On a spring day when flowers were in bloom, Qi Yunheng became the top scholar, and Shen Zhuyu became empress, married in a grand procession of ten miles of red finery.
The palace’s confining walls could not extinguish her desire to reach the wider world. She put an end to every scheme and rivalry in the harem.
But she never imagined that one day the person who would harm her would be someone dearest to her.
Qi Yunheng rose through the ranks to become prime minister. Countless people sought to curry favor with him, yet he remained devoted to a little courtyard of his own.
Late at night, he would always run his fingers over the jade pendant in his hand.
Later,
when the emperor was near death, he let her leave the palace.
Shen Zhuyu packed her bags and walked away without looking back.
From then on, she wandered far and wide,
walking long roads alone, not knowing where she might find her way home.
…
