After I Was Widowed, My Former Fiancé Schemed to Take Me by Force

Blurb:

Life is always a mix of joy and sorrow.

The joy is that Zhao Yizhu has finally lived to see the day she becomes Empress Dowager!

The sorrow is that Prince Qin Cen Zhao, her former fiance whom she wronged, has personally led an army of 300,000 back to the capital without an imperial order to mourn... Oh, no! To seize power!

Nineteen years, and this man still can't stand to see her doing well!

Little Scenes:

1

After days of riding beneath the stars, Cen Zhao finally charged into the capital on horseback, spear in hand. He hadn't stopped to rest once along the way, afraid that his elder brother might suddenly pass away, leaving the capital's political situation unstable and frightening his delicate flower.

But Zhao Yizhu looked at him as if she'd seen a ghost. Her face went pale, her cherry-red lips bitten crimson, and she shakily pointed at him, shouting, "You are before the Emperor! Mind your manners!"

Look at her! She's still as formidable as ever!

He strode forward with the bearing of a dragon and tiger, hand on his sword, and stopped right in front of her. With a mocking laugh, he leaned close and lowered his voice. "Satisfied?"

The moon-shaped jade pendant at her ear swayed slightly. Her long lashes abruptly lowered, hiding the depths in her eyes.

His gaze swept over the baby on the dragon throne, and he said with some regret, "What's the point of raising someone else's child?"

Her gaze suddenly turned icy, sharp as a sword!

"What your elder brother couldn't give you, I can." He chuckled, then turned to face the assembled officials. "The new ruler is young. To prevent doubts about the state with a child on the throne, I shall assume regency and oversee the state affairs from this day onward."

With the realm's fate decided, the assembled officials cried out in unison, "We welcome the Regent Prince back to the capital!"

Zhao Yizhu's heart leapt into her throat. After all their twists and turns, she had ended up in his hands again. Thinking of all the things she'd done before, she feared he would avenge himself and take her life!

Cen Zhao's eyes shone as he smiled faintly. "Why so nervous? I'm here to back you up, aren't I?"

2

In Xihe Hall, Zhao Yizhu had just settled down to rest when she looked up and saw Cen Zhao calmly drinking tea in her bedchamber. She sprang upright in shock. Before she could voice her reproach, he said, "I was the one who escorted the bride here, so naturally I should be the one to enter the bridal chamber."

Furious, Zhao Yizhu drew the dagger from beneath her mattress, intent on cutting out his tongue. But his words pinned her to the bed: "Jiaojiao, ours was the marriage arranged by our parents and matched by the matchmaker."

Reading Notes:

1. Nothing special, just here for a bit of fun.

2. Both leads are each other's first and only, happy ending.

Theme: Stop exhausting yourself with inner turmoil, and become your wonderful self again