1 ~Forever Alone

Large bells rang as politician and officials settled down in their seats, morning court was finally finished. The Emperor, Li Xiānyûn, sat in his golden throne, giving a small yawn as a royal maid bowed and said, "Your majesty, The Queen Mother has requested to see you."

He gave a small nod and gestured the maid to be gone. Down at The Women's Mansion, the Queen Mother waited patiently clearly angry and frustrated. "Mother," called out the Emperor "what has got you so angry?"

"It's your little empress, today is the third time she didn't come to Morning Greetings!" snapped the Queen Mother, Xianyun nodded and sighed, it was true, this woman really couldn't follow simple instructions he thought to himself as he looked across the lily pond.

He took his mother's hand and told her to not worry about it, he would deal with it and it would be bad for her health if she kept on being so angry. That afternoon the Emperor found his wife up in a tree while eating an apple, he looked up at her, giving her an angry stare which she instantly understood and quickly climbed down , he told her about the Queen Mother's complaint and asked her why she didn't come to the Morning Greetings that day, she just shrugged with a sigh and told him she was busy doing something.

Frustration grew in his eyes, suddenly he pushed her against the tree truck and pinned her down, eye to eye they glanced at each other, Xianyun growled in a low voice,"You will go to morning greetings or else, don't think that just because you are empress that you don't have to go. Remember that you are just a business trade and an annoyance.", with that he turned around and left, leaving the poor Empress, Chen Xīngrû, in shock on the ground.

A single tear ran down Xingru's face and a weak smile appeared on her, that one was a new nickname, she hadn't been called a business trade before and certainly not by his majesty. She didn't ask to be here, to be lock up in here forever, following rules and being called her majesty, dealing with jealous concubines and never getting any love from anyone. If only her big sister didn't pass away right before the wedding, would she not have had to get married to the Emperor in her place then Xingru could have traveled the country, live life and settled down with a husband that would actually give her all his love but now just a little bit of love from anyone would make her happy, anyone...