Chapter 1, The Abandoned Empress

He did not respond

It is solely because of the phrase "the present is different from the past" that those who once treated her with utmost respect, including ministers and servants, can now call her at will. Because "the present is different from the past," she is destined to meet a tragic end, her body severed from her head by a three-foot white silk. What was the past, and where does the present begin? Does it start from Lady Mei entering the palace, or from the crown prince being deposed, or perhaps from the tragic death of the princess during her distant marriage? Or does it begin with her return to the palace after being a hostage in the State of Qin for five years? Does it start from Lady Mei entering the palace, or from the crown prince being deposed, or perhaps from the tragic death of the princess during her distant marriage? Or does it begin with her return to the palace after being a hostage in the State of Qin for five years?

Shen QIng!" Shen Miao suddenly sat up straight and exclaimed loudly: "Your Majesty has arrested the Shen family, yet allowed the two of you to enter the palace. How could the second and third branches be safe and sound?"

Shen Miao lay on the ground, clenching her fists. This was the man she had loved her entire life, competing for his affection with Concubine Mei in the palace. In the end, she realized that it was not a competition for love; this man's heart had never been with her! Those sweet nothings were merely jokes played out in the theater of life!

She believed she was the most glorious queen, having just quelled the prince's rebellion, with the foundation of Mingqi unstable, the Xiongnu invading, and neighboring countries eyeing them covetously. In order to borrow troops, Shen Miao voluntarily went to the Qin state as a hostage. When she left, her daughter and son were still in the womb, and Fu Xiuyi said: "I will personally bring you back."

Indeed. Shen Qing stepped forward and said, "At the beginning, His Majesty and my father and uncle reached an agreement that as long as you are persuaded to marry His Majesty, one day, my sister and I will also have the same fate."

Madam Mei is the daughter of a minister whom Fu Xiuyi encountered during his eastern expedition. He appreciated her intelligence and understanding, and brought her back to the palace. Madam Mei gave birth to a royal son, Fu Sheng, who was deeply favored by the emperor, while Shen Miao's son, Crown Prince Fu Ming, did not receive the same affection.

The woman knelt partially on the ground, looking up at the person in front of her

She spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Your Highness, please. " The eunuch beside her held a piece of pure white silk, his tone betraying an unmistakable impatience: "I still need to report back to His Majesty."

"In consideration of your twenty years of service to me, I grant you a complete body. Express your gratitude," said the Son of Heaven.

She said resentfully: "As long as I, the Empress, am alive, you shall always be mere consorts!"

The sky was overcast, with dark clouds pressing down upon the stately palace walls. The once resplendent palace, now shrouded in dark clouds, appeared somber, resembling a vast prison that firmly confined those within.

In early summer, as evening approaches, heavy rain always arrives suddenly

The eunuch raised his head slightly with arrogance: "Your Highness, times have changed."

"His Majesty has summoned my sisters to the palace," Shen Yue said with a smile, covering her lips. "Fifth sister need not be surprised. A few years ago, Fifth sister loved to inquire about potential matches for my sisters, but now it is no longer necessary, as His Majesty treats my sisters exceptionally well"

This is Madam Mei, who has fought with Shen Miao for a lifetime and is also confident of victory.

Behind Madam Mei stood two women dressed in palace attire, and Shen Miao was taken aback: "Shen Qing, Shen Yue!"

The woman struggling on the ground widened her eyes, silently making a deadly vow in her heart

You..." Shen Miaoxin felt as if her heart was in turmoil, and in a flash of insight, she seemed to understand some things she had never been able to clarify before. Her voice was filled with disbelief: "You, you all have delayed your marriages, just for today?

Five years later, she finally returned to Mingqi, only to find that the imperial harem had gained a new consort, Lady Mei, who was both beautiful and exceptionally talented.

She just wants to ask one question: "Why?"

After a decade of contention, Shen Miao ultimately suffered a complete defeat, a devastating loss that led to the annihilation of her clan, transforming her into a colossal joke

Madam Mei instilled a sense of crisis in Shen Miao. Within the palace, Shen Miao and Madam Mei have been at odds for ten years. Madam Mei has repeatedly gained the upper hand, even inciting Fu Xiu Yi to marry her biological daughter, Princess Wan Yu, to the Xiongnu as part of a diplomatic marriage. The Xiongnu are known for their aggressive and ruthless nature, and Princess Wan Yu fell ill and passed away during the journey for the marriage. She was immediately cremated, and everyone knows that there must be something suspicious about this situation, yet Shen Miao, as the mother, is helpless.

"Times have changed..." Shen Miao murmured, suddenly looking up and laughing heartily: "What a perfect example of times have changed!"

Fu Xiuyi, Madam Mei, Shen Qing, Shen Yue, all those who have harmed her, those who have harmed her loved ones, if there is a next life, blood debts will be repaid in blood

Shen Miao's gaze fell upon the eunuch, and after a long silence, she slowly spoke, her voice carrying a hoarse and muddled tone: "Xiao Li Zi, when I promoted you, you were still a dog by the side of Senior Eunuch Gao."

"Sister, what happened? You look quite disheveled." A gentle voice sounded.

Prince Ding, Fu Xiu Yi, was favored by the late emperor, who had nine sons. Each of the nine sons had their own merits, but the crown prince was often ill. The late emperor was reluctant to change the crown prince despite the circumstances surrounding the succession struggle among the princes. She admired Prince Ding for his extraordinary talents and, disregarding her family's advice, ultimately achieved her desire, but this also bound the entire Shen family and Prince Ding together.

Fu Xiuyi once stated in front of the entire court: "Fu Ming's temperament is too gentle; it is still Fu Sheng who resembles my son." The implication in his words is clearly a desire to change the crown prince.

Shen Miao! Fu Xiu Yi shouted angrily, as if he had been pricked at a sensitive spot, and with a cold snort, he said: "Take care of yourself." After saying this, he waved his sleeve and left.

The woman, dressed in a light yellow gauzy blouse, has a face as delicate as a hibiscus, a waist like a willow, and her appearance rivals that of a celestial being. Her posture is also graceful and enchanting as she approaches with measured steps

Her son, her daughter, her parents and brothers, sisters and servants, the entire Shen family, have all been harmed

When shall this day perish, both you and I shall be lost

Ultimately, we have arrived at today

From the past to the present, from queen to deposed consort, it all hinges on a single word from Fu Xiuyi! This entire court can change its countenance, and the Ming Qi dynasty can turn truth into falsehood! What a statement, "Today is different from the past"!

These are the daughters of the second and third houses, the daughters of the second and third uncles, how could her two cousins be in the palace

"Why did they have to wipe out the entire Shen family?" she asked

Shen Miao slowly raised her head, looking at the man high above her. Time had left no marks on his face, just as he had been in his youth, handsome and graceful. He was the wise ruler of the world, the rightful emperor, the man she had been infatuated with for twenty years, her husband with whom she had shared joys and sorrows. Now he said to her: "I grant you a complete body, express your gratitude."

Why? Shen Miao asked with difficulty

Madam Mei stepped forward gracefully and said with a smile, "Sister, the situation has been settled, it is time for you to withdraw."

This woman, though only in her thirties, bears a visage that appears aged like that of an old crone. Her brows and eyes are heavy with a grim disposition, and her pair of eyes, resembling a long-abandoned dry well, reflects a stillness devoid of tears yet filled with an unfathomable hatred.

"Of course, the second and third households will be safe and sound," Shen Yue said with a smile, covering her mouth. "Because we are the great contributors. The evidence of our uncle's rebellion was pointed out by our two households, upholding justice against our kin. Fifth sister, His Majesty is going to bestow high official titles upon our two households."

The door of the sleeping chamber creaked open, revealing a pair of blue boots embroidered with dragon patterns stopping in front of Shen Miao. Above them were the corners of a bright yellow robe.

It is precisely for this reason that she devoted herself wholeheartedly to assisting the Crown Prince, transforming from a sheltered daughter who knew nothing into a princess who participated in court affairs, offering strategies and plans, ultimately securing the dynasty. On the day Fu Xiuyi ascended the throne, he named her as the Empress, a paragon of maternal virtue, radiating glory throughout the realm

Empress Fu Xiuyi received a decree stating that the Shen family had plotted rebellion, the Crown Prince was deposed, and he committed suicide to atone for his sins. She, as the Empress, was also to be deposed and received a three-foot white silk ribbon.

Shen Miao, Fu Xiuyi frowned, his expression showing no sign of emotion, as if he were a cold statue: "When my father was alive, we discussed how to deal with several prominent families. The Shen family has great merit and cannot remain for long. It was I who advised my father, and I have allowed the Shen family to stay for twenty more years, which is already a tremendous favor to the Shen family"

Shen Qing, seemingly afraid that Shen Miao would not understand, continued: "Your Majesty is handsome and charming, and my sisters have admired you for a long time. Unfortunately, only my uncle holds significant power, and we have no choice but to let my fifth sister take the lead. My fifth sister has enjoyed quite a bit of fortune in recent years, and now the time has come for her."

Shen Miao looked at her two cousins in shock and said: "Have you both lost your minds? In a collapsing nest, how can there be intact eggs? The Shen family is one family, and if Fu Xiu Yi wants to deal with the Shen family, you actually frame your own kin..."

"Family members, Fifth Sister, we have never acknowledged the First House as our own." Shen Qing sneered, "Moreover, you have enjoyed far too much. Now that the Crown Prince is dead, the Princess is no more, and the Shen family has perished, you might as well descend to the Yellow Springs early and reunite with them."

Shen Miao said: "Fu Xiuyi, do you have any conscience? We have been husband and wife for over twenty years, and I ask myself if I have ever wronged you. When you ascended the throne, it was my Shen family that assisted you. When you went to war and the Xiongnu invaded, I wrote a letter of surrender for you. The ministers you wanted to win over, I knelt down to plead with them to assist you. I became a hostage in a neighboring country, enduring great suffering and torment, and what have you returned to me? When Lady Mei arranged for Wan Yu to marry, you issued an edict, and Wan Yu passed away at just sixteen. I became a hostage in a neighboring country, enduring great suffering and torment, and what have you returned to me? You favored Fu Sheng and neglected Fu Ming, and the whole court knows it. Now you slaughter my entire family, and as death approaches, I ask you one question, why?"

The corpulent eunuch immediately stepped forward a few paces, gripping Shen Miao's neck tightly with one hand while using the other to loop the white silk from the plate around her neck. With a forceful tug, the silk tore through flesh and bone, producing a crisp sound from the bones.

"Eunuch Chen, take action," Madam Mei signaled to the eunuch with a glance.

The spacious chamber, with its seemingly old gauze curtains, was covered in a thick layer of dust. Despite the hot weather, a slight chill could still be felt. Clothes and jewelry were scattered across the floor, as if they had just endured a great catastrophe

At the beginning, Shen Miao was able to marry Fu Xiu Yi, and the second and third branches contributed significantly to this. Looking back now, it seems that her admiration for Fu Xiu Yi was also due to the constant mentions by her second and third aunts of the talented young man from the Ding Wang family, which led her to develop feelings for him. Was it originally an agreement reached early on? Did the second and third branches harbor ill intentions from the start, waiting for everything to unfold today?

It is already a tremendous grace for the Shen family! Shen Miao swayed slightly; she had cried too much these days, and tears could no longer flow. She looked at Fu Xiu Yi and spoke each word clearly: "Why keep the Shen family? It is neither your kindness nor your grace; you simply want to use the military power of the Shen family to increase your leverage in the struggle for the throne. When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked. Now that the country is secured, you will cross the river and dismantle the bridge. Fu Xiu Yi, you have a heart of cruelty!"