I was sent into the palace because I wasn’t clever.
Before I left, Mother warned me never to fall for the emperor.
I asked her what falling for someone meant.
“It means seeing him makes you happy.”
Puzzled, I tilted my head and asked: “Happier than eating braised pork?”
“A hundred times happier.”
I immediately thumped my chest and promised I would never fall for anyone as long as I lived.
After all, nothing in the world tasted better than braised pork.
Then one day, the noble consort everyone called arrogant and overbearing smiled and pressed a sweet cake into my hand.