Ajiao stared at the pale yellow gauze canopy above her. She hadn't expected to actually cling to life. She coughed slightly and decided she must have Liu Che reward Song Zhen handsomely.
According to Yuli, she had been unconscious for three days before finally waking. Ruan Qing had cried until she fainted by her bedside time and again. It was also unexpected that Liu Che had allowed Ruan Qing into the palace to see her.
The events that had transpired in the palace were even more surprising. She remembered that when she was still Empress, people in the palace had used such drugs, and even more brazenly at that. After all, they weren't explicitly forbidden back then; it was just that they were considered unseemly to speak of.
It wasn't until Cunmo married into the Song family that Ajiao learned these drugs could deplete a man’s vital essence. Furious, she had immediately ordered a search of the palace, throwing everyone involved into the Yongxiang Prison. Although she had been dissatisfied with Liu Che’s constant induction of new concubines at the time, her actions were entirely for the sake of his health. Thus, she had acted with swift precision, brooking no pleas for mercy.
Yet, for reasons Ajiao couldn't fathom, Wang Zhi had claimed she was acting out of resentment born of jealousy. Ajiao’s well-intentioned explanations were met with further difficulties from Wang Zhi, leading to a direct confrontation between them. By then, the Grand Empress Dowager had passed away, and Wang Zhi was no longer as affectionate toward her as before. Heaven was her witness—was it her fault that Lady Wang and Lady Tian, whom Wang Zhi had sent into the palace, were also caught? Did the Empress Dowager truly value her two nieces more than her own son’s health? Besides, Ajiao hadn't even ordered their execution!
In the end, the matter reached Liu Che. He had hurried over and, in a rare move, actually defended her. However, he also commuted the punishments to a demotion of three ranks and a docking of one year's salary. Such a light sentence was exactly why the practice could never be truly stamped out.
Ruan Qing carefully wiped the sweat from Ajiao’s face. Seeing her daughter lying there as a small, curled-up figure, her face haggard and her gaze vacant, her heart ached. "Jiaojiao, come. Mother will hold you while you take your medicine."
Ajiao’s eyes moved slightly, and she offered a faint smile. Her throat was terribly raspy now, so she was reluctant to speak. Ruan Qing lifted her up and fed her the medicine, spoonful by spoonful.
In truth, Liu Che had always possessed a certain flaw that Ajiao understood well: he demanded twelve parts of sincerity from those around him, even if he himself offered less than half a part in return. The moment someone failed to show that absolute devotion, he would turn on them.
Back then, she had refused to back down in her argument with Wang Zhi, tearfully recounting the dangers of those drugs to Liu Che line by line. Seeing that her heart was entirely full of him, Liu Che had been satisfied. Conversely, he was dissatisfied with Wang Zhi’s attempt to protect Lady Tian and Lady Wang at the expense of his health.
Thus, he had chosen to defend his wife before Wang Zhi. He had always been that way.
But at that time, Liu Che was also arrogant in his youth and strength. The imperial physicians had diagnosed him with no abnormalities, leading him to believe the drugs were no great matter. He had insisted on a light punishment. Ajiao had refused to comply, but her mother had arrived and accepted the terms on her behalf.
That night, Liu Che had stayed at the Jiaofang Palace in high spirits. Yet, while they were intimate, he had leaned in to bite her ear and whispered, asking if she had used the incident as a pretext to eliminate her rivals. He said he would allow it this once but never again. Ajiao had felt utterly wronged; she had been thinking solely of his health, yet he believed she had ulterior motives. It was one thing for Wang Zhi to think so, but for him to think the same... Overcome by grief and rage, she had shoved the Emperor, who was moving atop her, right off the bed.
"Jiaojiao, why are you shaking your head? Is it too bitter? Here, have a preserved fruit."
Ajiao took the fruit into her mouth and chewed. The sweet and sour flavor immediately masked most of the bitterness.
In her heart, Ajiao sighed for her past self. she could still remember the look of utter bewilderment on Liu Che’s face when he was shoved off the bed, a look that slowly curdled into fury. She had come within a hair’s breadth of being struck by him; fortunately, Liu Che had redirected his blow at the last second, slamming his hand into the bedframe instead.
She knew that in a fit of rage, Liu Che had once slapped a consort to death for plotting against the imperial heirs. She had been terrified then, thinking he truly meant to kill her. After all, from ancient times to the present, who had ever dared to treat an Emperor so? She might have become the first Empress in history to be beaten to death by her husband.
The palace maids and eunuchs outside had asked in terror what was wrong. A moment later, a fuming Liu Che had dragged her back onto the bed to continue consorting with her—and from then on, she began a life where she was only favored once a month, regardless of the circumstances.
Ajiao covered her face. In truth, she had stopped understanding Liu Che a very, very long time ago.
***
"Your Majesty!" Hearing the palace attendants greeting the Emperor, Ruan Qing hurriedly settled Ajiao back onto the bed and rose to meet him. She hadn't been able to properly reunite with her daughter for a month. It was impossible for her not to harbor some resentment toward the Emperor, but when she thought of her husband’s career and the future of the Chen family, she could only endure.
Liu Che entered and gestured for everyone to rise. He sat beside Ajiao, and seeing her listless expression, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. He touched her face and asked softly, "You only woke today. How do you feel?"
Ajiao shrank back into the covers. She opened her mouth, but could only produce a raspy hiss.
Liu Che sighed. "Then do not speak. Rest." He turned to Ruan Qing. "Whatever she lacks or desires, simply tell Guo Tun. Have him collect it from the Imperial Household Department." With that, he left. Guo Tun had been assigned to her once again.
Because the imperial physicians had arrived quickly that day, and because he had dealt with the matter himself with a pillow, Liu Che had recovered quite well.
Looking at Ajiao now, he too recalled the night of the palace search and the scene at the Jiaofang Palace.
Never, never had he been shoved off a bed by a woman. Since time immemorial, women had only used every scheme imaginable to climb into his bed.
She was truly Chen Ajiao—utterly audacious. Had she been any other consort or concubine, he would have killed her long ago.
But his interest had been piqued at the time, so he had simply dragged her back to continue. To be honest, Ajiao’s look of terror and lingering fear had pleased him.
He knew Ajiao had always had a grand temper. He didn't like it, so he often sought opportunities to suppress her, lest she turn the world upside down.
Ajiao was a child raised by the Grand Empress Dowager; she was naturally skilled at managing palace affairs, which gave him peace of mind. After the palace search, he had cold-shouldered her for two years, and she had learned to be quiet. If not for the witchcraft incident, he truly hadn't intended to depose her.
But the witchcraft—Liu Che looked at the neatly trimmed plants in the Weiyang Palace, the palace attendants lining the path even more orderly than the flora—it was just as his mother had said. If Ajiao could use witchcraft to seek a son out of love today, would she not use it to take his life out of hatred tomorrow?
The thought made his heart tremble. He snuffed out the last spark of pity for Ajiao, becoming even more resolute in his decision to depose her.
"Your Majesty." Yang Deyi placed two bamboo scrolls on Liu Che’s desk. "Another one delivered from the Marquis of Changping’s residence." Over the past three days, the Jiaofang Palace, the Eastern Palace, the Marquis of Changping’s residence, and even Grand Princess Yangxin had submitted letters of apology, but the Emperor hadn't looked at a single one.
"Leave them there," Liu Che said with a wave of his hand.
Yang Deyi hesitated for a moment before saying, "There is also a scroll from the Chen family, requesting to take Lady Huikang back to their residence to recover." He paused. "In fact, the former Guantao... I mean, the Lady Huikang Residence has already been renovated. Even if she leaves the palace, she has a place to go."
Liu Che remained silent for a long moment. "Rejected."
Yang Deyi sighed inwardly and bowed. "Understood."
"Furthermore, if you continue to act on your own authority like this, you may go and retire," Liu Che said as he headed toward the inner chamber.
Yang Deyi fell to his knees with a thud.
Liu Che waved his hand without turning around. "Get out. I have never liked people kneeling."
He had already replaced the Commandant of Public Chariots at the Sima Gate.
Chen Yang was currently suspended and at home. Liu Che had specifically sent him to the Ministry of the Imperial Clan to identify every subordinate official, yet they hadn't found the one who had delivered the order.
He hated this feeling of being deceived and manipulated. it made him feel powerless as an Emperor. He found himself disliking the people in his harem now; every one of them used every trick to vie for favor, but how many truly held him in their hearts or thought of his well-being?
Right now, he just wanted to be alone in the quiet.
***
After taking her medicine and some porridge, Ajiao finally regained some energy.
Ruan Qing coaxed her into a midday nap, softly humming a lullaby. This time, Ruan Qing had only brought Yuli and Chunlan into the palace. To avoid suspicion, Liu Che had finally moved Ajiao out of the Xuanshi Palace and back to the Qingliang Palace.
Ajiao felt that her luck had turned abysmal ever since she met Liu Che. She spent every day on edge, guarding against one person or another, terrified that she might die if she wasn't careful.
Although she had previously mentioned Chu Haiguang and the so-called Immortal Lord Sheng to Lord Yuandeng, he hadn't seemed to care much, saying these were mortal matters that the Underworld did not interfere with.
That was right. As long as it happened in the mortal realm and didn't involve souls, the Underworld wouldn't interfere. These petty tricks of witchcraft were far too low-grade for the Underworld; managing them would be a waste of time.
Ajiao clicked her tongue, thinking to herself that she really could only rely on herself.
That sparrow was still watching her. The talisman stuck to the bird was far too conspicuous to Ajiao’s eyes.
Once she was better and could speak, she would have Guo Tun kill that sparrow. She hadn't wanted to bother with it before, but after suffering this undeserved disaster, she was unhappy. And when she was unhappy, she didn't want to leave such things around.
By evening, Ajiao was finally able to open her mouth. She ordered Guo Tun to kill the bird. When the palace attendants presented the dead sparrow on a lacquered tray, Ajiao felt her mood improve significantly. She summoned Chu Haiguang. Ever since he had seen the mark of the Underworld on Ajiao at the Chen residence, he
