Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The palace banquet was a scene of harmony and joy, with every seat filled.

I alone knelt in the center of the hall, enduring Consort Wei’s humiliation before the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Consort Wei hurled her wine cup at my forehead, spitting out in disgust, “Today is the first palace banquet since His Highness was restored to his position. Who permitted a lowly creature like you to attend?”

His Highness had no primary consort, so everyone in the palace deferred to his newly taken Side Consort Wei.

I didn’t dare dodge. I could only take the blow, my lips pressed thin as I whispered, “A maidservant said… His Highness wanted me to come to the banquet.”

At those words, Consort Wei let out a sneer, and the room erupted in laughter.

Everyone knew that even though I had accompanied His Highness through three thousand miles of exile, he had refused to see me even once since his restoration.

Much less grant me a formal title.

This was because I was originally just a servant of the Wei Family. Yet, when His Highness was sent into exile, I had taken the place of Consort Wei-who had been betrothed to him-and married him instead.

“His Highness told you to come?” Consort Wei curled her lip, her voice dripping with irony. “His Highness once said that you are the greatest shame of his life.”

I kept my eyes downcast as blood dripped from my forehead.

It took a long time before I could force two words from my throat: “Is that so?”

During our journey into exile, His Highness had said something similar. Except, back then, what he had said was: Ah Fu, I am grateful to have you.*