Broken Jade Is of One Heart

Shen Qingci, the daughter of a Suzhou silk and satin merchant, was known for her exquisite Su embroidery and was the best in the south of the Yangtze River. During the Shangyuan Lantern Festival, she went to the exhibition of men's clothing. She saw an embroidered screen with "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" with the inscription "May the mountains and rivers be safe and the world be safe." She happened to meet the emperor Zhao Heng who left the palace in disguise. A piece of embroidery, eight characters, a rabbit lantern, and a silhouette delivering a bun all linked the fate of the two. An imperial edict summoned her to the palace, first as a concubine, and then as a queen. She does not have the cowardice of ordinary women in the boudoir, and has a clear business accounting style: she understands people's livelihood expenses, dares to investigate corruption in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and is sympathetic to the lower-level palace people. The emperor fell in love with her at first sight and was partial to her, but being in a powerful position brought with it suspicion. Under her gentleness, there was the emperor's unique possessiveness and balance. King An Zhao Jing watched with cold eyes, understanding her forbearance and character; the Queen Mother and the noble ladies of the aristocratic family made things difficult for her because of her merchant background; Su Wan, a female general from the north, watched the undercurrent of the capital from a distance.