Chapter 10
Qin Zheng seemed to lose his mind.
In a hoarse voice, he demanded to know when I had seduced Wei Zhe.
He could not believe that a respected minister so protective of his reputation would risk the extermination of his entire clan to commit adultery with an imperial consort.
“Wei Zhe is not a shameless man.”
I said nothing.
My thoughts drifted back to that night of pouring rain.
Wei Zhe had worn an icy expression as he tried to push me out. I braced myself against the door and clung on without shame.
“Lord Wei, you have stolen so many glances at me. You cannot be this heartless now.”
At last, a crack appeared in his frozen composure.
“Who has been stealing glances at you?” he snapped. “You are the one who stands in the doorway every day, dressed like a flower, flaunting your beauty and staring straight at me.”
While he argued, I successfully forced my way inside.
With utmost seriousness, I said, “My lord, I foresee bloodshed in your near future.”
“To escape the calamity, you must join with me in bed.”
“Absurd!”
Wei Zhe’s face went cold and he moved to throw me out.
After only a few steps, his body weakened and he collapsed onto the bed.
I rolled astride him and rested one finger against his throat.
“Did tonight’s tea not taste especially pleasant?”
“I asked the Imperial Household Department to give it special attention and add a little something to help you sleep…”
Piece by piece, I stripped away Wei Zhe’s clothing.
His face flushed and his breathing grew ragged. “You… get off me…”
My mind returned to the present.
“Wei Zhe truly is not a shameless man,” I said. “But I am a shameless woman.”
Qin Zheng’s arm dropped powerlessly to his side.
With the last of his breath, he warned, “Wei Zhe is a wolf in human skin. He cannot be controlled. In our last life, if We had not struck first and removed him, We would have been the one torn apart by five horses.”
“How can you dare rely on such a man?”
I remained silent.
Only when I had watched the life leave his eyes did I whisper, “I never intended to rely on anyone.”
I opened the doors.
Wei Zhe stood alone outside.
I threw myself into his arms and choked out, “I am so afraid.”
“My lord… am I going to die?”
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then Wei Zhe pressed his lips together and placed Qin Zheng’s secret decree in my hands.
“Your character may be base, but your crimes do not warrant death,” he said coolly.
“I will raise you to Empress Dowager, assist the new Emperor, and restore order to the court. You need only obey me.”
I nodded meekly.
I let him arrange Qin Zheng’s funeral, suppress restless ministers, establish the new Emperor’s authority, and rebuild the government.
From time to time, I placed my own people in the court and the harem.
Wei Zhe objected, so I lowered myself and coaxed him.
“I merely found a few positions for my family. Surely that cannot threaten you?”
“If you continue treating me this way, I may as well die!”
Wei Zhe could never bear my tears and complaints. I muddled through each confrontation.
Eventually, the realm settled.
One night, I secretly summoned Wei Zhe into the palace for a private meeting.
Sweet, cloying incense filled Cining Palace. The moment he stepped inside, the doors closed silently behind him.
He frowned. “What trouble are you making now?”
I kissed his cheek. “I missed you, of course.”
Wei Zhe put his arms around me and laughed lazily.
“Shen Wanning, could you show a little dignity for once?”
As the last word left his lips, a hidden arrow pierced his heart.
His body crumpled to the floor.
His blood-red eyes remained fixed on me.
I bent down and closed them.
Once again, I opened the doors.
My people filed into the hall and carried away the corpse of the prime minister who had once held the court in the palm of his hand.
Wei Zhe had followed the late Emperor into death.
No one in this world could ever again use power to crush me.
The moon shone bright among scattered stars.
At last, I was free.