Empresses in the Palace: The Empress Runs Wild in the Harem

Yixiu died in the Cold Palace. The niece she had pinned all her hopes on failed to uphold the Ulanara clan's reputation and instead brought disgrace upon it. When Yixiu dreamed of these scenes, she was neither the exalted Empress she would later become nor the deposed Empress imprisoned in the Cold Palace, destined never to see the Emperor again. She was still young, still in Prince Yong's residence, still only a Side Consort, and still carrying her child. At first, Yixiu didn't want to believe what she saw in the dream. After all, the Prince had said, “May I be like this bracelet, always by your side, day and night.” But the dream was so real, so frighteningly real. When she discovered that everything was indeed happening just as she had seen in her dream, Yixiu smiled. Heaven had shown her the future. Surely that meant fate was on her side. If fate were in her hands and she still ended up as wretchedly as she had in the dream, then she would be a laughingstock. Pure Yuan and Prince Yong wanted to take the position of principal wife away from her, didn't they? Then she would spread the story: a prince had fallen for a woman who was already engaged, and the two had started an affair as soon as they met. If that news got out, surely the Eighth Prince, the Ninth Prince, and even the Crown Prince wouldn't let Prince Yong off the hook. They would make sure everyone heard about it. Yixiu hadn't done anything at all. She had merely let a few rumors slip and put on the air of a pitiful young woman. Pure Yuan would still enter the prince's household, but only as a concubine, not even a Side Consort.