Stealing the Emperor's Wife

Shen Siyi was beautiful as a jade-crowned prince and graceful in every way. After her dynasty was defeated, her family sent her into the harem as a peace offering, where she became the youngest empress.

The emperor died suddenly, and at sixteen, she became the young empress dowager, raising the little emperor, who was not yet five.

The late emperor's reclusive younger uncle was appointed regent in the hour of crisis.

She knelt before him with the little emperor to thank him, tears glistening on her cheeks and her voice sweet and charming.

"The Li Dynasty is in your hands now, Your Highness."

"The late emperor and I were one and the same. What was his is mine. Why thank me?"

Back then, she didn't understand the deeper meaning of his words. Deeply moved, she thanked him with tears of gratitude.

In the years that followed, the wolf who had been watching her for so long bared his fangs. By day, he teased her at every turn, making her angry and embarrassed. By night, he tangled with her relentlessly, their cheeks and temples pressed together.

Unable to endure the humiliation any longer, she fled amid the turmoil.

In the shadowy palace, the man in imperial robes gripped her chin and looked into her frightened eyes, smiling softly.

"Why are you running, Sisi?"

"Are you really that afraid of me?"

"You aren't behaving. How should I punish you...?"

"How about locking you by my side for the rest of your life?"

*

Pei Hui first saw Shen Siyi at the empress's wedding ceremony, when his nephew, blinded by beauty, welcomed his new bride.

The young and beautiful empress looked about in confusion at the bustling banquet, her lovely eyes shimmering.

She had only glanced in his direction from afar, almost casually, yet she captured his gaze.

Those eyes became a moon he could never forget, curving like a crescent when she smiled.

He tested the waters step by step, drawing his nephew's wife into his grasp. He never expected that this delicate beauty would have sharp teeth too. She tore through the beautiful dream he'd woven for her and ran away.

Looking at the empty palace, his expression cold and severe, he murmured each word.

"Sisi is so disobedient. I should break her legs and keep her imprisoned..."

A year later, the new emperor, Pei Hui, defied all opposition and married a village fisherwoman as his empress.

At the imperial wedding, the ministers fell silent as they looked at the new empress, whose appearance bore a striking resemblance to Shen, the late emperor's young empress.

*Synopsis dated February 21, 2023

Theme: I wanted to reach up and gather the moon from the heavens, never realizing that the crescent moon would stay by my side.