In her third year in the palace, Xiao Yaoxian finally shed her arrogance and learned how to be a virtuous empress worthy of ruling the realm.
She also safely gave birth to the emperor's legitimate eldest son.
On the day the child was named crown prince, Xiao Yaoxian was in high spirits and had a few extra drinks.
That night.
With her eyes glazed over from drink, Xiao Yaoxian lay in her brocade canopy bed, patting a pillow as if it were her child and muttering nonstop. "My son, at last your mother has something to look forward to. I wonder when that great monk will pass away. If he doesn't die, he can just go on being a monk... Mm, tomorrow I'll secretly send another giant wooden fish to the Hall of Supreme Polarity. I refuse to believe that bastard won't be tempted!"
"Clink!"
The newly arrived Emperor Jiaping accidentally pulled down a golden curtain hook.
After returning to secular life and ascending the throne, he had welcomed her, a woman notorious for her arrogance, into the palace as empress.
Over their three years of marriage, they had argued and fought.
He watched her stumble along the way as she built a reputation for virtue, while she watched him learn to govern and keep the court in check.
Now they had both grown. They no longer quarreled, treated each other with respect, and had a child.
It was a truly harmonious arrangement.
He had always thought she was happy with him, too.
Until he heard what she murmured in her drunken sleep.
One-on-one romance
There are consorts early on, but they are dismissed later
Theme: Stay true to yourself
