Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Demise of the Empress Dowager

Southern Dynasty, Weiyang Palace!

The palace, resplendent with gilded decorations, glazed tiles, vermilion lacquer, intricately carved beams, and painted pillars, stood tall and majestic, exuding grandeur and authority.

Suddenly, a piercing scream broke the stillness of the palace, "Ah! Help! Mercy, Your Highness!"

The guards at the door, upon hearing the scream, shuddered, yet they remained motionless like statues until the Emperor's yellow robe appeared hastily, prompting them all to kneel and salute, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The Emperor, without a glance at them, rushed in. Soon after, a roar of anger followed by a resounding slap echoed.

"Smack!"

"Your Majesty!" Inside Weiyang Palace, the courtiers knelt everywhere. The tall and handsome Emperor coldly held a disheveled, pitiful woman in his arms, glaring at the person he had just slapped to the ground. The splendid royal attire lay scattered. The person on the floor remained motionless, anger boiling within the Emperor who thought she was feigning, his disdain growing, "Leng Jinghua! Your actions only deepen my loathing! I advise you to restrain yourself, or I shall show no further mercy!"

"Your Majesty..." The woman clutched fearfully at his robe, her demeanor akin to a frightened deer, eliciting immense pity from the Emperor. With a cold sweep of his eyes around the room, he embraced the woman and left.

"Empress Dowager!"

"Your Highness!"

As soon as the Emperor left, an old eunuch hurriedly rushed to the person on the ground, lifting her up to see a pool of blood beneath her. One side of her pale face was covered in blood, turning deathly white, "Someone! Fetch the imperial physician, quickly!"

People scurried out immediately. The old eunuch, looking at the unconscious Empress Dowager, felt his heart pounding and tremblingly checked for her breath. Freezing on the spot, he looked at the person in his arms in disbelief, murmuring, "The Empress Dowager... has passed away..."

"What?" The flurry of palace maids turned in shock, their cries of anguish filling the air as they knelt, overwhelmed by fear.

Leng Jiu slowly regained consciousness, greeted by the cacophony of wails and sobs. A cold sneer crossed her heart. Had she arrived at the gates of hell? The pain on her forehead and cheeks, however, vividly assured her she was still alive. Opening her eyes, she barked irritably, "Why the crying? I’m not dead yet!"

Her roar silenced the room instantly. Seeing the Empress Dowager awake, everyone broke into tears of joy, crawling over excitedly, "Thank the heavens! Her Highness is unharmed!"

"Oh! Her Highness is safe, what a relief!"

Empress Dowager? Her Highness? And this attire... Leng Jiu’s eyelids twitched. Was this a royal masquerade? Just as she was about to ask, a ghostly pale face with crimson lips and tear-streaked cheeks, reeking of thick makeup, appeared inches from her, "Empress Dowager!"

At the sight of those scarlet lips parting, Leng Jiu felt the world spin and then fainted, whether from disgust or blood loss, she couldn't tell.

Lying on an unbelievably large bed, Leng Jiu, still pale, scanned the row of maids and eunuchs standing at the foot of her bed with a sharp gaze.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Empress Dowager, Your Highness!"

"Where is this?"

"Weiyang Palace!"

"Which dynasty?"

"Fengyu Dynasty!"

Fengyu Dynasty? Leng Jiu nearly bit her tongue. Although not a history buff, she was sure this dynasty didn't exist in history.

She distinctly remembered being ambushed on a cruise ship, which exploded, leaving no remains. She had indeed died, meaning she had now transcended time. With a lift of her phoenix eyes, full of charm, she was someone who adapted to circumstances. Since she was reborn here, she resolved to carve out her own destiny in this new world!

Behind the Weiyang Palace lay the Hundred Flowers Garden, filled with numerous precious and exotic flowers and plants, tended year-round by dedicated caretakers, ensuring a perennial bloom of unmatched beauty. Leng Jiu fell in love with this place at first sight.

In the garden, a luxurious concubine's chair was placed in the once empty courtyard, where a figure in striking red leaned back, feigning sleep, one hand supporting her head. Her face was as clear as moonlight and as bewitching as roses, her skin pale and flushed, with delicate features. However, her slanted phoenix eyes and half-smiling red lips added a touch of enchanting allure.

Her hair, smooth as fine satin, cascaded down carelessly to the ground. She wore only a thin, nearly transparent red gauze dress, outlining her graceful curves. The gentle breeze made the fabric flutter, revealing glimpses of her skin. Her beauty, both seductive and innocent, was utterly captivating.

The palace maids nearby stole glances at the figure on the chair, inwardly marveling at the Empress Dowager's stunning beauty.

Eunuch Lu approached, pride written all over his face. He always knew their Empress Dowager was the fairest, but the Emperor failed to appreciate her. If the Emperor saw her like this, would he regret not noticing?

With a flick of his dust whisk, he brought over a blanket and covered her, asking softly, "Your Highness, Consort Li requests an audience."

Leng Jiu slowly opened her eyes, revealing a pair of clear, glass-like eyes that shone brilliantly, almost too dazzling to look at directly. Seeing Eunuch Lu's face close by, she couldn’t help but twitch, "Didn’t I tell you to stay three feet away from me when you speak?"

Eunuch Lu's face, plastered with makeup, showed a hint of hurt, but he stepped back three feet, "Your Highness, would you like to see Consort Li?"

Leng Jiu leaned back on the pillow, giving him a look, "Consort Li? Who is that?"

"She's the woman you planned to punish the day you lost your memory, Your Highness. The Emperor saved her and even slapped you, leading to your amnesia!" Eunuch Lu spoke indignantly, as if he were the one slapped.

At this, Leng Jiu's lips curved, "In that case, I really should meet her."

"I will bring her in immediately, for Your Highness to deal with as you please."

Leng Jiu raised her hand to her forehead, brushing aside a lock of hair to reveal a fierce wound. Although the imperial physician assured no scar would remain after healing, it was still unsightly. This face, her most cherished feature since rebirth, was marred by this flaw, leaving her discontented.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Leng Jiu let her hair fall back into place.

"Your servant pays respect to Your Highness!"

Leng Jiu leaned back lazily, "Come closer to me!"

After a pause, a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen approached, kneeling respectfully before her. Leng Jiu sized her up and clicked her tongue twice, "So, you are Dragon Yi's most cherished woman?"