In magnificent empress robes, embroidered with golden thread and pearls, phoenixes flying across the hem, mountains and rivers concealed at the shoulders, heaven and earth contained in the sleeves, Shen Guiyan descended from the phoenix carriage at the main palace gate, listening to the imperial decree being proclaimed as she walked forward with measured steps and clasped hands.
Grand Empress Dowager Nian said, “The Emperor has owed Guiyan the position of Empress for many years. Now he’s finally returning it to her.”
“No,” Yuwen Changqing said. “Rather than saying His Majesty is returning it to Her Majesty, it’s better to say Her Majesty earned it through her own ability—without relying on the bond of being his first wife, without heeding the criticism of court officials. With her own capability alone, she can completely claim the position of Empress.”
Few women possessed such courage—to guard the capital for her husband, to remain unchanged in her devotion throughout these years, and when the Emperor returned, to immediately relinquish her power, surrendering all authority without reservation. Under her governance, the capital’s officials and soldiers were united in purpose. Though everyone expected there would be some conflicts, Shen Guiyan compromised completely without any grounds for dispute.
Without the Emperor even asking, she surrendered military authority and the imperial seal, introduced all the important court ministers to the Emperor, and remained in the deep palace, never stepping outside again. All contact with officials was completely severed. The national treasury, military arsenals, granaries, land deeds—everything was properly sealed and delivered into the Emperor’s hands.
The Shen family had now become the most powerful family. In the capital, relying solely on Shen Guiyan and Shen Guiwu, they were more than qualified to be called imperial relatives, enjoying incomparable honor and glory. But to prevent the monopolization of power by imperial relatives, Shen Guiyan directly ordered Shen Shiqing to retire and return to his ancestral home.
She was intelligent, knowing that if she and the Emperor were to continue their lives together, she couldn’t repeat Grand Empress Dowager Wen’s mistakes.
However, not everyone was as intelligent as her.
The Shen family had been wealthy for so long that Shen Shiqing had grown plump and white, content with pleasure-seeking, let alone Madam Shen. Although the dancing girl the Emperor had given years ago had now become a concubine, making her unable to eat or sleep peacefully, fighting with the lowly woman was one thing—but she couldn’t just watch the Shen family’s glory and splendor dissipate like this!
Bao Shi disagreed with Old Master Shen’s resignation from office. She even wailed and made a scene, wanting to storm into the palace to curse Shen Guiyan for being ungrateful.
All these years, if not for the Shen family’s power and influence supporting her, Shen Guiyan would have been bullied to death long ago. Now that things were good, the Emperor had returned, she’d become Empress, and she wanted to kick the Shen family aside? What gave her the right?
Blocked outside the palace gates by guards, Bao Shi cursed and ranted without stopping to catch her breath. Gu Chaonan and Xu Mengdie were riding together, about to enter the palace, when they saw this scene unfold.
“This Madam Shen really is…” Gu Chaonan laughed lightly. “Detestable.”
Xu Mengdie had already been legitimized as Gu Chaonan’s principal wife. Glancing lightly at the scene outside, she smiled and said, “Husband needn’t concern himself. This person won’t have a good end.”
Gu Chaonan turned to look at her. “My wife truly is a reincarnated immortal. This husband believes you—I’ll just wait to see her downfall.”
Xu Mengdie smiled gently. “If husband is willing to always trust this wife, this wife can share with husband the splendor of today’s imperial palace.”
Gu Chaonan nodded. Although he found Mengdie quite strange, all along, listening to her words had never been wrong, so it should be the same in the future.
Bao Shi continued making a loud commotion outside, while inside the palace, the empress coronation ceremony proceeded unhurriedly. Gu Chaobei personally descended from the dragon throne and helped Shen Guiyan ascend to the phoenix seat.
“In the future, when Your Majesty widely accepts the imperial harem, it will also fall under this subject-wife’s management,” Shen Guiyan’s lips moved slightly as she sat dignifiedly on the phoenix seat, speaking softly.
Gu Chaobei’s expression was solemn. “I am devoted to state affairs. Having Yan’er alone to accompany me is sufficient. The harem doesn’t need too many people, and Yan’er need not worry too much about it.”
“Hmm?” Shen Guiyan curiously tilted her head to look at him. “Your Majesty no longer loves beautiful women but loves the empire instead?”
Gu Chaobei coughed lightly, covering his mouth with his sleeve. “The only beautiful woman I love is you.”
Below, the eunuch was still reading the imperial proclamation, while above, the Emperor and Empress were already flirting with each other. Zhuiyun felt they were truly too undignified! Especially exchanging loving glances right in front of someone like him who was still single—it was simply outrageous.
The entire coronation ceremony was resplendent and magnificent below, while pink bubbles floated above. As soon as the ceremony ended, before the ministers had a chance to report matters to the Emperor, the Emperor had already pulled the Empress toward the rear palace.
“Your Majesty?” Prime Minister Gu called out.
Gu Chaobei pulled Shen Guiyan along, running extremely fast, leaving only Zhuiyun with a darkened face to relay the message: “His Majesty says that today is a day of great joy, and what follows is the wedding chamber celebration. If there are important matters, they can be discussed at tomorrow’s morning court.”
Translated into plain language: I’m going to hold my wife and warm the bed, whatever matters you have can wait until tomorrow.
The assembled ministers looked at each other in bewilderment. Prime Minister Gu stroked his beard but smiled benevolently.
To reward according to merit, the next day in court Gu Chaobei conferred upon Gu Chaonan the title of Grand Marshal of Military Forces, for in these three years he had been invincible in battle and unstoppable in conquest, establishing magnificent achievements. Because of his merits, Xu Mengdie was also conferred the rank of Second Grade Official Wife.
Although the Emperor found Gu Chaodong disagreeable, he had spent three years in the capital and had helped Yan’er considerably, so he was still reappointed as Minister of Revenue with an additional year’s salary.
The Gu family could also be considered glorious again, but following Shen Guiyan’s wishes, the Emperor didn’t reward the Shen family. Instead, he conveyed Shen Guiyan’s admonition to Shen Shiqing.
It was time to resign from office. The title of Loyal Marquis would be retained, but all actual power in hand should be surrendered, yes?
Shen Shiqing didn’t agree.
“What Empress—an ungrateful thing! The Shen family treated her so well, yet she turns around and wants to eliminate the Shen family!” Bao Shi complained to everyone she met. “Having merit and no fault, not rewarding but punishing instead—what kind of logic is this?”
There were quite a few people from the Shen family in court, so for a time Gu Chaobei didn’t know what to do. After all, it was Yan’er’s maternal family—he couldn’t bear to be too harsh.
“Does this subject-wife have permission to leave the palace?” Shen Guiyan asked him.
Gu Chaobei nodded.
“May I interrogate officials?”
After hesitating briefly, Gu Chaobei said, “I grant you this authority.”
That made things easier. Shen Guiyan took the imperial sword of authority and departed from the palace.
She didn’t go to the Shen family first. She first went to the Gu family’s ancestral tombs, bringing Gu Chaodong along. She didn’t do anything else—just exhumed a grave.
During these three years, Shen Guiyan would come to see Shen Guiya at regular intervals. She had been buried in a tomb carved with her own name. The tomb keeper would go through a special underground passage every day to deliver food to her.
To say she didn’t hate Shen Guiya would be impossible. However, Shen Guiyan hadn’t chosen to kill her immediately but had meticulously designed this prison to confine her for three years.
The space where she could move was only the size of a coffin. At the bottom of the coffin was a pit for excretion, but she had to endure the smell herself—there was no blocking it. The feeding opening was ventilated, so she wouldn’t suffocate or starve to death—she was just made to live inside like that.
No one could endure such methods and would want to commit suicide. Shen Guiya naturally tried to starve herself to death. But every time such news was received, Shen Guiyan would order the imperial kitchen to prepare extremely delicious food to send her.
Shen Guiya’s will wasn’t firm at all. Having failed to die, she nearly went mad.
Now, it could be considered giving her release.
Having lived in darkness for too long, Shen Guiya’s eyes nearly went blind when she emerged. Seeing Shen Guiyan, she viciously tried to pounce on her, but her body had no strength. After three years without movement, her muscles had nearly atrophied. She could only be carried away.
Shen Guiyan once again returned to the Shen family, bringing Shen Guiwu and Gu Chaodong, standing in the long-missed Shen family great hall.
It was here, long ago, that she had knelt asking her father for justice. Her father hadn’t acknowledged her and ultimately hadn’t investigated how Concubine Qin had actually died.
Now, all various concerns were gone. The Shen family had also reached the time to retire after their accomplishments. If they refused to retire, then it was time to settle all accounts.
“Ya’er?!” Bao Shi saw Shen Guiya and screamed, rushing over. “You’re still alive? How did you become like this… How could this happen?”
All the Shen family members were present. Shen Guiwu and Shen Guiwen stood to one side. Shen Shiqing frowned deeply. “What is the meaning of this?”
When she was discovered impersonating an immortal, hadn’t she already been executed?
“She had a thousand reasons to die, but this palace kept her alive, all for this moment today.” Shen Guiyan slowly sat down in the main seat of the great hall. “His Majesty has already issued an edict, conferring upon this palace’s birth mother, Qin Shi, the title of Madam Duan, to reward her kindness in raising this palace.”
Bao Shi’s eyes widened. Holding Shen Guiya, she felt a chill run down her back.
“The rank conferred is Third Grade. His Majesty has also ordered this palace to investigate how this Third Grade Madam Duan died back then.” Shen Guiyan looked at Bao Shi. “The Shen residence has been sealed. Until this palace discovers the truth, not a single person will be allowed to leave.”
Shen Shiqing’s face turned pale. Bao Shi’s entire body began to tremble. “Absurd… That happened so long ago, what can still be investigated now? Your Majesty is too idle, not managing the six palaces but coming out to investigate old cases…”
“Your Majesty, the matter of Qin Shi truly happened so many years ago.” Shen Shiqing said in a low voice. “Nearly five years now. She’s already been laid to rest. Why must Your Majesty disturb her again…”
“At rest?” Shen Guiyan turned her head to look at her father, somewhat amused. “Has Lord Shen dreamed of Qin Shi? Has he heard her personally say that she doesn’t wish to pursue anything?”
Shen Shiqing looked away.
“The one who died wasn’t your most beloved, closest person, so of course you can sanctimoniously advise: Let go of old grievances—after all, we’re all one family.” Shen Guiyan snorted coldly. “The one who died was this palace’s birth mother, the person who loved this palace for over ten years. You don’t care, but this palace cares. No matter who the murderer behind this is, once caught, even if ten more years pass, this palace will grind her bones to dust!”
Shen Guiwen was slightly startled.
The Shen Guiyan he’d seen since childhood had been silent and gentle. Even after experiencing so many hardships later, she had never lost composure like this.
This was the first time seeing her so sharp. Four or five years was enough time for people to forget many things, yet her anger hadn’t diminished in the slightest due to time.
Bao Shi’s lips trembled, not knowing what to say. But Shen Guiyan’s sharp gaze had already swept over. “Back then, Qin Shi died from eating arsenic. Can Madam Shen tell this palace who administered that arsenic?”
The way this question was asked—Bao Shi inwardly sneered. Who would admit to it?
“It was her!” The person she’d been holding in her arms suddenly extended a hand, pointing at herself.
Bao Shi looked down in disbelief.