The Eavesdropping Little Empress

[This novel is complete. Please add my ongoing novel, "The Little Wife Peeking Over the Wall", to your library.]

[Blurb] #Before the emperor died, I came clean to him. Now he's survived. Will my entire clan be executed?

Because of grudges between their fathers, the current emperor despises his empress. Every day, he goes to her chambers to make things difficult for her, often scolding her for hours at a time. Then he refuses to leave and spends the night in her chambers.

The imperial consorts all wait for the emperor to depose the empress. Shi Yueying feels like she's walking on eggshells in her position.

She endures this life for two years, until the emperor is seriously injured while hunting.

Before he departs, the emperor becomes delirious. He calls for neither a capable minister nor a favored consort. Instead, he repeatedly calls the empress by her maiden name and summons her to his bedside.

Clinging to life, he writes an edict. Since they have no sons, he'll appoint a prince of the imperial clan to inherit the throne and make her the sole Empress Dowager. Every word is meant to arrange the rest of her life.

After writing the final character, he sets down his brush, takes Empress Shi's hand, and tells her, "After I die, move to Funing Hall. Don't get involved in the affairs of the court or the inner palace anymore. Do you understand?"

Shi Yueying clutches the edict, overwhelmed by his favor. She wonders if the emperor has mistaken her for his most beloved consort. Whatever. This edict will guarantee her wealth and comfort for the rest of her life.

But she hasn't forgotten the indignities she's suffered over the past two years. She pulls her hand out of the emperor's and stands straight beside the dragon bed, glaring down at him.

"Your Majesty has made such thoughtful arrangements for me. I am deeply grateful for your imperial favor. But I'm still young. Moving to Funing Hall would be no fun. After Your Majesty dies, I'll move to the palace retreat and recruit thirty or more handsome attendants, each better-looking than you. I'll have them take turns serving me every month. They'll be obedient and attentive, unlike you, always complaining that I don't serve you well!"

Having vented her anger, she turns and leaves with the imperial edict, without a backward glance.

The next day, a message comes from the emperor's chambers. He has survived his brush with death and now wants her to come serve him his medicine.

[Mini-scene 1]

The young empress is dull and has no idea how to please the emperor.

Emperor: Shi Yueying, don't push your luck! If you don't make me happy tonight, I'll order your entire clan executed tomorrow!

The young empress asks cautiously, her eyes full of tears: How should I please you?

[Mini-scene 2]

After recovering from a serious illness, Shi Yueying temporarily loses her memory. She sees the entire palace full of servants and consorts kneeling to her and addressing her as Empress. The man whose marriage proposal she once rejected has ascended the throne and, putting the past aside, made her his empress! Shi Yueying pulls herself together and resolves to become a virtuous empress.

But the emperor always looks at her strangely...

[Content warning] The blurb was archived on May 10.

Theme: Being able to express love is one of the secrets to a successful marriage