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

Xie Ning asked softly, "Where are we going?" 


The Emperor liked it when she used the word "we." Very few people had used "we" with him before, even the Empress Dowager hadn't used it when trying to win him over in private. 


Xie Ning muttered under her breath, "Why keep us in suspense?" 


She turned her head away, but after a while, she sneakily looked back at him. 


The Emperor was dressed in a blue robe. Although the fabric was of good quality, it was still just a plain blue robe without any trimmings or silk embroidery. He looked like an ordinary person's everyday attire for staying at home or going out. He wore a scholar's headpiece, and even the silver droplet ornaments hanging from it were small. 


Such simplicity... if being generous, it was called plain clothing. Xie Ning had never seen the Emperor wearing such clothes before. 


Teahouse