The Ancient Song
"Just a woman who traveled through time – how could she possibly compete with noble ladies raised by prestigious families?"
Consort Su looked at me, her expression dripping with contempt.
She came from a distinguished background, deeply favored by His Majesty, and had enjoyed the emperor's unwavering affection for ten years.
But I showed no fear. I leaned in close and whispered,
"What a pity, Your Highness, that your noble identity is forged."
Consort Su's face turned ashen in an instant.
I curled my lips. Yes, I had long known that this woman, who claimed to be the daughter of the Governor of Qing Prefecture, was in fact of lowly birth – the most despicable dancing girl from a music house.
And she would never know that my identity as a time-traveler was also a lie.
I was a genuine ancient.
01.
In the eleventh year of the Qianyuan era, I entered the palace through the imperial selection.
The harem was filled with beauties, and my looks were nothing exceptional.
Thus, for three full months after entering the palace, His Majesty never set foot in my chambers, let alone bestowed any favor upon me.
It wasn't until the spring banquet that I stunned the entire court with a performance of *Blue and White Porcelain*. When His Majesty heard the line, "The sky is blue waiting for rain, and I am waiting for you," he was utterly captivated.
That day, I was the center of attention. Consort Su, seated beside His Majesty, had a face as dark as iron.
Later, I composed three hundred poems, not only in classical styles but with structures never seen before in this world.
Among them, the line "Facing the sea, with spring blossoms blooming" pleased His Majesty the most.
When envoys from the Western nations visited our court, no one could understand their speech.
Only I stepped forward, conversing with them fluently in their own tongue, bringing honor to our country and delighting His Majesty.
Thus, I was granted the title of Talented Lady and became Consort Su's greatest threat.
The old palace maid who served me was named Liang. One morning, as Aunt Liang was combing my hair, she couldn't hide the worry on her face.
"Lady Shen, your brilliance shines too brightly. It may not serve you well," she murmured, frowning. "Have you heard of Lady Wen and Lady Zhao in the palace…?"
I smiled.
"I know."
It was no secret that time-traveling women had appeared in our dynasty one after another.
Lady Wen and Lady Zhao were among the earlier ones.
Both had shocked this era with their talents. Lady Wen excelled in inventions, while Lady Zhao championed reforms.
Yet their fates were identical – both had been killed by Consort Su in the palace struggles.
Now, Consort Su planned to use the same methods against me.
---
02.
One day, the concubines of the harem gathered as usual at the Clear Cloud Palace to pay their respects.
The position of empress had been vacant for a long time, and Consort Su, who resided in the Clear Cloud Palace, held a status equivalent to that of a deputy empress. When everyone had arrived and was about to bow together, Consort Su smiled and beckoned to me.
"Lady Shen need not observe such formalities. I know that in your homeland, all are equal."
At these words, the other concubines curled their lips with malicious smiles.
It was said that Lady Wen and Lady Zhao had once refused to bow to Consort Su, shouting about equality for all.
They were waiting to see me repeat the same mistake.
I adjusted my robes and performed the full ceremonial bow without flaw. "Your subject dares not be remiss, Your Highness. In the palace, rank must be observed. I would never presume to overstep."
The screen behind Consort Su was drawn aside, and His Majesty walked out, smiling.
The concubines were all startled. His Majesty had been in the Clear Cloud Palace all along, and Consort Su had not informed anyone.
A thin layer of cold sweat broke out on my back.
So that was it.
Consort Su had arranged this for His Majesty's eyes. She wanted me to utter those words about equality in front of him.
How could the Son of Heaven tolerate being placed on the same level as commoners? Even if he didn't punish me on the spot, I would surely lose his favor.
But Consort Su had never expected my answer to be so proper, which only pleased His Majesty more.
"Lady Shen is very sensible," His Majesty said, patting Consort Su's hand. "She is talented and respects you deeply. Why not let her assist you in managing the six palaces? What do you think?"
Consort Su forced a smile and agreed, but her eyes fixed on me with a chilling, venomous glare.
She couldn't understand why my way of thinking was so different from the previous time-travelers.
Soon, she devised a new scheme.
"The palace is about to embroider a grand tapestry of the empire's mountains and rivers. Each concubine will embroider a portion. Since you now share the responsibility of managing the six palaces, you should set an example for your sisters and embroider more."
Consort Su sent a pile of silk threads and brocade to my palace, telling me it was due in a month.
Embroidery was a required skill for ancient noble ladies, but time-travelers were generally clueless about it.
A month later, at His Majesty's birthday banquet, Consort Su, after a few cups of wine, smiled and proposed to His Majesty.
"Lady Shen has already finished embroidering the tapestry of mountains and rivers and wishes to present it to Your Majesty as a gift."
She looked at me with a smile. "She was too shy to mention it herself, so I thought I'd speak for her. Lady Shen, please present your gift now."
Meeting Consort Su's expectant gaze, I curled my lips. "Thank you, Your Highness."
I rose gracefully. Aunt Liang had already retrieved the scroll for me. I walked to the center of the hall and unrolled the embroidery.
The magnificent mountains and rivers of the empire unfolded before everyone's eyes.
Consort Su was stunned. She stared at me, utterly baffled.
"Lady Shen's embroidery skills are exquisite," His Majesty said joyfully. "I thought this wasn't your forte."
I smiled sweetly. "As long as Your Majesty likes it, I can learn anything."
After the banquet, I encountered Consort Su alone in the imperial garden.
With no one else around, she dropped her pretense of grace. She leaned close, gritting her teeth.
"You time-traveling women are all the same – audacious beyond belief."
"Not only do you want the empress's throne, but you also dream of having His Majesty abolish the six palaces for monogamy."
"I advise you to abandon that hope. Only I will ascend to the position of empress…"
I interrupted her.
"Su Lian'er, I have never wanted the empress's throne."
I, an ancient woman, had spent nearly ten years making myself appear to be a time-traveler, for one purpose only.
To take your life.
---
03.
Our dynasty had only three time-traveling women.
Lady Wen, Lady Zhao.
The third was not me, who came after them.
But the one before them… the empress who had died many years ago.
I was eight years old then. My family had been convicted of a crime, and I was reduced to servitude, working day and night in the laundry bureau, beaten and scolded by the matrons, never having enough to eat or wear. I was like a withered little bean sprout.
By some twist of fate, the empress saw me. She took pity on me, brought me to her palace, gave me winter clothes and hot meals. When I fell ill, she tended to me herself, spoon-feeding me the bitter medicine.
"I owe Your Majesty my life," I said, kneeling before her after I recovered. "I would be your beast of burden, your horse…"
She laughed and lifted me into her arms.
"No one should be a beast of burden," she said, smiling. "I've always wanted a little sister. I never thought I'd find one in ancient times."
Back then, there were few other concubines in the palace. The empress and His Majesty lived like an ordinary couple.
To this day, I believe that among all his women, His Majesty loved the empress the most.
The reason Lady Wen and Lady Zhao later gained favor was that, as fellow time-travelers, they bore traces of the empress.
But the empress was not happy.
When she accompanied His Majesty to the Jiangnan region and saw officials seizing land and refugees everywhere, her heart ached.
She wanted to push for reforms, to weaken the feudal lords, to root out corrupt officials, to allow women to participate in the imperial examinations.
But all this earned her was His Majesty's increasingly dark expression.
He began staying overnight in the music houses of Jiangnan.
I later learned that the one accompanying His Majesty in those music houses was Su Lian'er, the future Consort Su.
His Majesty loved the empress more, but Su Lian'er brought him ease.
Originally, when His Majesty was still a prince, he had met the empress. She had agreed to help him ascend the throne on one condition: that he would abolish the six palaces for her. A modern woman, she could not tolerate her husband having other women.
The prince had sworn solemnly. But now, he had broken his promise.
When Su Lian'er threw a fit, His Majesty brought her back to the palace.
That night, the empress didn't sleep at all. I stayed by her side, urging her to rest.
But she only shook her head and smiled at me. "A'Ling, have you learned everything I taught you?"
"I review it every day," I replied obediently.
The empress lowered her head and smiled. In the moonlight, I saw a tear fall from her eye.
"Forget it all," she said softly. "Perhaps in this era, not knowing those things is a blessing."
But even as she understood this truth, she couldn't live by it.
She couldn't stop pitying the lowliest of people. She couldn't live comfortably as a noble. She wanted everyone to live like human beings.
And Su Lian'er exploited all of this. Every night, she whispered in His Majesty's ear.
"Your Majesty, everyone says the empress is so resourceful and far-sighted. They say you owe your throne to her."
It was the truth. But how could the Son of Heaven tolerate such a truth?
So, one night, when the empress again tried to discuss state affairs with His Majesty, I heard him ask her coldly,
"Empress, I've told you many times: the harem must not interfere in politics."
"What, do you wish to take my place?"
His Majesty stormed off, leaving the empress sitting alone in the palace for a long time.
I timidly entered to bring her tea. She smiled at me, found a bundle of gold and silver, and placed it in my hands.
"Go, A'Ling." She gently touched my head.
I sensed something was wrong. "Your Majesty, I won't leave."
She laughed, coaxing me. "Go to Jiangnan first. Find a village and wait for me. I'll come soon."
She lied to me.
When I reached Jiangnan, I heard the news.
The empress had rebelled.
She had raised an army to seize power from His Majesty and had been defeated and killed.
She was the first female rebel in our dynasty's history.
As a rebel, she was granted no posthumous title. Her body was thrown into a mass grave, and her name became taboo, never to be spoken again.
Su Lian'er was made Consort Su. More and more concubines entered the palace, and the empress was forgotten.
But I would never forget.
I remembered her smile when she looked at me. I remembered the warmth of her embrace when I was sick. I remembered her calling me "little sister" – the first time I felt I had family in this world.
I left the palace because of her. And I returned for her.
Ten years had passed. I had grown up. Though not a great beauty, I had delicate features and hair as dark as clouds.
No one could recognize me as the sallow, scrawny girl who had once been by the empress's side.
I had learned all the skills of a time-traveler from the empress. But I didn't have their weaknesses.
I had no interest in palace intrigue.
I only knew one thing: Su Lian'er and the emperor…
You both deserve to die.
---
04.
The deeper my hatred, the calmer I appeared on the surface.
Every afternoon, His Majesty would stay in the imperial study, sometimes reviewing memorials, sometimes reading.
During these times, he liked to have a graceful companion by his side to grind ink and serve tea. Previously, this duty had fallen to Consort Su. But recently, she had volunteered to let me take her place.
"In recent years, I've gained a reputation for jealousy, which is truly unjust," Consort Su said, tugging at His Majesty's sleeve with a pitiful look. "Now that there's a younger sister who pleases Your Majesty more, I couldn't be happier."
"Why not let Lady Shen, the most agreeable of the younger concubines, take over this delightful task of accompanying Your Majesty in the study?"
Consort Su looked at me, her smile radiant. "Lady Shen is clever and insightful. Perhaps she can even help Your Majesty with state affairs."
There it was. The same old trick.
She had used this to bring down the empress. Then she had used it again on Lady Wen and Lady Zhao.
Now, it was my turn.
Cold inside, I smiled meekly and accepted.
Outside the study, the plants were lush. I ground the ink, warmed the tea, and stood quietly in a corner, as still as a plant.
His Majesty sat beside me, reviewing memorials. Sometimes he laughed, sometimes he frowned. After a long frown, he tossed a memorial to me.
"Lady Shen, what do you think of this?"
The scene was painfully familiar.
Years ago, I had stood in the distance with a lantern, watching as His Majesty handed memorials to the empress in the same way. She always gave him brilliant insights.
Back then, I had believed that His Majesty loved and admired the empress all the more for her wisdom.
No one knew that behind his praise and amazement, a tumor of fear and suspicion was growing in the dark.
I knelt obediently, picked up the memorial, and handed it back.
"Your Majesty, the harem must not interfere in politics. I dare not."
"Oh, that's for ordinary women," His Majesty waved dismissively. "Ordinary women have little insight and only spout nonsense about politics. But you are different. I am happy to discuss matters with you."
His tone was gentle, but my expression grew more serious.
"Your Majesty's appreciation and trust are beyond my ability to repay."
"But I am not capable. I have no interest in state affairs. As a concubine, I only wish to serve Your Majesty well."
His Majesty put down the memorial, his face expressionless. "You don't trust me?"
"I dare not."
"Wouldn't staying in the harem waste your talents?"
"Your Majesty jests. Under your rule, the empire is prosperous and peaceful," I said. "What need is there for my meager talents?"
Silence.
Thankfully, my skirt was thick that day, or His Majesty would have seen the cold sweat soaking my back.
Consort Su's move was brilliant. She had placed me on a tightrope, with cliffs on either side—
My identity as a time-traveler was obvious. His Majesty would surely ask my opinion on state affairs. If I refused, I would be defying his order, risking his anger.
But if I gave in and discussed politics, I would follow the fate of the time-travelers before me.
I was gambling. I had to walk this tightrope and find a way out.
After a long silence, I heard His Majesty ask softly,
"Why are you different from the others?"
"They all had grand ambitions. You only want to be an ordinary concubine?"
I looked up, tears glistening in my eyes.
"Because of my feelings for Your Majesty."
His Majesty gazed at me for a moment, then pulled me up and embraced me.
The scent of imperial incense filled my nostrils. I took a deep breath, knowing I had passed this test.
But it wasn't truly over.
"Has Consort Su… been making things difficult for you?"
I was slightly startled.
He said calmly, "There are things I don't say, but that doesn't mean I don't know."
"Accompanying me in the study every afternoon is a coveted task. It often leads to sharing dinner and, eventually, the imperial bed."
"Over the years, Consort Su has only given up this opportunity three times."
I said nothing, understanding in my heart—
Lady Wen, Lady Zhao, and now me.
The first two had both been convicted of interfering in politics and died in the cold palace.
I hesitated, then asked timidly, "And the previous two times…"
"I knew Consort Su's intentions. But those two women were indeed troublesome." His Majesty pinched his brow and smiled at me. "It's fine. You are different from them."
I mustered all my strength to produce a gentle smile.
"Consort Su is also too intolerant. You are so obedient and gentle, yet she still schemes against you," His Majesty said. "I've indulged her too much over the years."
His Majesty's favor for Consort Su waned. At night, he stayed in my palace. Consort Su pretended to be ill and sent for him several times, but he ignored her.
One night, under the moonlight, the peach blossom wine I had brewed was particularly fine. His Majesty drank too much and soon became drunk.
He grabbed my hand, his drunken eyes fixed on the moon.
"Zihan…"
My body trembled imperceptibly.
That was the empress's name.
His Majesty was very drunk. His words slurred as he murmured about the early years—
When he was an unloved prince, and the empress was a palace official. He had been made to kneel in the snow by his father, and she had quietly held an umbrella over him.
That was the beginning of their love.
He had never begged for anything, but he had begged her to be his wife. They had shared the happiest days, climbing heights to gaze at the moon, and he had told her his ambitions, never shared with anyone else. She believed he was the one who could change the world.
So she stood behind the scenes, plotting and advising, using her wisdom to solve the drought in Jiangnan, earning him praise from officials and recognition from his father. She helped him ascend the throne.
After his coronation, he made her empress. Holding her hand, he felt he had everything he wanted.
The moon hid behind the clouds.
His Majesty said no more. He fell asleep on the cool couch, a tear slowly sliding down his cheek.
He didn't speak of what came after, but I knew it all.
Men are cruel creatures. The saying "When the cunning hare is dead, the hounds are boiled" must have been their invention.
They could conquer a kingdom with their brothers, then eliminate those brothers once they became emperor.
Toward women, they were even more ruthless.
And the guilt that followed their ruthlessness only moved themselves, not me.
I covered him with a blanket, rose coldly, and slipped away from the attendants, heading straight to the imperial medical office.
I had my own matters to attend to.
When I returned from the medical office, the sky was faintly light.
I closed my eyes and rested for a moment before His Majesty woke.
He had sobered up and asked if anything had happened the night before.
"Your Majesty fell asleep after drinking and slept until now," I said gently, with a hint of reproach. "I told you the peach blossom wine was intoxicating, but you wouldn't listen."
Later, His Majesty praised me in the palace, saying that among all the concubines, Lady Shen was the gentlest and most considerate.
I sneered inwardly.
Consort Su, deprived of favor for so long, finally grew impatient.
She had originally sent me to the study to harm me, but I had seized the opportunity to win favor and turned His Majesty against her.
My spies in her palace reported that Consort Su was practicing dance daily, preparing to perform at the Mid-Autumn Crab Feast to regain favor.
I dismissed all the attendants and, alone in the silent hall, allowed myself a smile.
Perfect.
The opportunity I had been waiting for had finally arrived.
---
05.
Mid-Autumn Festival. The moon was as round as a silver platter.
All the concubines gathered together, each with a plate of plump crabs before them, accompanied by pastries and fine wine.
When the banquet was in full swing, Consort Su excused herself. Moments later, she reappeared, having changed her attire.
She had clearly dressed with care. A gown of soft gossamer, her hair adorned with sparkling jewels, made her face stunningly beautiful.
Consort Su knelt gracefully. "It has been so long since I last danced. Today, with Your Majesty and all the sisters in high spirits, I shall perform, however poorly."
His Majesty hadn't visited Consort Su in a long time. The absence made the familiar face seem fresh again, and he nodded eagerly. "I have always loved your Bamboo Branch Dance, Lian'er. I remember when you danced after drinking, your waist swayed like a willow in the wind, so naturally charming."
Consort Su's expression flickered.
The title of "music house dancer" was not a good one. Since entering the palace, she had claimed to be the daughter of the Governor of Qing Prefecture, a noble lady.
His Majesty's casual remark had publicly exposed her past.
He hadn't meant to humiliate her. He simply… didn't care about her feelings.
For nearly ten years, he had only indulged her, never loved her.
I watched coldly. Consort Su's displeasure lasted only a moment. She was desperate to regain favor, so she quickly put on a radiant smile. "Since Your Majesty enjoys it, I shall recreate that scene."
She raised a cup of osmanthus wine, drained it, and walked to the center of the courtyard to begin her dance.
I had to admit, Consort Su had her reasons for being favored all these years. Dancing under the moonlight, she was the picture of grace and allure. His Majesty was momentarily captivated. The younger concubines exchanged helpless glances—it seemed Consort Su was about to reclaim her glory.
I pretended to drink, hiding my smile behind the cup.
It was almost time.
Consort Su's dancing figure suddenly wavered.
She stood still, clutching her lower abdomen, her face twisted in pain.
"Lian'er…" His Majesty had just risen to his feet when Consort Su collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Summon the physician! Quickly!"
---
06.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Consort Su is with child."
The physician bowed to His Majesty.
His Majesty was overjoyed.
The other concubines stood behind him. I noticed some of the younger ones couldn't hide their despair.
"How far along is she?"
"About a month, Your Majesty."
His Majesty's face froze.
He didn't need to check the records.
He hadn't set foot in Consort Su's palace in the past two months.
Before everyone's stunned eyes, he strode into the inner chamber.
Consort Su was still unconscious, lying on the couch. His Majesty grabbed her by the hair and dragged her off the bed.
She woke with a scream of pain, completely bewildered.
"Guards! Throw this adulteress into the cold palace and torture her until she reveals who her lover is!"
That night, the palace seemed to have suddenly turned cold. The wind carried a biting chill.
I stayed in my palace. Aunt Liang went out to gather news and returned to report.
"Consort Su refuses to confess. She keeps crying injustice."
"Mm." I nodded. "You have connections in the cold palace, don't you? I want to see her."
"Easy enough. They're old acquaintances of mine. Just give me some silver to smooth things over."
Late that night, I went to the cold palace.
Aunt Liang led the others away, and I sat down across from Consort Su.
She was tied to a pillar, her hair disheveled, staring at me.
"It was you… you framed me, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
My quick admission caught her off guard.
"Yes, I framed you," I said calmly. "You were never pregnant."
"I knew you would drink before dancing, so I tampered with the osmanthus wine, making you collapse midway."
"This created the greatest spectacle. His Majesty and all the concubines gathered in your palace to congratulate you. Then the physician, whom I had bribed handsomely, made his entrance."
"With so many witnesses, His Majesty, who cares so much about face, had no choice but to send you straight here for torture."
She glared at me, her eyes bloodshot. "Lady Shen, you think you're so clever, but this is a clumsy plan! When dawn comes, His Majesty will come to see me, and I'll demand another physician to examine me!"
I cut her off. "You're dreaming."
"Do you really think I'll let you live until dawn?"
Fear crept into Consort Su's eyes. Her long lashes trembled. "Why are you doing this to me…"
"Because you did the same to her."
"To whom?!"
"She never wanted to rebel. Even at the end, she couldn't bring herself to sever her feelings for His Majesty. Otherwise, she could have simply walked away."
"But you kept whispering in his ear, feeding his paranoia and suspicion, until you forced the empress to raise an army."
Consort Su's eyes widened. "You mean… the empress…"
"Yes," I said softly. "I'm not a time-traveler. I was already in the palace ten years ago."
"Why do you blame me?!" Fear of death overwhelmed her, and she began to speak recklessly. "I may have stirred things up, but it was His Majesty who killed the empress!"
"Don't worry."
I smiled softly.
"He's next."
---
07.
News of Consort Su's death spread through the palace.
It was said she refused to name her lover and hanged herself in the cold palace.
His Majesty stripped her of her title and had her body thrown into a mass grave.
The affair enraged His Majesty so much that he fell ill and couldn't hold court for days. Despite taking medicine prescribed by the imperial physicians, his condition didn't improve.
The concubines eagerly attended to him, but I claimed to have caught a cold myself, not wanting to pass it on, and stayed in my palace.
Of course, that was a lie. In truth, I often disguised myself and slipped out through a small gate, heading straight to the cold palace.
At the darkest room, I knocked. A soft singing came from inside.
"You waited for him to come back, but he let you go—"
I responded, "What kind of man are you, what kind of man—"
The code matched. The door opened.
The woman inside wore a black cloak. She pushed back the hood, revealing a young face.
If anyone else were here, they would surely scream—
Lady Wen.
She wasn't dead.
On the day I visited Consort Su for the last time, I had seen her.
Lady Wen had been framed by Consort Su and sentenced to death by poisoned wine in the cold palace. But as a top science student from her world, she had prepared an antidote, faked her death, and escaped.
Later, she used the same method to save Lady Zhao, who was also about to be killed by Consort Su.
They shared an irreconcilable hatred for Consort Su. When they heard she had been sent to the cold palace, they immediately came to carry out their assassination plan, only to overhear my final conversation with Consort Su.
The three of us quickly formed an alliance.
"Lady Zhao is training troops," Lady Wen said, checking the walls for eavesdroppers before lowering her voice. "These are people the empress saved back then. Most are of low birth and have suffered oppression all their lives."
"Lady Zhao and I asked them why they were willing to follow us. They said—"
She paused.
"The empress once told them that no one should be a beast of burden. Those words saved them. So they will unconditionally follow anyone who speaks those words."
My eyes burned. In my mind, I saw the empress carrying me out of the laundry bureau.
"His Majesty is ill. The imperial physicians are following my instructions. The prescriptions are all wrong. He won't recover quickly."
"How did you win over the imperial physicians?" Lady Wen asked curiously.
I shook my head. "It wasn't me. It was the empress's legacy. Years ago, when His Majesty was gravely ill, he threatened to execute all the physicians for incompetence. The empress saved their lives."
Lady Wen was silent for a moment.
"The empress… was truly an extraordinary woman."
"Though I never met her, we have been living under her protection."
She steadied herself and took my hand.
"It's time to avenge her—and ourselves."
The date was set a month after Mid-Autumn. On the night of September fifteenth, the moon appeared blood-red. In ancient legends, such a moon was called a demon moon.
The battle began.
Lady Wen and Lady Zhao's army cut through the imperial city like a sword through a heart. The troops, trained by Lady Zhao, wielded weapons developed by Lady Wen, more advanced than the crossbows of the imperial guards.
As I watched the rain of arrows, I thought to myself—
Empress, on the day you were forced to rebel, was it like this, with the roar of battle filling the air?
I picked up my sword and headed to His Majesty's Taiqing Palace.
Resistance was futile. The imperial guards, accustomed to a life of leisure, drinking and gambling daily, were no match for the sudden coup.
When we stormed the Taiqing Palace, only two eunuchs were with His Majesty. The rest had fled in terror.
The emperor sat in the center, wearing his bright yellow dragon robe. Even at death's door, he looked at us without fear or anger.
"Lady Shen, Lady Wen, Lady Zhao," he said coldly. "You've hidden your treachery well."
"Especially you." He looked at me. "You were the most obedient. Have they led you astray?"
I laughed.
"How could that be, Your Majesty?" I said, staring at him with intense hatred. "From the day I entered the palace, I have wanted nothing more than to kill you."
He stared at me for a long time before letting out a bitter laugh.
"Very well. All of you are very good."
"Every one of my women has exceeded my expectations."
He looked at the dark mass of troops behind us and smiled faintly.
"It seems I am to die here."
"Since that's the case, my concubines should accompany me to the grave."
He raised his hand. The doors of the Taiqing Palace were suddenly blocked from the outside. At the same time, dozens of buckets of oil were poured from the roof, soaking everything inside.
My face changed. The Taiqing Palace was mostly wooden. If a fire started, it would spread quickly. We wouldn't be able to break down the doors in time.
His Majesty had already drawn his bow, an arrow tipped with fire aimed at a pile of oil-soaked straw.
"I'll see you on the road to the underworld, my beloved consorts—"
In a flash, I charged forward.
The arrow pierced my chest. Flames ignited my clothes. I fell to the ground, using my body to smother the fire.
The pain was overwhelming. I could hear nothing. The world fell silent around me. The shouts and cries faded away as I lay on the ground, watching scenes flash before my eyes—
I saw Lady Zhao charge at the emperor with her long blade and drive it into his chest.
I saw Lady Wen rush over and lift me into her arms, shouting something I couldn't hear.
I turned my head to look at the emperor.
He wasn't dead yet. The long blade was still in his chest, his dragon robe soaked in blood. Like a vengeful ghost, he crawled toward me.
Lady Zhao drew her sword to protect me, but the emperor wasn't coming for me. He looked at me, his lips moving slowly.
I could read what he was saying.
"Was it always going to come to this… between us?"
"If there is a next life… and I am not born into the imperial family…"
"Could our love have a happy ending?"
I understood.
He wasn't looking at me.
He was looking through me at another woman.
The woman who had died at his hands in a coup ten years ago.
Now, karma had come full circle. He was dying in a coup at her hands.
Blood gushed from my mouth, but I still managed to smile.
And so the emperor saw the gentlest, most obedient, most submissive Lady Shen spit a mouthful of bloodied saliva at him, her expression one of utter contempt and disgust.
"Who the hell would want to love a piece of trash like you in the next life?"
"Disgusting."
His eyes wide with disbelief, he slowly breathed his last.
---
08.
Lady Wen and Lady Zhao held me, telling me to hold on, that they could save me.
I shook my head gently.
The wound in my chest no longer hurt. I knew my blood was almost gone.
With my last strength, I opened my mouth and whispered, "I wish… I wish I could see…"
Lady Wen and Lady Zhao leaned close to my lips, straining to hear.
"I wish I could see that world… where no one is a beast of burden."
They wept, their tears falling on my face.
"Hold on! We'll show it to you!"
The ever-brave Lady Zhao sobbed. "Don't die! Just hold on a little longer…"
"Look, we've succeeded! We have an army, we have the people's support. We will change this world…"
I closed my eyes.
I saw it.
I saw a world where no one would be convicted and executed like my father, for no reason.
I saw a world where no girl would be imprisoned in the palace like me, without any freedom.
I saw a world where no one would be enslaved and beaten like my family.
I was just an ordinary person born in this era. Because of these women from another world, I had lived such an extraordinary life.
It was enough. I was content.
In my final vision, I saw the empress walking toward me in the faint light of dawn. She took my hand and looked at me with gentle eyes.
"No one should be a beast of burden."
I smiled. I was eight years old again, holding her hand, following her without hesitation. I didn't know where she was taking me, but I knew she would lead me to a place full of hope and beauty.
Lady Shen, Talented Lady. Entered the palace in the eleventh year of Qianyuan. Died in the coup of the thirteenth year.
---
Bonus Scene—
It felt like a long darkness.
I drifted in chaos until I finally opened my eyes.
What greeted me was a white ceiling.
I sat up. The face before me was so familiar.
"Empress… Empress…"
"My name is Qin Zihan." The girl before me smiled warmly, then called out behind her, "Hey, you two! Aren't you going to greet your new roommate?"
Lady Wen, wearing a thick book and a strange contraption with two glass pieces on her face—the empress later told me it was called glasses—walked toward me with a look of utter despair.
"I have a topology quiz tomorrow. Let me study first."
Beside her, Lady Zhao was engaged in an even stranger activity. I couldn't understand why she was lifting two iron weights up and down.
"Check out these biceps. Not bad for a jock, right?" Lady Zhao looked at me.
I didn't fully understand her words, but I stammered a reply.
"Not… not bad at all," I said. "You could take down three imperial guards single-handedly."
They exchanged glances and burst out laughing.
"You two can put your studying and exercising on hold for now," Qin Zihan said, pulling me with a smile.
"Let's take A'Ling to see this world first."