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"Li Hua..." Before finally succumbing to the darkness.

Her blood ran cold.

That wasn't her name.

She couldn't sleep the whole night, staring at her husband's handsome face, tracing his sharp lines with her fingernail. A million thoughts were running through her mind. Tightly, she clutched her chest and closed her eyes.

He was gone by daylight. A servant was already there to assist her with her needs, but she paid the girl no heed. She was distracted, her mind a mess. She stared at herself in the mirror, stared at every detail, every curve. This was the face that many sought. The face that represented the Palace, the face many people knew the Emperor had great devotion for.

So why was it...last night...

No. It can't be. It must have been the alcohol. His words slurred, and he mispronounced his beloved's name. Yes, that's it. He loved her. She carried his seed, was deemed a goddess among women. How could he not love her?

It was only through the servant's screams that she snapped back to reality. Her nails were tightly digging into her skin, and she jumped, visibly shaking. There was a dent on her left cheek. No, this couldn't be. What would happen to her? Would the Emperor no longer think she was beautiful? Why would she think that? Wasn't she confident her husband's affections ran more profound than that? He loved her, didn't he? Didn't he?

She couldn't endure it any longer. It kept tormenting her, playing on her head like a broken record. She needed to know.

For herself. For her happiness.

Quickly, she donned on her clothes and stepped outside, much to her servants' distress. The snow had melted, and the sun was peeking behind the clouds, bathing the earth in warm, golden light. The cherry blossoms were now bright pink, swaying gently against the wind.

Stubbornly, she marched on, passing by countless people who gave her bows and odd looks. Finally, she reached her destination, catching her breath. From behind her, her servants had finally caught up, looking at each other, wondering what their mistress was doing here.

Here was the residence of the Empress.