-like skin and star-like eyes walk out. Though her clothing was neat, her coiffure was loose, as if just arranged, yet carrying a trace of languid charm that made it impossible to look away no matter what.

“Min’er greets Your Ladyship.” Noble Consort Min paused slightly, her moist cherry-red lips curving upward gently, containing an ambiguous smile. Her movements flowed like water—clearly she had already received specialized training.

Excellent! The Jiang family had been plotting all along—praising and protecting her on one side while secretly preparing suitable candidates behind her back.

“Your Ladyship comes at an inopportune time. His Majesty is taking his afternoon nap—I’m afraid he cannot let you enter…” Noble Consort Min said hesitantly, yet her eyes contained a trace of pride.

Li Changle’s complexion was withered, her cheeks burned—she no longer looked like the legendary peerless beauty. At this moment she swayed unsteadily with an angry expression. Such an Empress definitely wouldn’t last long… Noble Consort Min forcefully suppressed the smile in her heart while appearing very respectful on the surface.

Li Changle looked at the young woman before her who was replacing her, her heart throbbing with pain. Back when her beauty was at its peak, who before her didn’t feel ashamed of their inferiority? What did this woman before her amount to? Yet beauty withers with age. The Emperor wanting to replace her with a beautiful woman for companionship—anyone would find this perfectly natural. But Li Changle was unwilling. Like Li Weiyang back then, she was completely unwilling! A shout of rage burst out: “The Jiang family sends such a seductress who instigates His Majesty to indulge in daytime debauchery—what are their intentions?” As she spoke, her brows shot up fiercely. She commanded those around her: “Quickly beat this slut to death, lest she cause His Majesty to leave a foul name for eternity!”

However, not a single person moved. Everyone watched this scene in horror. Li Changle became ruthlessly angry. She pushed aside the palace maid supporting her and lunged forward trying to grab Noble Consort Min, wanting to use her sharp nails to scratch the other’s beautiful face. But Noble Consort Min was young and agile—she nimbly dodged. Li Changle still didn’t give up. Filled with hatred, she lunged forward again. A mocking gleam flashed in Noble Consort Min’s eyes. Her form suddenly avoided. Li Changle lunged at empty air. She felt her entire body step down with one foot and instinctively screamed.

Everyone watched helplessly as the Empress rolled down from the high steps…

Li Changle rolled nonstop to the bottom, prostrate on the ground barely alive. In the hazy light and shadow, she saw a woman standing just outside the courtyard gate, wearing an elegant simple dress, skin as white as snow, eyes jet-black, cheeks flushed with a peach-blossom rosiness. That face… that face Li Changle would absolutely never forget.

Li Weiyang—it was actually her!

Only Li Weiyang should have long since died hopelessly in the Cold Palace. Yet the woman before her eyes was young and beautiful, her entire person radiating youth and vitality.

This wasn’t Li Weiyang as a young maiden, because Li Changle clearly remembered that at that time this third sister had admired and depended on her.

Nor was it Li Weiyang when her Empress position was seized, because at that time she was filled with hatred and venomous resentment toward her, such that the resentment in the Cold Palace refused to dissipate for a long time, causing her frequent nightmares in the middle of the night.

The phantom in the sunlight simply gazed at her calmly. In the depths of her eyes was neither love nor hate—only calm, as if she had long foreseen her ending.

Indeed, her ending had been destined from the very beginning. Seizing someone else’s beloved husband—one day it too must be handed over. Haha, retribution, truly retribution.

Thinking they would never meet again in this life, who knew the last person she would see would still be her. Li Changle extended her hand toward Li Weiyang’s shadow, crying and laughing, unable to tell whether the complex feeling in her heart was guilt or irony. Finally, unable to bring up the phlegm, unable to make another sound, she collapsed like that forever. However, her eyes kept staring at the inexplicable void ahead, dying with eyes unclosed.

Palace maids hurried in to report. Eunuchs busied themselves collecting the Empress’s corpse. Noble Consort Min looked very confused at the distance: “What exactly did she see?”

In the sunlight, the direction Li Changle had just been staring at was completely empty.

Li Weiyang watched people hastily prepare a funeral for Li Changle. Because she had offended the new favorite Noble Consort Min, the Emperor ordered her to be buried with disheveled hair stuffed with chaff. Moreover, her coffin was sealed with a peach wood figure—this was an extremely malicious curse, making it so she could never again enter the cycle of reincarnation for all eternity, only able to be a nameless lonely ghost wandering the world.

Seeing the Empress dead, Noble Consort Min was very happy. She patiently waited for national mourning to pass, then put forth her own request: “Your Majesty, the rear palace cannot be without a mistress for even a day.”

Tuoba Zhen, who was tasting wine, stopped his cup and smiled at her: “Min’er, don’t be so ignorant. You should understand your proper place.” The rear palace didn’t need a new Empress, much less an Empress from the Jiang family.

Jiang Min’er’s face paled: “Your Majesty, you—”

Tuoba Zhen smiled faintly, hooking her shoulder to pull her into his embrace: “The Empress position isn’t easy to occupy. How many pairs of eyes are watching like tigers eyeing prey? Min’er, you’re just my obedient little bird. How can you go out to experience wind and rain?”

Jiang Min’er’s heart jumped. Recalling what Jiang Hai had said, she still unwillingly wanted to make an effort: “But… but Your Majesty…”

“Enough, don’t say anything more. Just serve me well. I won’t treat you unfairly.” As he spoke, he was already becoming somewhat impatient.

Jiang Min’er finally understood. In Tuoba Zhen’s heart, he had never truly liked her, this Noble Consort Min. She was merely a chess piece used to balance the Jiang family. Biting her teeth, she resumed her usual obedient appearance on the surface, continuing to serve Tuoba Zhen in drinking and taking pleasure with smiles and laughter. Tuoba Zhen seemed in very good spirits today. Under her persuasion, he truly drank a great deal.

Jiang Min’er knew why Tuoba Zhen was in such good spirits—because today at court Jiang Hai had proposed requesting His Majesty ascend the mountain to perform the feng and shan ceremonies. Only by going to the highest mountain to sacrifice to the Heavenly Emperor would he, this Son of Heaven, be considered mandated by Heaven, revered by ten thousand people.

Seeing Tuoba Zhen’s eyes hazy with drink, his body swaying, Noble Consort Min’s fingers turned. The wine cup in her hand suddenly flew toward the ground. With a crash, cup fragments scattered.

Tuoba Zhen looked at her baffled, then vigilance rapidly surfaced in his eyes: “What are you doing?”

As soon as these words finished, Noble Consort Min had already retreated to the side. Large numbers of armored warriors surged in. These people were all imperial guards around Tuoba Zhen, but now their commander was Jiang Hai in full military dress. Jiang Hai laughed coldly: “Your Majesty, you made the wrong decision.”

Tuoba Zhen instantly sobered. His face turned cold: “So the General has been watching like a tiger all along. What, are you also so interested in my dragon throne?”

“The Jiang family has five hundred thousand military authority. Now even control of the hundred thousand imperial guards in the city has fallen into our hands. Half the palace guards have already submitted. Your Majesty, what cards do you still hold?” Jiang Hai said composedly.

Tuoba Zhen smiled: “Things can’t be said so absolutely. The General can go outside and look.”

Jiang Hai was startled, then looked doubtfully toward outside the hall. Outside had originally been pitch-black. In an instant, hundreds and thousands of torches lit up, illuminating the plaza shrouded in darkness bright as day. Those inside the hall who had been holding sharp swords also instantly reversed the direction of their weapons… Jiang Hai’s heart sank.

“General, actually you have more than enough prudence but insufficient pioneering spirit—you’re not suited to be Emperor. Jiang Yang has a gloomy personality, insufficient boldness. Jiang Hua is talented, but unfortunately his temperament is too narrow. My imperial physicians can’t cure coughing blood. As for Jiang Nan, he’s adequate as a general, yet arrogant and self-important, willful and reckless. I predicted long ago that your Jiang family couldn’t produce an Emperor. I didn’t expect you lacked self-awareness!”

Jiang Hai hadn’t expected years of planning merely fell into one of Tuoba Zhen’s traps. He couldn’t help laughing coldly: “Your Majesty shouldn’t be happy too early. My third and fourth brothers will soon besiege the city. Who lives and who dies is still unknown.”

Tuoba Zhen disdained arguing with him. He also knew there was still a fierce battle ahead, but he had waited a long time for this battle, prepared a long time. He would soon clean up this persistent ailment. So he waved his hand. The imperial guards stepped forward and escorted Jiang Hai away.

The Crown Prince hurried in from outside the hall: “Father Emperor, your son arrived late to rescue you!”

Ordering everyone to withdraw, Tuoba Zhen smiled and personally helped him up: “Rise. Thanks to you informing me, I could confirm the day they would act.”

The Crown Prince’s face was full of sincerity: “Being able to serve Father Emperor with heart and effort, your son would die ten thousand deaths without regret.”

Tuoba Zhen felt a sincere comfort. His hand forcefully patted the Crown Prince’s shoulder. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly widened his eyes, looking at the Crown Prince in disbelief. His son cried out: “Father Emperor, what’s wrong?”

Tuoba Zhen fell to the ground facing upward, a short sword inserted in his chest, blood gurgling outward.

His eyes stared fixedly at the son before him.

The Crown Prince drew the long sword from his waist and with one thrust killed Noble Consort Min, who had just been hiding trembling in a corner and upon seeing everything was now about to flee. Then he loudly announced: “You slut actually dared murder Father Emperor—you deserve ten thousand deaths!” Then he turned his head back, looking at Tuoba Zhen coldly: “Father Emperor, your son didn’t expect that slut would be so bold. Please forgive your son’s offense—”

His eyes carried cunning, viciousness, malice, and flourishing ambition.

Tuoba Zhen stared at his son full of shock. Yes, he had always underestimated this little beast. His son—how could he be a kind type? He clearly borrowed the opportunity to gain his trust, both eliminating the Jiang family and eliminating himself, this obstructive Emperor. Good, very good—the student surpasses the master. What a pity. He suddenly smiled bizarrely: “You think this way you can sit firmly on the empire? You’re still too green. The Jiang family won’t be so easily defeated—”

He had wanted to say that without him, the Crown Prince simply couldn’t sit firmly on the empire. However, before he could finish, the Crown Prince had already rapidly stepped forward. The blood-stained long sword hacked at his body dozens of times, not stopping even after he was bloody and dismembered.

The Crown Prince’s heart’s venomous hatred at this moment instantly erupted completely. In the end, even after Tuoba Zhen was hacked into minced meat, he still felt unsatisfied…

Husband and wife, sovereign and subject, father and son—each became like this. All of this was the evil fruit Tuoba Zhen himself had sown.

Li Weiyang saw everything that happened in the hall. She instinctively retreated a step and suddenly awakened abruptly, cold sweat dripping from her forehead. But she was suddenly lifted into the air by someone.

Yuan Lie gently placed her on the bed, saying softly: “How did you fall asleep?”

Li Weiyang calmed down and merely smiled, her eyes gentle: “I just had a dream.”

“Was it a good dream or a nightmare? Was I in the dream?” Yuan Lie took advantage to pull her into his embrace, asking curiously.

“Neither good nor bad.” She glanced at him sideways, her eyes rather amused. “How come even in dreams there’s no peace—must you be there?”

Yuan Lie muttered quietly: “You clearly promised yourself that wherever you go from now on, we’ll be together. Of course when dreaming you should also dream of me!”

As he spoke, his burning breath exhaled on her neck. She only felt very ticklish. Her originally solemn mood was also amused by him.

Yuan Lie pushed his advantage, nuzzling closer and closer. Her skin’s faint fragrance constantly lingered at his nose, making him vaguely happy. His hand also mischievously twisted and twisted at her earlobe, making her slightly cool body ignite inch by inch with the caressing of his palm.

She caught his hand, saying in a low voice: “Tomorrow you still have to attend court. If you don’t sleep early, you won’t be able to get up…”

Her breathing was clearly disordered—clearly forcing herself to stay calm.

He was very satisfied with her reaction, yet clung even tighter, his voice carrying a wheedling tone: “On such a cold day, if I don’t hold you to sleep, it will be very cold.”

Cold, as if! His body was like a furnace.

His hand had already slipped into her inner garment. Her breathing quickened, her body trembling slightly.

“What exactly did you dream about just now…” Yuan Lie smiled and leaned over, biting her cheek and gently suckling.

His kiss was as warm as spring wind, causing a wave of tingling in her body. She smiled slightly. She saw his black hair hanging by his ears, his eyes crystal bright, further setting off his jade-like skin and incomparably handsome face. She couldn’t help saying in a low voice: “Guess?”

He paused, seeming somewhat confused, but then smiled. He lowered his head and gently kissed her temple: “It doesn’t matter. No matter what you just dreamed, from now on it will all be beautiful dreams.”

She was silent for a moment, then curved the corners of her mouth, softly humming in agreement.

Indeed, from now on with no mental knots, her life from now on would all be beautiful dreams.

Bright moonlight shone in, stretching the pair of shadows within the phoenix bed canopy very long, very long—leaning on each other, entwined to the bone.

May this moment last forever, for heaven and earth to endure.