In the third year of Jiancheng, a favored consort entered the imperial harem: the fifth young lady of the Chengjing Marquis household.
As the daughter of the Imperial Tutor, she was put in charge of the Six Palaces as soon as she entered the palace, and received the emperor's favor.
But only Su Shining knew that this favor was merely a transaction.
Su Shining had been frail as a child and was raised in her maternal uncle's home, where spring lasted all year. Her uncle had a son, an adopted son, who was as bright as the moon and talented beyond compare. He treated Su Shining like a dear little sister, patiently teaching her to write when they were young, and bringing her gifts whenever he returned home as an adult.
But in the first year of Jiancheng, Shen Que went to the capital to take the imperial examinations and died unexpectedly.
The person responsible was most likely the eldest son of the maternal uncle's household, the current empress's nephew.
But the maternal uncle's household was so powerful that ordinary officials couldn't oppose them.
It so happened that one day, the emperor visited the Chengjing Marquis household. A beautiful young woman in a simple dress appeared before him and bowed gracefully. The emperor's eyes narrowed slightly.
The next day, an imperial decree appointing Su Shining as a consort arrived at the Chengjing Marquis household.
The day before she was made a consort, she and the emperor struck a deal:
He would investigate the reason for her sworn elder brother's unexpected death. Even if the empress was responsible, he would not let her off.
She would help him balance the various factions in the harem.
He would grant her the favor of the Six Palaces, but he would not love her, much less make her empress.
But the first to break their agreement was this diligent and ambitious emperor.
When Emperor Jiancheng first met Su Shining, he thought her clever and resourceful. After she entered the palace, he used her without hesitation, coldly watching as others bullied her.
But later, after he accidentally spent the night with her, he found himself wanting more.
Later still, he was the one who suggested breaking their agreement, personally bringing her the imperial decree naming her empress.
That was when the emperor first tasted the agony of a broken heart.
Note:
1. The female lead enters the palace to seek the truth. The male lead falls for her first, then has to grovel to win her back.
2. Both leads are virgins. The arrangement to make her a consort is a transaction, and once the male lead falls for her, he will dismiss the entire harem.
3. This is a fictional setting. Please don't nitpick historical details.
4. Weibo: @Jinjiang Qiao Yan
[Blurb first posted on June 5, 2022, revised on April 16.]
Theme: Though mountains and rivers separate those we love, they can all be crossed.
