Jiang Tang was the current emperor's second empress.
If all went as expected, just as her father had predicted, she would quietly become a dowager empress, a mere ornament, once the ailing emperor breathed his last.
Sure enough, less than two years later, the emperor died. With the crown prince still young, various factions began to stir, until the heir of Prince Yi, who had always kept himself apart from worldly affairs, led his army into the capital.
Life can always get worse. Who was this heir of Prince Yi? He had once been Jiang Tang's betrothed, waiting eagerly for her for four whole years. Then she had abruptly broken off their engagement and entered the palace to become empress. That slap had certainly landed hard.
As the person with the strongest army at his command, he was hardly likely to treat Jiang Tang kindly once she fell into his hands.
It was a misty, rainy year when Xue Bushu entered the palace hall in silver armor. This was the first time he had gotten a close look at his former betrothed.
The young dowager empress, in the prime of her youth, wore white and leaned against the late emperor's coffin. Her shining eyes nervously surveyed everything around her, making her look utterly pitiful.
He shut his eyes in irritation, then stepped close and cornered her.
