The Empress Remarries

Blurb: Shen Shuanghe has been married to Pei Huaizhi for seven years, accompanying him from crown prince to emperor. She never imagined that even the royal family could suffer the seven-year itch. The more gentle and virtuous she is, the more Pei Huaizhi thinks she is vain and dull. No matter how diligently she helps him manage the harem, even working herself into a serious illness, Pei Huaizhi sees it as nothing more than her duty as empress. He would rather dote on the arrogant, jealous Consort Chen than set foot in her chambers. Though Shen Shuanghe feels wronged, she was raised to follow the rules of propriety and can only swallow her grievances. No matter how little consideration Pei Huaizhi shows her, he is still her husband, her heaven. She cannot complain about him, so she continues to labor for him despite her illness. But when her daughter falls gravely ill and Pei Huaizhi chooses to save Consort Chen instead of their daughter with the only life-saving pill, Shen Shuanghe decides she will endure no more. - As her young daughter slowly dies in her arms, Shen Shuanghe's heart turns to ashes. The virtuous empress, who has spent her whole life obeying the rules, finally does something shocking: the empress sends the emperor a letter of repudiation. In it, she lists Pei Huaizhi's seven offenses and denounces all his heartless deeds. From this day on, she, Shen Shuanghe, casts Pei Huaizhi aside, and they are no longer husband and wife. Pei Huaizhi is so furious that he spits out a mouthful of blood and nearly dies on the spot. Once he recovers, he denounces Shen Shuanghe as deranged and confines her to the Cold Palace. That night, the Cold Palace goes up in flames, burning for three days and three nights. The virtuous empress, praised by all, meets her end with no remains left behind. - After Shen Shuanghe dies, Pei Huaizhi begins to regret his actions more and more. No one else is as gentle and considerate as Shen Shuanghe, or as capable of keeping the harem in perfect order. No one else loves him for the man named Pei Huaizhi, rather than for his imperial power and riches. From then on, Pei Huaizhi never takes another empress. Just as he prepares to spend the rest of his life remembering Shen Shuanghe, he unexpectedly spots her familiar figure at the residence of his younger brother, Prince Chang Le, Pei Zhao. Overjoyed, he grabs Shen Shuanghe, eager to pour out his feelings once more. She only smiles gently and says, “Your Majesty and I are divorced. I am now Prince Chang Le's consort, and I have nothing to do with you anymore.” Theme: I am the master of my own life.