Xu Lianhua's POV
She's awake.
Princess Ruyi's eyes fluttered open. Saw me. Smiled.
That warm, genuine smile.
All lies?
The poison, I said carefully. How do you feel?
Awful. She tried to sit up, winced. What happened?
You collapsed. We found poison in your chamber. Under your pillow. And a list of murder victims. In your handwriting.
Ruyi stared at me, shocked. You think I'm the traitor?
The evidence
Was planted! She grabbed my hand desperately. Lianhua, please. I would never hurt you. You're the sister I always wanted
Don't call me that.
Tears filled her eyes. I'm being framed. Can't you see?
I wanted to believe her.
But the evidence...
Your Majesty! A guard burst in. Urgent news. A visitor at the gates demanding to see the Emperor. Lady Xu Mingzhu. Claiming to be his rightful bride.
My blood turned to ice.
Mingzhu. But Mingzhu was dead. Poisoned in the dungeons.
That's impossible
Apparently not, Your Majesty.
The throne room doors opened.
Mingzhu walked in, beautiful and perfect. Everything I wasn't.
Behind her: Lord Chen and a dozen nobles. She'd brought an audience.
She bowed gracefully, tears streaming. Your Majesty, forgive my boldness. But the truth must be told.
What truth? the Emperor asked coldly.
About the substitution. My beloved sister was forced into a marriage meant for me. She looked at me with pure sorrow. I don't blame sweet Lianhua. She was always jealous of me. When Mother drugged her, she went willingly.
Gasps echoed.
That's a lie! I started forward but the Emperor stopped me.
I was supposed to be Empress, Mingzhu continued, voice breaking. But Lianhua saw her chance and took it. I've mourned in silence, but I can't anymore. She turned to the Emperor. I only ask for the truth to be known. That Lianhua manipulated her way onto the throne.
The accusation hung like poison.
You have no proof, the Emperor said.
I have witnesses. Servants who saw her ambition. Letters expressing jealousy. Mingzhu gestured to Lord Chen. I have the man I was meant to marry.
More lies. But so convincing.
Perhaps Lady Mingzhu should stay as a guest, the Dowager Empress suggested. To investigate these allegations properly.
Several nobles agreed.
The investigation is unnecessary, the Emperor said firmly. The marriage is legal and final. This matter is closed.
But Your Majesty
Closed. His voice was ice. Lady Mingzhu may stay as a guest. For three days. Then you leave.
Mingzhu bowed, but triumph flashed in her eyes.
Three days was all she needed.
After court dismissed, I cornered Mingzhu in a hallway. Alone.
Why are you here? What do you want?
She dropped the tearful act instantly. Her face transformed cold, calculating. What I've always wanted, dear sister. Everything.
You have Lord Chen. You have freedom. Why come here?
Because you thought you'd won, didn't you? Thought you'd escaped our family and built a new life? She laughed. You didn't escape anything. We let you go.
My hands clenched. Mother drugged me. Forced me
Mother did exactly what I told her to. Mingzhu stepped closer, voice dropping to a whisper. Did you really think she'd drug you without a backup plan? That we'd just accept you as Empress and move on?
Horror crept through me. What are you saying?
You were always part of the plan. The bastard daughter, desperate for approval, easy to manipulate. Her smile was vicious. The perfect puppet.
I'm not anyone's puppet
Who do you think suggested to the Dowager that substituting you would be perfect? I did. I needed you on that throne. Her eyes gleamed. Imperial Strategic Advisor. The Emperor's confidante. Exactly where I need you.
Need me for what?
For what comes next. Oh, and Lianhua? That evidence against Ruyi? I planted it. She's innocent. But by the time you figure that out, it'll be too late.
She walked away.
Mingzhu had orchestrated everything. The Dowager. The substitution. My rise to power.
But why?
I found the Emperor with Li Jian, both grim.
We need to talk about Mingzhu
We have a bigger problem. The Duke's army didn't retreat far. They're regrouping. Planning to attack within the week.
But we won
We won a battle. Not the war. The Emperor's face was grave. And with Mingzhu spreading discord, the court is divided. Half the nobles question your legitimacy. Question whether to support me.
The timing is too perfect, I said. Mingzhu arrives as the Duke prepares another attack. As evidence against Ruyi appears. It's coordinated.
They're working together, the Emperor agreed. But we don't know who's orchestrating it.
A servant entered. For the Empress. From Lady Mingzhu.
I opened it with shaking hands.
Dear Sister,
By now you've realized you're not as clever as you thought.
Princess Ruyi isn't the traitor. Neither am I. Neither is the Duke, or the Dowager.
We're all working together. A dozen different people with different reasons to want you exactly where you are.
You've been useful, Lianhua. Your intelligence, your strategic mind all exactly what we needed.
But your usefulness is almost over.
In three days, the Duke's army will march. The court will fracture. The Emperor will fall.
And you will make the choice that dooms him.
Because we know your secret. The one you've been hiding even from yourself.
You're in love with him.
And when the moment comes, you'll choose: save the man you love, or save the empire.
You can't do both.
We're counting on you to choose wrong.
See you soon.
- Your loving family
The letter slipped from my fingers.
They knew. Somehow they knew.
I looked at the Emperor, planning defenses, trusting me completely.
And I realized with horror:
Mingzhu was right.
I was in love with him.
And that love was going to be used as a weapon to destroy everything.