Prologue (Part One)

Li Qingrong's hand trembled slightly, and she forced a smile as she said, "Third brother, are you drunk? I have long forgotten about the past!"

A palace maid hurriedly approached, holding a red lantern adorned with gold-painted cranes, and respectfully performed a bow at the most flourishing spot of the begonia, reporting: "Your Majesty, the Empress, the Emperor is still hosting a banquet for several important ministers in the Wende Hall, and it seems he may not be able to arrive for a while! Young Master Ye San is also held up, currently toasting with the Emperor."

Ye Xiang respectfully responded with a "yes" and followed Li Qingrong as they slowly walked into the hall. His bright eyes, filled with a smile, also carried a hint of concern, solely focused on the figure of the woman ahead.

The fifteenth day of the eighth month in the third year of the Yongxi era of the Northern Zhou dynasty

The bright moon, like a wash, gently drapes over the buildings and courtyards of the Northern Zhou imperial palace. The resplendent palaces are enveloped in a soft silver light, ethereal like a celestial temple, quietly floating in the moonlight

Li Qingrong carefully examined the man before her and smiled, saying: "Third brother, you appear even more handsome than six months ago. I presume you have been doing well! Come, have some sweet soup; if you don't come soon, it might get cold."

The autumn light is just right; who would be willing to waste such a beautiful time and scenery? A woman sighs in disappointment, her gentleness and elegance akin to the moonlight.

Yet Ye Xiang had already finished a bowl. Li Qingrong stood up, just about to serve him another bowl, when Ye Xiang asked with a bitter smile: "Qingrong, do you hate me to the core? You have always blamed me for teaming up with Second Brother to force Brother Bai away from Beizhou, breaking apart your union?"

"He is still out there making his mark in the northern desert." Ye Xiang lowered his eyelids, avoiding eye contact with Li Qingrong, gently sipped the sweet soup, paused for a moment in his breathing, yet still smiled and asked, "Qingrong, did you personally make this sweet soup?"

More than ten plates of new delicacies had already been arranged in the room, and eight palace maids entered in succession, adding several more hot pastries and placing them in front of the two individuals

As the begonia stirred, a woman, like the moonlight, emerged gracefully, her sleeves filled with pure radiance, imbued with the fragrance of jade blossoms. She smiled faintly, and in that instant, the bright moon lost its color, as if all the brilliance in the world could only be cast by the beauty of this woman.

Li Qingrong personally ladled two bowls of sweet soup made with silver fungus and lotus seeds from the pot on the side, handed one bowl to Ye Xiang, and then glanced at the respectful palace maids and eunuchs standing nearby, saying: "You all may leave, allowing me to have a quiet conversation with my third brother."

For a moment, everyone left. Ye Xiang picked up the silver bowl, took a sniff, and smiled, saying, "I have had sweet soup many times elsewhere, but it is never as fragrant and refreshing as the one made by Qingrong. I should invite my family’s chef to come and learn from you properly sometime." When there were no outsiders present, Li Qingrong was his closest friend, no longer the Empress; he addressed her by her name just as he did before she was conferred the title.

Li Qingrong suddenly felt a sense of unease. Ye Xiang was the sworn brother of Emperor Yongxi, and he would come to see her during festivals, enjoying a few bowls of the sweet soup she made with her own hands, a tradition that had been established over the years. In previous years, when eating the sweet soup, Ye Xiang would always have a beaming smile and eat quickly, but what was wrong today?

Li Qingrong smiled lightly, and the long lamps in the hall cast a dim light. She said softly, "Yes, it's rare for you to come, so I naturally have to do it myself. Even the stove while cooking is personally overseen by me. What's the matter?"

Before the words were finished, someone outside the hall was heard saying: "Your Majesty, the Empress, I have arrived. Is the sweet soup ready?"

Under the begonia tree, a low voice murmured, "Enough, go reheat that sweet soup. Ye Xiang likes to eat sweet soup when it is hot."

The jade flowers in front of the Condensation Palace are blooming perfectly, their silver-white blossoms gently swaying in the breeze, exuding a charm that is both alluring and refreshing. The pale pink flowers of the begonia blend into a delicate silhouette under the moonlight, their fragrant stamens releasing subtle scents that intertwine with the incense placed on the sandalwood table, creating a rich and enchanting atmosphere

This stunning woman is none other than Li Qingrong, the empress of Emperor Sima Cheng of the Northern Zhou Dynasty.

Ye Xiang nodded at the silver bowl and sighed, "So, what exactly did you put in the soup you gave me? In fact, if you want my life, you only need to say so; there is no need to go to such lengths!" Ye Xiang's handsome face was already flushed, and his once star-like eyes burned with an unusual intensity.

A young man dressed in a blue robe appeared before the hall, with a calm and composed handsome face, distinctly defined features, a smiling mouth, flowing long hair, and eyes like stars, gently gazing at the cluster of begonia flowers

Li Qingrong smiled, her deep dimples showcasing an unknown amount of charm, yet like a fleeting flower, it quickly transformed into a slight frown of her dark brows, a hint of melancholy appearing on her cheeks as she gently inquired: "Brother Bai, is there any news?"

Ye Xiang's smile was somewhat strained as he said softly, "The soup that Qing Rong made!" He picked up the bowl and slowly ate it spoonful by spoonful