I am Shen Qing, and I was supposed to be the empress of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
Now I scrub chamber pots in the Palace Service Bureau with hands covered in chilblains.
On the day my enemy's daughter wore my wedding dress to marry the crown prince, I "accidentally" saved the Ninth Prince from an assassination attempt.
He wiped the blood from my forehead and chuckled. "Elder Sister Shen, want to make a deal with me?"
Later, on the night the crown prince was deposed, the eunuch who came to deliver the decree bowed respectfully before me.
And my former enemy was kneeling in the snow, prostrate at my feet. The Ninth Prince embraced me from behind, resting his chin on the crown of my head.
"Your Majesty, Empress, is this realm an acceptable bride price?"
