Beauty, Don't Lean on the Rail

An imperial decree arranged my marriage to Shen Congyuan, the emperor's uncle, a celebrated war hero.

Everyone in the capital knew that this lord had a charming, lovely concubine.

She had stood by him through life-and-death battles, and only her humble origins kept her from becoming his wife.

Beautiful as a flower, she had also once saved the empress during a time of war, and had long since earned the empress's protection.

The lord had delayed marrying because he wanted to find a virtuous wife with the magnanimity to accept others.

So the empress interceded and arranged for me, a woman known for my virtue, to marry him.

My father was deeply troubled, and my mother was just as worried.

I was the only one who took it in stride.

“Love is the most useless thing in the world. If his favor were worth anything, why would she still be a concubine?”

Only by securing power can you secure what truly matters.