Chapter 2

Chapter 2

That night, I had a dream.

Song Baoping stood before me with her belly thrust out, flaunting her triumph. Before I even laid a hand on her, she pretended to fall into the water and lose the child.

Because of that, Tan Sanque had me-pregnant as I was-thrown into the cold palace.

“You cannot give birth to a son, and now you have harmed Beauty Song’s flesh and blood. How truly vicious you are!”

In the end, after carrying my child for ten months, Song Baoping forced me to drink poisoned wine, killing both mother and child.

My bones were not yet cold, yet the front hall was alive with music and dancing as Song Baoping was being crowned empress.

Only one clear-eyed young man came to collect my body. He looked familiar, but I could not remember who he was.

…

The dream was as long as a lifetime. When I woke, I was drenched in cold sweat-then found the whole thing absurd.

How could I ever end up like that?

Just then, a maid came in to report that His Majesty had spent the night with Beauty Song and still had not risen though the sun was already high, so I was to preside over the welcoming banquet in his stead.

Those attending were all old comrades from Chang’an, men who had followed Tan Sanque and me when we first raised our banners.

Today, they were especially warm toward me.

“Princess, we heard you quarreled with His Majesty over one mere beauty.”

“Oh, come now. Men are men. What man doesn’t have three wives and four concubines? His Majesty had no choice, either. In his heart, he still has you, Princess.”

“Princess, your status is noble. Once His Majesty unifies the realm, the position of empress can belong to no one but you. The urgent matter now is to quickly give His Majesty a big, healthy son, so the crown prince can be settled early. Am I right, everyone? Ahahahahaha!”

“Yes, yes. His Majesty is only anxious because he has no heir…”

“Oh? So His Majesty already tipped you off and sent you to persuade me to tolerate Beauty Song?” I set down my wine cup, neither too lightly nor too heavily. “And if I refuse?”

“How dare you!” Tan Sanque stepped out from behind the tent screen. “Ning Huan, what woman under heaven does not live this way? Yet only you are so consumed by jealousy that you cannot tolerate anyone.”

“Then go find those women under heaven. Why waste your breath here with me?”

I clapped my hands and ordered someone to bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

“It is only a divorce letter. Why all this tedious fuss, even dragging others in as lobbyists? Since when did Your Majesty become so indecisive?”

Tan Sanque was stunned.

“You won’t write it?” I crooked a finger. “Give me the brush.”

When everyone saw me take up the brush, they rushed forward at once, clutching my sleeves and holding on to my arms.

Tan Sanque’s face darkened. With a sweep of his sleeve, he left.

That day, Xu Liang escorted me back to the palace. “Princess, when His Majesty was in Jiangdong, he doted on Beauty Song greatly. Moreover, she is the adopted daughter of the Grand Governor of Jiangdong, not some ordinary concubine. If she gives birth to a son, I fear there may be changes in the central palace.”

I nodded. “Of everyone seated there, you alone can still be considered an honest man.”

Xu Liang cupped his hands. “I am a Han minister. My family has lived for generations on Han stipends. I would not dare deceive Your Highness.”

“Then what do you think should be done now?”

Xu Liang looked toward Weiyang Palace. “If His Majesty proves unrighteous, Your Highness may take his place.”

My steps halted.

Brilliant!

Rather than compete with a crowd of women in the inner courtyard, fighting for some man’s favor,

I might as well take my chances against Tan Sanque himself.

For the mere position of empress, I still had to read his mood. Why not set myself up as ruler instead?

Better that I betray men than let men betray me!

I bowed deeply to Xu Liang. “Your words have swept away the clouds before my eyes and opened my mind at once.”