Huo Bu Yi saw her, and instantly felt a surge of emotions.
He heard his own ragged breathing, the violent pounding in his chest, as if he had returned to that night of slaughter and annihilation. An indescribable fear and pain flooded his body, yet he was powerless to resist.
After being severely wounded and falling off a cliff, he had lain in a cave waiting for death, cold and despairing. Yet the mere thought of her had kept his heart warm. He hadn’t known what it meant to feel heart-wrenching pain before—even on the brink of death, it hadn’t hurt this much. Now he understood. It was like wrapping thin wires around your heart, tightening them slowly, watching the blood drip down.
"Shao Shang!" he growled like a dying beast, lunging forward to embrace the girl.
At that moment, Cen Anzhi led two rows of eunuchs into the hall in procession. The Empress sharply commanded, "Restrain him!"
Having ruled for decades, even the most benevolent empress would have accumulated authority. Immediately, four strong eunuchs stepped forward to pin down Huo Bu Yi’s limbs. Cen Anzhi hesitated, and the Empress said coldly, "Cen Anzhi, are my words no longer of any use?" Cen Anzhi paled in alarm and quickly signaled four more eunuchs to join.
In the past, even eighteen eunuchs wouldn’t have been able to hold Huo Bu Yi down, but now, weakened by his injuries and illness, he was firmly restrained in place.
"Shao Shang, Shao Shang, turn around!" he called hoarsely.
Yet the girl remained kneeling motionless.
"Your Majesty, today I humbly request Your Majesty’s approval for one matter," the Empress said, bowing to the Emperor.
The Emperor, ever astute, hesitated. "This…" Seeing the Empress’s gaze, he quickly relented. "Very well, speak."
The Empress continued, "From the day Zisheng and Shao Shang were betrothed, they have quarreled incessantly, with hardly a peaceful day. Now things have come to this. I see no point in forcing them to remain husband and wife—"
"Your Majesty!" Huo Bu Yi’s eyes brimmed with tears as he pleaded with the Empress.
The Emperor awkwardly interjected, "This… it’s best to let them decide for themselves—"
"Shao Shang," the Empress called. "You speak."
The girl, her slender shoulders slumped, finally turned her head. Her beautiful, pale face bore the quiet exhaustion of one who had endured great torment—Huo Bu Yi felt a wave of dizzying pain.
He remembered how she used to be—no matter the harsh words or reprimands from elders, she had always been so full of life, fresh as morning dew, as fearless and innocent as a child running barefoot on stone paths. Even if the pebbles bruised her feet, she would cry for a while and then move on.
But now, she looked like a mule just unharnessed from a millstone—weary and haggard.
Shao Shang respectfully kowtowed to the Emperor and Empress. "This humble woman is of lowly birth, lacking in talent and learning, and of a stubborn temperament. I am truly unworthy to be Lord Huo’s match. I beg Your Majesty and Your Highness to dissolve this engagement on my behalf."
"Shao Shang! Listen to me—" Huo Bu Yi struggled fiercely, but he was held fast. Gathering his strength, he strained harder. His tall frame made his snow-white Underwear appear even more loose and empty.
"No!" Shao Shang suddenly raised her voice. "This time, you listen to me."She took a deep breath, forcing her trembling voice under control. "I've told you before, I've had bad luck since childhood. Forget about unexpected blessings—I didn't even get what ordinary girls should have. But it's alright. There are many people in this world who have it harder than me, and I can make my own way. Yet then... I met you..."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "You made me like you, and I did. You made me rely on you, and I did. You made me trust you, and I did—then you dropped me heavily and left without looking back!"
Someone once said that loving someone means placing yourself in an unsafe position, but it didn't matter now—she had learned her lesson. From now on, she would never let her heart be in danger again.
"If you still cherish our past affection, please let me go!" Tears streamed down Shao Shang's face, but her pride and dignity wouldn't allow her to break down sobbing before the Emperor and Empress. She could only rudely dash out of the hall.
Huo Bu Yi couldn't utter a single word, only watching helplessly as the girl kowtowed to the Emperor and Empress before running away. He let out a low roar, like a wounded beast mustering its last strength, causing the wound on his head to split open. Blood trickled down his pale forehead.
The Emperor strode over in two large steps and knocked his adopted son unconscious with a chop of his hand. After instructing Cen Anzhi to carry Huo Bu Yi out for the Imperial Physician to re-dress his wounds, he dismissed everyone else and turned to the Empress.
The Empress met his gaze.
After a moment, the Emperor smiled bitterly. "Was this really necessary?"
The Empress replied firmly, "From the very beginning, Shao Shang was unwilling to be betrothed to Zisheng, but she had no choice but to endure it due to Your Majesty's overwhelming authority. Now that things have come to this, it's clear that marriage should be a natural progression. Forcing things only leads to bitterness—just like you and me."
The Emperor couldn't meet her eyes, avoiding the topic. "After what happened, there's already a rift between them. Forcing them together now would only make things worse. It's better to separate."
The Empress stepped closer to the Emperor, looking directly at him. "Aside from Shao Shang and Zisheng's marriage, what about the matter I discussed with Your Majesty earlier?"
...
Shao Shang ran through the dark palace corridors. Along the way, many palace maids and eunuchs bowed to her, but she didn't dare look back, only running madly forward. The wounds on her body burned with pain, her head throbbed unbearably, and she could barely catch her breath. But she knew she couldn't stop—if she did, she would be drowned by the overwhelming heartbreak.
She didn't know how long she had been running. It felt like she had passed Mirror Lake and the gardens when she spotted a tall tower in the distance. Suddenly, a soft yet strong hand grabbed her, nearly causing her to stumble.
"Shao Shang, Shao Shang! What's wrong? Snap out of it—what happened?" A familiar man's voice called out.
Shao Shang focused her blurry vision and saw Yuan Shen's refined and handsome face. He asked anxiously, "I was in Fufeng County recently and only heard about Ling—no, Huo Bu Yi's incident this morning. I heard you were carried away covered in blood... Are you hurt? Where are you injured?"
Sweat beaded on his forehead from worry. He gripped her shoulders but didn't dare use too much force. "Are you alright? Say something, please..."
Shao Shang steadied herself and slowly pushed Yuan Shen's hands away, answering without interest, "Since I'm standing here, I'm naturally fine. Thank you for your concern, Young Master Yuan.""No... this..." Yuan Shen struggled to find the right words. He had come with countless questions for the girl, but now found himself at a loss where to begin. After groping for words, he finally managed: "You needn't worry about Huo Bu Yi. His Majesty will surely protect him. However, the charges of privately mobilizing troops and causing unrest in the capital are serious offenses. He'll likely face some punishment..."
"Spare me your words. His affairs no longer concern me," Shao Shang said coldly.
Yuan Shen was taken aback, his voice rising inexplicably: "Have you and he...?"
Before he could finish, a noisy crowd surged toward them, led by the Second Prince. Furious, he charged forward while eunuchs and palace maids tried in vain to stop him.
"How dare you lowly servants block my way! Move aside! I must see Mother in the palace at once..."
"Your Highness mustn't! Her Majesty specifically ordered that no princes or princesses be received these days!"
"Nonsense! I'm Mother's own flesh and blood! How can she refuse me? Get out of my way or I'll have every one of you flayed alive!"
"Your Highness, reconsider!"
"Stop His Highness at once! Are you all dead?"
"If Her Majesty and His Majesty learn of this, Your Highness would be guilty of forcibly entering the palace..."
Amid the commotion, the Second Prince spotted Yuan Cheng ahead and shouted: "Fine! You block princes and princesses yet allow these two outsiders to roam the palace freely? This is beyond insulting! Get out of my way!"
Yuan Shen regained his composure, calmly brushing his sleeves and clasping his hands behind his back: "Second Prince, the imperial family is no ordinary household. Entry isn't determined by blood ties but by rules. Minister Cheng and I possess palace entry permits—do you?"
This only enraged the prince further: "Yuan! Now that Mother faces deposition, you think you can disregard me?!"
Shao Shang gasped in shock: "What? The Empress faces deposition? Who says so? His Majesty?"
Yuan Shen softened his tone: "Having been confined to the palace, it's natural you wouldn't know. His Majesty isn't deposing her—yesterday some blind officials petitioned for her removal, but His Majesty already rejected it!"
Shao Shang stood speechless.
The Second Prince cried urgently: "Then Father isn't deposing Mother...?"
"Mind your words, Second Prince!" Yuan Shen cut him off sharply, then addressed the surrounding servants: "All of you, disperse. Keep your distance. I'll attend to His Highness."
With tensions running high in the palace, the eunuchs and maids knew the less they heard, the safer their heads would be, and quickly scattered.
Only then did Yuan Shen turn to the prince, his tone indifferent: "Two nights ago, when Huo Bu Yi massacred the Ling family's Secluded Residence and privately mobilized the Eastern Palace's six battalions, the Crown Prince was at his wits' end with no one to consult. He sent for you, Second Prince. Yet you wisely claimed illness to avoid involvement. Now you're in urgent haste—don't you think it's rather late?"
The Second Prince flushed crimson, stammering: "This... I was truly ill... otherwise... I would have..." He thought bitterly how this man knew everything despite being absent from the capital."Between honest men, there's no need for veiled words," Yuan Shen said. "With no one else present, Second Prince, there's no need for pretenses. I know that upon hearing of Huo Bu Yi's actions, you immediately surmised the Crown Prince was in trouble and thought his downfall would pave your way to succession. Yet when the Empress's position wavered, you suddenly realized the gravity of the situation and rushed to the palace in panic..."
The Second Prince's face turned purple with rage as he roared, "Yuan Shanjian! These treasonous words—I, I shall impeach you!"
Yuan Shen ignored the threat and continued, "Though I've had no dealings with the Third Prince, I must say this: on the day of crisis, he could have distanced himself. Yet he stood firm, openly supporting Huo Bu Yi despite his unclear status, enduring even the Emperor's wrath without flinching. What do you think we officials make of this? The Third Prince's ambitions, if any, are pursued openly and honorably. But you, Second Prince—full of complaints yet vanishing when courage was needed. Having chosen to stay hidden earlier, you might as well remain so now!"
The Second Prince was left speechless. After several deep breaths, he resorted to personal attacks, sneering, "Well, well! I've long heard of Yuan Shanjian's silver tongue—today I witness it firsthand! A prodigy who lay low for years, rejecting the Yue family's overtures, abstaining from court discussions about the princes. Though His Majesty repeatedly summoned you to the Department of State Affairs, you declined, content with drafting a few edicts while feigning scholarly detachment. And now you preach morality? Hmph! You're just waiting for the right moment to strike!"
Such barbs were but dust to Yuan Shen, who replied calmly, "Your Highness has your duties, and I have mine. By fulfilling my responsibilities, I serve His Majesty faithfully. Yet you, sharing the same mother as the Crown Prince, showed no concern for him in his hour of need, nor any compassion for the Empress's distress. Go home, Second Prince. Should His Majesty see you now, he'd only confirm what I've said—that you're heartless, disloyal, and unfilial... If you doubt me, ask your Second Imperial Concubine."
As he spoke, an air of authority flickered across his features—a glimpse of the powerful minister he would become.
The Second Prince, ever fearful of the Emperor, hesitated before finally leaving in reluctant fury.
Only after watching him depart did Yuan Shen turn to the girl. "Shao Shang, you—"
"I'm the greatest fool under heaven," Shao Shang murmured, staring at him as if seeing him for the first time. "No wonder whenever I saw you in the palace, you were either organizing texts or discoursing on classics. Young Master Yuan, you truly are the silent observer at the chessboard. Did you foresee this day all along?"
After a long silence, Yuan Shen replied, "The Yuan family holds no merit like the Jingsheng faction, nor are we tied to the Empress or Eastern Palace. Participation wasn't our place."
A cold wetness touched Shao Shang's cheek—she was crying again.
"Another hidden depth," she whispered bitterly. "Another true face I failed to see. I prided myself on cleverness, but it was mere self-delusion. All of you wield such skill... while I alone am the fool.""Shao Shang!" Yuan Shen stepped forward anxiously, "I know you share a deep bond with the Empress, but the matter of deposing the Empress is not something you can interfere with. Don't you—"
Shao Shang raised her hand to stop him from continuing. The Empress's uncharacteristic behavior earlier flashed before her eyes, and she finally understood.
She said softly, "You're mistaken. It's not that His Majesty wants to depose the Empress—it's likely that Her Majesty herself no longer wishes to remain in the Everlasting Autumn Palace. The positions of Empress and Crown Prince have been like two swords hanging over her head for decades. She's tired."
Yuan Shen was stunned. "What are you saying?"
"I'm going home. I'm tired too. Don't follow me..." Shao Shang walked away on her own.
Yuan Shen stared blankly as the girl gradually disappeared into the distance before suddenly snapping out of his daze and running after her.
...
In the inner chamber of the Emperor's quarters, the Emperor and Empress were still locked in confrontation. The Emperor sat down with a sigh. "Why must you do this?"
The Empress took a few slow steps away. "My entire life, I've been pushed along by others. There were many things I knew were wrong, yet I went with the flow. Back then, I knew you were already married, but when my uncle told me to marry you, I did. Later, when you wanted to make me Empress, I saw the court filled with Jing Sheng's meritorious officials and knew the throne was covered in thorns—yet I still accepted the title."
The Emperor said irritably, "None of that was your fault! A helpless woman like you had no say in the matter!"
The Empress continued quietly, "Later, when Your Majesty made Zi Kun the Crown Prince, I can't say I wasn't secretly pleased. Those fellow villagers and meritorious officials of yours may not have wanted to see me on the throne, but in the future, they would still have to serve my son as their sovereign! I thought if I endured, the clouds would eventually part. But as Zi Kun grew older, I watched him become more and more like my father with each passing day, and I knew the clouds would never part..."
The Emperor let out a long sigh.
The Empress turned around. "I've long known many key ministers dislike us, mother and son. But if Zi Kun had been as wise and discerning as Your Majesty, or as decisive and strong-willed as the Third Prince, I believe his position as heir would have been secure... But instead, he's like my father!"
The kind, carefree face of the late Grand Duke Xuan appeared before her eyes, filling her heart with sorrow.
"I truly, truly never resented Zi Kun. He's simply in the wrong position," the Empress continued. "He should have been like my father—building a home in the mountains, brewing wine and reading books every day, living peacefully with his wife and children, traveling to visit friends in his leisure time, composing poetry, writing books. Had that been his path, he too could have earned widespread praise for his virtue, just like my father. But instead, he became the Crown Prince, sitting atop a blade's edge, unable to eat or sleep in peace..."
The Emperor sighed again.
"When my father gave up his vast fortune, it came from genuine sincerity. I believe Zi Kun, in his heart, also wishes to relinquish his position as heir," the Empress said with a sigh. "But if Zi Kun is deposed, wouldn't the Second Prince be next? And he's even less suitable than Zi Kun—at least Zi Kun is kind and benevolent. Therefore, Your Majesty, you should depose me instead. Then make Yue Heng the Empress, and Zi Duan can rightfully enter the Eastern Palace."
"Shen An!" the Emperor cried, his brow furrowed with inner conflict. "Don't... don't say such things..."The Empress smiled self-deprecatingly, "I am an incapable mother who failed to raise my children well. The others are strong-willed and don't need my concern, but Zi Kun—if Your Majesty wishes to depose the Crown Prince, charges must be brought against him. I truly cannot bear that. It would be better to depose me instead. After a year or two, let Zi Kun resign from the position of Crown Prince on the grounds of propriety, and everyone will be satisfied."
The Emperor slammed the table forcefully, "What satisfaction! I see the Third Prince as hot-tempered and ruthless. What if he treats you and your son poorly in the future?"
The Empress smiled, "Though the Third Prince was not born to me, I understand him better than Your Majesty—he never shows favoritism to relatives, nor does he bear grudges without cause. So Your Majesty need not worry about the Yue family becoming too powerful or their relatives causing trouble in the future, because in Zi Duan's eyes, no relatives hold sway. Nor need Your Majesty worry about Zi Duan being cold and ungrateful—deep down, he is as kind-hearted as you and will surely treat us well."
"But you have done nothing wrong these decades—how can I depose you!" the Emperor cried out in anguish.
The Empress smiled faintly, "Then say I harbored resentment and had the tendencies of Lü and Huo."
"Shen An!" The Emperor abruptly stood up.
"These words are not entirely false. Over the decades, every time I saw Your Majesty with Yue Heng, it felt like insects were gnawing at my heart. If I were to become Empress Dowager, who knows what might happen."
The Empress met the Emperor's gaze, "Only by deposing me can the Crown Prince step down without fault, and the Second Prince and the three younger princes can relinquish their ambitions for the throne. Once they give up, they can live peacefully."
She prostrated herself and kowtowed, enunciating each word clearly, "I beg Your Majesty to fulfill a mother's wish."
Author's Note:
Once again, this is a fictional setting—do not compare it to historical figures, thank you.
Barring any surprises, the next chapter will conclude this volume. If I can't finish it in one chapter, I'll split it into two. See you the day after tomorrow—I can't guarantee the exact time, so check back later.
Many chapters ago, some readers suggested having the female protagonist develop technology or start a business. Now I can finally say: when I write historical fiction, I prefer to base it on some factual reference and let my imagination work within reasonable bounds.
I cannot write about things that never happened in history.
I have never seen any historical records of noble ladies developing technology, founding businesses, advancing the times, or establishing new dynasties—so I cannot write that.
The closest thing to a time traveler in history was Wang Mang, and we all know how that ended.
Historically, Guo Shengtong was perhaps the luckiest deposed empress.
Apart from the Crown Prince dying in his thirties, the other four sons she bore all lived peacefully longer than Emperor Ming of Han—what more could one ask for?
In contrast, Emperor Ming's own brothers (except for the fourth, who was his staunch supporter) were all dealt with.
After ascending the throne, Emperor Ming conducted rituals for Guo Shengtong with great solemnity and treated the Guo family generously. The Guo family's involvement in rebellion occurred during Emperor Zhang's reign, so that can't be blamed on Liu Zhuang.
Even if a nephew succeeded him, by the third generation, without capable descendants, the Guo family could hardly maintain their prominence.
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