After I Stopped Being the Noble Consort, the Empress Gave Up Her Empire Too

To draw out the love worm inside the empress, Li Chonghua, I suffered its backlash, enduring piercing pain day and night.

She overruled all objections and made me her Noble Consort, showering me with boundless favor and saying that half the empire was mine.

I thought even an emperor could feel true love, but every night she stayed in the palace of her childhood companion, the one who had once been her study partner.

Until I heard her whisper to her personal attendant in the imperial garden:

"Her body is ruined. She can't walk a few steps without gasping for breath. When I look at her, all I can think about is how I can never repay my debt of guilt."

"I can only catch my breath when I go to my companion's place."

So the affection I'd risked my life for weighed so heavily on her.

I took off my finery, handed over my golden seal, and asked to spend the rest of my life as a nun in the temple.

But the decisive, ruthless emperor charged into the prayer hall, eyes red, and clutched my hand as tears fell onto its back.

"Didn't we agree that once the love worm was gone, half the empire would be yours?"

"This temple is so cold, and you're so frail... You were willing to give your life for me, so why won't you even look at me now?"

Theme: True love means having the courage to take responsibility