Ask Again

Empress Dowager Fu Yijun hailed from a prominent and noble family, much like the Qiu family, and was once part of a renowned aristocratic clan.

Eighteen years ago, the late emperor passed away due to lingering illnesses from years of warfare. At that time, the Empress Dowager was still a consort. She supported her fifteen-year-old adopted son to ascend the throne and took charge of state affairs as a regent.

During her fifteen years of regency, while the court may not have achieved perfect governance, it was nevertheless orderly.

However, her dominance in politics, coupled with her youthful beauty and her status as a consort rather than a legitimate empress, made her the target of countless criticisms during her regency.

Court officials privately denounced her as ambitious and treacherous, saying she harbored intentions deserving of condemnation.

Fifteen years later, the thirty-year-old Emperor Jingxuan, in collaboration with Chancellor Wu Rusheng, orchestrated a covert coup at the Xuan Yin Gate of the imperial city, wresting power from the Empress Dowager.

This event became known in history as the Xuan Yin Coup.

While commoners were unaware of the coup, it was an open secret among the elite. Those in the know, however, remained tight-lipped.

Over the next three years, the grand facade of the Great Xia Empire began to crumble from within. Corruption worsened throughout the court and the nation, surpassing even the state of affairs during the Empress Dowager's regency.

Eager to restore order, the emperor sought capable talents with fervor but failed to find the right people. Thus, three years passed in stagnation, leading to the present day.

As for Empress Dowager Fu Yijun...

After losing her power, the emperor declared to the public that she had left the palace to cultivate in seclusion and would no longer receive visitors.

For three years since then, no one knew where the Empress Dowager had gone.

She only made brief appearances during the emperor's birthday banquets or grand palace feasts before quickly withdrawing.

This time, the grand gesture of organizing a birthday celebration for the Empress Dowager was an unexpected move that Qiu Che hadn't anticipated.

In her previous life, Qiu Che was still an obedient daughter at this point. Though she had refused her father's proposal to remarry, they hadn't yet fallen out, and she spent her days cautiously walking on eggshells around him.

At that time, she had been diligently serving in the Hanlin Academy for a month but hadn't even caught a glimpse of the emperor.

The laws of Great Xia stated that only officials ranked Sixth Grade or higher could attend court meetings.

Around this time in her previous life, a similar grand banquet was held, inviting many sons and daughters of noble families.

Qiu Che wasn't among the invitees. She had been forced by her father, Qiu Chudong, to secretly purchase an invitation.

All because his precious son wanted to admire the beauties at the palace feast.

Thinking of this, Qiu Che let out a cold snort.

But this time, even without an invitation, she had an unshakable reason to attend:

In her past life, it was at this very banquet that she inadvertently ended up in a compromising situation with the Eldest Princess, Li Qingwu.

It turned out that the spiked drink, meant for Qiu Zhe according to the Qiu family's plan, had ended up in Qiu Che's hands due to Qiu Zhe's distraction with admiring beauties.

Qiu Che regained her senses quickly and managed to compose herself, but with the sound of many footsteps approaching outside, she couldn't leave Li Qingwu behind in her disheveled state.

After all, she was the one who had wronged her.

And so, holding the unconscious princess in her arms, Qiu Che found herself face-to-face with Emperor Jingxuan, the empress, and numerous nobles for the first time since her appointment.

The scene was utterly mortifying.

Later, Qiu Che learned from an argument with Qiu Chudong that Li Qingwu had also been drugged.

The Qiu family's father and son had concocted a despicable plan.

They had prepared two drinks—one for Princess Lehe and the other for Qiu Zhe.

The plan was to send Qiu Che away, allowing Qiu Zhe to consummate his union with the princess and then force the emperor to acknowledge the match, as the princess's honor would have already been compromised.

Reborn in this life, Qiu Che knew that if she didn't attend the banquet, Li Qingwu would likely fall victim to Qiu Zhe's scheme.

Even if not to repay Li Qingwu for avenging her in her past life, Qiu Che couldn't bear to see such an innocent woman used as a pawn in the Qiu family's power plays.

Thus, she had to go.

Before leaving for the capital, Qiu Che passed by the neighboring courtyard, paused, and instructed Yu Ming to knock on the door.

This time, there was no answer.

Qiu Che pushed the door lightly, and it creaked open, revealing the elegant yet desolate setup of the courtyard's stone table and chairs.

Unbeknownst to her, the place had long been deserted.

Meanwhile, in the Jinluan Hall...

Emperor Li Shi sat at the head of the table, his face flushed with anger. "Lehe! Must you make me lose all hope in you?"

Kneeling on the golden-bricked floor, Li Qingwu lowered her gaze and calmly repeated, "Lehe admires Lord Qiu deeply. My heart is set, and it cannot be changed. I beseech Father Emperor to grant my wish."

"I sent you to the Ganyu Temple to reflect, not to flirt with your lover!"

The emperor rose abruptly, flinging a cup in her direction as he roared, "I tolerated your closeness with him, but you dare bring up marriage again? Such insolence!"

"The young men I've chosen for you at tomorrow's banquet are all exceptional in status. Which one of them isn't better than him in birth and rank?"

"What more could you possibly want? Must you oppose me at every turn?"

The thrown cup struck Li Qingwu's forehead, leaving a trail of blood trickling down.

In the corner, Eunuch Fuzi, who had been trying to minimize his presence, flinched. He instinctively wanted to call for someone to bandage the princess but hesitated after glancing at the furious emperor.

He cast a sympathetic look at the kneeling figure, then quietly withdrew.

Li Qingwu's long lashes trembled slightly as she kept kneeling upright. Despite the blood streaming down her face, her voice remained calm yet firm. "Forgive me, Father Emperor. It is not my intent to oppose you, but my feelings for Lord Qiu are beyond my control..."

She bowed low and knocked her forehead against the floor, repeating, "I beg Father Emperor to grant my wish."

Emperor Li Shi, breathing heavily, gazed at her in disappointment. "You were not like this before."

Li Qingwu stayed bowed, feeling the blood trickle down her face.

It felt like scratching an itch through a boot, or ants gnawing at her heart.

She thought to herself, Before? What was I like before?

Obedient, understanding, and unwaveringly compliant.

It was precisely because of this that Emperor Li Shi had been satisfied with her, allowing her to grow into the exalted Eldest Princess.

But years of habitual obedience had left her spirit decayed, numb beyond recognition.

In the past, everything around her felt shrouded in mist, indistinct and hazy.

But the moment she laid eyes on that young man, it was as if she suddenly heard the clamor of human life, bustling and lively.

It felt like a rootless water plant finally finding solid ground.

For the first time, she experienced a true sense of belonging.

She had never sought, never fought, and never desired anything before.

But now, she found herself weary of the repetitive rules and conventions, tired of living a life that followed a preordained path.

She suddenly wanted to seek, to fight, to walk a path that was not chosen for her by Emperor Li Shi.

This was the first time she had defied his decision, and the first time she had been so resolute in her choice.

The more he opposed her, the firmer her resolve grew.

She vaguely understood that this was her last chance to change her destiny.

If she missed it, she would be doomed to a life she could no longer alter.

She would marry a consort acceptable to Emperor Li Shi, live a life of squabbles, watch him take concubines, and fight for his favor amidst a household of women. She would bear children, raise them, support her husband, and grow old—until death.

Such a life, she did not want.

Yet now, even asking for an imperial marriage decree was proving so difficult.

Li Qingwu's thoughts drifted to the young man's handsome face. She let out a bitter laugh in her heart.

She, the gloriously favored Eldest Princess, was truly a title that did not live up to its name.

For a while, neither spoke. The atmosphere was tense until a young eunuch approached cautiously and reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience."

"Let her in."

"Yes."

"She's arrived just in time," Li Shi said, raising his voice slightly. He pointed at Li Qingwu and added, "See for yourself what a fine daughter you've raised. Learned, cultured? I say she's growing more unruly by the day!"

The Empress, maintaining her composure, curtsied gracefully. "Your Majesty, please quell your anger. It's my failure in guidance. I'll take her back and educate her properly."

Li Shi nodded and sneered, "You'd better."

Li Qingwu's straight, kneeling posture stiffened slightly.

The Empress, as if oblivious, curtsied again before turning to Li Qingwu. "Stand up and follow me back to the palace."

Li Qingwu hesitated, glanced at the emperor who remained silent, and eventually stood up, lifting her skirt. Without another word, she followed the Empress out.

Once Li Shi calmed down, he drained a cup of tea and resumed reviewing memorials with a cold expression.

Eunuch Fuzi quietly refilled his cup, then tentatively said, "Your Majesty, the way the Eldest Princess insists, it seems her feelings run deep. Why oppose her so strongly? Why not fulfill her heartfelt wish?"

"What do you know?" Li Shi retorted in displeasure. "I've raised her for over ten years. Do you think I'd let her marry into a declining noble family as the wife of a concubine's son?"

Fuzi slapped his own mouth in a show of remorse. "Your Majesty's love and care for the princess are entirely for her benefit… I spoke out of turn."

This time, Li Shi merely huffed, saying nothing more.

"Kneel."

"..."

Without a word, Li Qingwu lifted her skirt and knelt silently.

The palace servants in Fengyi Palace were unfazed, continuing their duties as if nothing had happened.

The Empress leaned back in her chair, holding a teacup. Her tone was icy as she asked, "Why are you so intent on marrying that concubine's son from the Qiu family?"

Li Qingwu lowered her head slightly. "This daughter… has feelings for him."

"Hah… truly the spawn of a palace maid," the Empress sneered coldly. "Such audacious words—daring to proclaim them openly as a princess of all people. Have you no shame?"

Li Qingwu remained silent.

"When the emperor decides whom you'll marry, you'll marry them. Since when do you have a choice?" The Empress took a sip of tea, her voice unhurried. "Now that you've become my daughter, your marriage should be arranged by your parents and matchmakers, as tradition dictates."

"I don't care whom you admire. The emperor has already invited numerous distinguished young men and women to tomorrow's banquet to choose a consort for you. The decision will not be rescinded."

Her gaze swept over Li Qingwu coldly. "Remember to cover that wound on your forehead before the banquet."

"..."

"Well? Are you mute now, after a month of reflection at Ganyu Temple?"

Li Qingwu exhaled heavily and replied in a muffled voice, "Yes."

Satisfied, the Empress stood, her crimson palace robe swaying as she walked past Li Qingwu.

Her tone was light as she said, "Before the banquet… you will kneel here and reflect. Once you've thought it through, you may stand."

"The emperor will not tolerate a 'disobedient princess.'"