The Phoenix Ceremonial Palace was magnificently lavish.
The Empress’s father was the current Grand Chancellor.
The old emperor’s ascension to the throne had owed much to the Chancellor’s support.
Furthermore, the Chancellor was exceptionally skilled at navigating court politics. Though already sixty-four years old, his prestige remained as great as ever.
The Empress herself was equally capable.
She managed the imperial harem flawlessly.
She had both sons and daughters.
As a result, her position as Empress was extremely secure.
Her life, thus far, could almost be called perfect.
So perfect that Shang Changge—her less-than-outstanding daughter—had become the only blemish in an otherwise flawless existence.
At this moment, that elegant and privileged Empress was glaring coldly at her daughter.
Namely—
Shang Changge.
“I heard that at last night’s poetry gathering, you threw the corpses of two maids in front of Miss Wen.”
“I’ve told you countless times not to act so recklessly.”
“The Wen family may not be a great noble house, but Wen Shi’an is still a fifth-rank official.”
“You could have dealt with the matter privately. He would naturally have given you an explanation.”
“Instead, you dragged everything into the open.”
“What good did that accomplish besides humiliating them and venting your anger?”
“It will only earn you more enemies!”
Shang Changge calmly took a sip of tea.
Without the slightest concern, she replied,
“Then let them hate me.”
“What does it matter?”
“They’ll all be dead soon anyway.”
The Empress’s expression changed immediately.
Her beautifully preserved face darkened.
Suppressing her anger, she asked:
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
Shang Changge spread her hands.
“I visited Father Emperor before coming here.”
“I lodged a complaint.”
“The Wen family is finished.”
Crash!
A teacup shattered at Shang Changge’s feet.
Hot tea splashed across the floor.
Several droplets landed on her embroidered shoes.
Her carefully groomed brows twitched slightly.
Her good mood instantly deteriorated.
The Empress was furious.
Yet she still maintained the dignity expected of the Mistress of the Six Palaces.
“Do you understand the consequences of your actions?”
“Who told you to do this?”
“Why didn’t you discuss it with me before approaching your father?”
“Please calm your anger, Your Majesty!”
The servants throughout Phoenix Palace dropped to their knees in unison.
Only Shang Changge, the source of all this trouble, remained completely unmoved.
Setting down her porcelain teacup, she retorted:
“Mother, are you not concerned about whether I live or die at all?”
“Yesterday I was poisoned.”
“Then I was nearly assassinated.”
“If luck hadn’t been on my side, you’d be preparing my funeral today.”
Since entering Phoenix Palace, she’d done nothing but sit there and endure a lecture.
She had a temper too, thank you very much.
The Empress froze.
Her brows furrowed as she examined her daughter.
“But aren’t you sitting here perfectly fine?”
Shang Changge: …
So unless she was actually dead or crippled, she didn’t deserve concern?
No wonder the original owner only felt respect and a faint trace of resentment toward her mother.
There had never been any maternal affection.
Only calculations.
Only weighing advantages and disadvantages.
Since there was no real mother-daughter bond anyway, there was no point maintaining appearances.
“Mother.”
“Have you considered why the Wen family wanted me dead?”
The Empress answered immediately.
“Because you constantly act without restraint and make enemies everywhere.”
Shang Changge wanted to draw a sword.
Seriously.
The statement wasn’t entirely wrong.
But was that really something a mother should say after her daughter narrowly survived assassination?
Suppressing the urge to stab something, she instructed all the servants to leave.
The Empress seemed to realize something.
For once, she didn’t argue.
With a wave of her hand, she dismissed everyone.
Soon, only mother and daughter remained in the vast palace hall.
Shang Changge got straight to the point.
“Mother.”
“How much genuine affection do you believe Father Emperor has for you?”
“You’re an intelligent woman.”
“You understand the dangers of becoming too powerful, don’t you?”
“A towering tree catches the wind.”
“A subject whose achievements overshadow the throne invites disaster.”
“Do you really think a mere Wen family would dare assassinate a princess?”
“Where did they get such courage?”
“Who gave it to them?”
“Changze is the Crown Prince.”
“Yet Father Emperor sent him to Xiangyang to control flooding and calm refugees.”
“After floods come epidemics.”
“If refugees aren’t handled properly, uprisings become inevitable.”
“I don’t need to explain the risks in detail, do I?”
She leaned forward slightly.
“What?”
“Has the court run out of officials?”
“Must the future emperor personally go?”
Each sentence landed harder than the last.
Shang Changge showed absolutely no mercy.
After taking another sip of tea to moisten her throat, she delivered the final blow.
“If I remember correctly…”
“Before marrying you, Father Emperor had a childhood sweetheart.”
“The two were deeply in love and had privately pledged themselves to each other.”
“You know exactly who that woman was.”
“In the end, however, the person who became his lawful wife was you.”
“The positions of Crown Princess, Crown Prince, and Eldest Princess all went to me and Changze.”
She smiled faintly.
“I imagine Father Emperor feels quite guilty toward that woman.”
“And toward her children.”
The Empress gripped the armrest of her chair so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Her face had never looked worse.
As she stared at Shang Changge, shock mixed with something else.
A realization.
She had never truly understood her daughter.
Not once.
Shang Changge wasn’t finished.
“Why exactly my continued existence suddenly became inconvenient for someone…”
She shrugged.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you?”
The Empress wasn’t foolish.
How could the daughter of a powerful Chancellor be foolish?
Immediately, she recalled a conversation she’d had with the Emperor several days earlier.
She had suggested marrying Shang Changge to Xiao Ji.
Her breathing became uneven.
“Enough.”
“You may leave now.”
Despite the turmoil in her heart, she still managed one final warning.
“Never repeat those words to anyone.”
“Anyone.”
“Do you understand?”
“These matters are not your concern.”
“Your grandfather and I will find a way to handle them.”
At this point, Shang Changge suddenly became the picture of filial obedience.
“Understood, Mother.”
After all—
one should only handle responsibilities appropriate to one’s abilities.
She was merely a princess in name.
What could she possibly do?
Major matters like this should naturally be left to important people.
Such as her powerful Chancellor grandfather.
Perhaps out of guilt, the Empress’s expression softened slightly.
“I’ll have your uncle assign people to protect you.”
“Continue living as you always have.”
“You don’t need to be afraid.”
Shang Changge wasn’t ungrateful.
Immediately, she slipped into her role as the obedient daughter.
The scene of loving mother and dutiful daughter unfolded flawlessly.
“Thank you, Mother.”
“Your daughter takes her leave.”
Shang Changge departed with Qingyao.
After she left, the Empress sat alone for a very long time.
Eventually, she summoned her trusted personal nanny, Madam Rong.
Her expression was weary and grave.
“Prepare ink, paper, and brushes.”
“I need to write a letter to Father.”
“Once it’s finished, hide it among several gifts and personally deliver them to him.”
“It must reach his hands directly.”
Madam Rong dared not ask questions.
She hurried away to comply.
The Empress loved peonies.
Especially crimson peonies.
The gardens of Phoenix Palace were filled with them.
As the autumn breeze passed through, countless blossoms swayed gently.
The Empress gazed at them.
A chill spread through her heart.
Lost in thought, she murmured softly:
“Decades…”
“Decades…”
“Even a stone should have warmed by now.”
She laughed bitterly.
“My husband…”
“Your heart is truly ruthless.”
How could she not understand the dangers of overwhelming power?
For years, her father and brothers had devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the empire.
She had believed the Emperor saw their loyalty.
Believed he trusted the Murong family.
But now—
it seemed she had merely been indulging in wishful thinking.
Nothing more than a foolish dream.