In the first year of entering the palace, she was just a Lady of Talents.
In the fifth year of entering the palace, she became a Handsome Fairness.
In the tenth year of entering the palace, she aspired to become the Empress, since it was the only way she could hold onto everything dear to her, never to be taken away.
 She could protect herself, her children, and most importantly, be with him.
This was a path with no retreat; stepping back would be an irreversible calamity.
The bright yellow silk umbrella advanced, and the Emperor's procession slowly entered the city gate. The yellow silk umbrella, the sun-and-moon fan, the purple banner... At that moment, the sunlight dazzled the eyes. Empress Xie's phoenix carriage moved forward along the imperial road, meeting him halfway.

Empress Xie

When Zhou Bingchen left, he wasn't disheartened. Though the Noble Consort hadn't agreed, she hadn't outright refused either. Zhou Bingchen had a sense of the situation; it would have been strange if she had agreed so readily. 


In Yong’an Palace, there were three little princes, and considering the Emperor's frequent visits, whether to see the little princes or the Noble Consort, once he came, he usually stayed overnight at Yong’an Palace instead of returning to Changning Hall. Consequently, the security measures at Yong’an Palace were not any less stringent than those at the central Changning Hall. Even the palace maids and eunuchs, even if they were assigned simple tasks, appeared much different from those elsewhere.


Master and Disciple