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Zheng Suiling, the legitimate daughter of the Northern Pacification Marquis's household, which commands an army, has enjoyed endless favor and privilege since birth. On her coming-of-age day, an imperial decree betrothed her to the new emperor, making her empress.
Everyone in the capital envied her phoenix destiny and the harmony between emperor and empress. But only Zheng Suiling knew this was clearly the classic tale of "when the cunning hare dies, the hunting dog is cooked." Her father held military power over an entire region, and the late emperor had already deeply feared him while he was alive.
So she lived in constant anxiety, as a palace-intrigue drama quietly began to play out in her mind:
When His Majesty rewarded her with lustrous pearls, she thought: A sweet-coated bomb, meant to lull me into complacency!
When His Majesty stayed the night in her palace and was tender and affectionate, she stayed alert: He is probing me in the dead of night, trying to pry out family secrets!
When His Majesty abolished the selection of consorts for her sake, she was alarmed: This is a plot to raise me up only to destroy me. His intentions are unforgivable!
To protect her family, Zheng Suiling resolutely took on the role of a "wicked beauty who brings ruin to the kingdom," making trouble at every turn and waiting for the emperor to fly into a rage and issue an edict deposing her, so she could leave in triumph.
But no matter how much trouble she caused, His Majesty accepted it all with indulgent affection in his eyes. Then her father returned victorious, and His Majesty rewarded him for his achievements, leaving the marquis's household more powerful than ever.
Zheng Suiling panicked completely: When will this scheme to raise me up and destroy me end? The day the birds are gone and the bow is put away will surely be the day disaster strikes!
At a palace banquet, she took an unexpected tack and set up a "self-inflicted injury" scheme, pretending to be attacked and getting abducted in the ensuing chaos.
As the carriage sped out of the city, she was about to meet up with her contact when a familiar voice rang out from outside the carriage, cold as a blade.
"Ling'er, you were willing to use even a self-inflicted injury scheme just to get away from me?!"
The carriage curtain was lifted. The new emperor, who should have been furiously searching the palace for her, had come riding after her himself. His eyes were bloodshot, and a nearly broken smile tugged at his lips.
He reached out, pulled her from the carriage, and clamped her tightly in his arms, holding her so hard it was as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones and blood.
"Did you know that before the assassin even entered the palace, I already knew your entire plan?" He leaned close to her ear, his burning breath and low, hoarse voice pouring into it.
Note: "When the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the cunning hare dies, the hunting dog is cooked" comes from Records of the Grand Historian, Hereditary House of King Goujian of Yue.
Theme: Serve the emperor and the nation faithfully
