My funeral was held with the highest honors.
After all, I was Zhao Xun’s first wife. For four years I had reigned as empress, mother to the nation, carrying out every duty without a single misstep.
Even after he began doting on Consort Chen and fell out with the Empress Dowager over her, I was the one who mediated between them.
When Consort Chen fell ill, he stayed at her bedside for three days without changing his clothes or taking so much as a sip of water.
When my turn came, there was no grief on his face. He merely held my slowly cooling hand and sat there for a long while.
“If there is another life, I will make you my empress again.”
Another life truly came.
Zhao Xun had not yet met the love of his life. He had agreed to let the Empress choose a virtuous young noblewoman to be his princess consort.
The Empress pointed to me.
Then, just as he looked my way, her fingertip shifted an inch and settled on someone else.
“On second thought, let us choose Second Miss Li.”
