As the procession came upon Chang'an, Feng Rong pulled aside the curtain and leaned out the window.

"Daiyu, please, what will it look like if you're walking beside the carriage?"

"I don't care."

"Please, just get back in."

She glared at him. "What will you do if I don't? Condemn me for treason?"

He flashed her an unamused look. "Get back in, Daiyu."

"No."

"Your feet have got to be tired."

"I walked all over Weiyang Palace as a maid for the Fifth Princess and Sixth Concubine. I think my feet can handle it."

He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. We had no idea things would spiral out of control."

Tang Daiyu pouted and looked away. She huffed. "I think it's a little too late for an apology, Rong."

"Can we work things out later, in private? Daiyu, please just get back in. If not for me, then for the child you carry."

His words made her stop. She closed her eyes, knowing he was right. Groaning, Tang Daiyu gave in and climbed back into the carriage.

~~~

In front of Weiyang Palace, the procession rolled to a halt. An Imperial guard walked forward, and Zhao Chin dismounted from his horse.

"Speak! Where do you come from?" the guard demanded.

"His Majesty, Emperor Rong of Heping and his Empress have come north, personally, to greet His Majesty, Emperor Jianyuan, as a show of the respect and unity between Chang and Heping."

The guard, unsure of what to do, allowed them to enter the palace. Inside, they exited their carriage and stood at the base of the many, many stairs that led up to the Front Hall. She wore a purple veil over her head to cover her face, so Feng Rong guided her up the steps. When they were finally at the threshold of the Front Hall, Tang Daiyu froze.

"What is it?" he asked quietly.

"Prince Han and Princess Ling," she answered as she nodded towards the interior.

Feng Rong looked forward and frowned.

"Should we just walk in?"

"I don’t know. You're the Emperor,” she retorted.

He sighed. "For the next few minutes, can we please not argue or bicker?"

Tang Daiyu's lips drew into a thin line, but he couldn't see it. Finally, she acquiesced and agreed to the truce. Together as one, they entered the Front Hall. Emperor Jianyuan looked up, and the siblings turned around, confused. Fear started to curl her stomach as she stared at the familiar rug, but she continued walking proudly. Feng Rong and her stopped just a few feet behind the Second Prince and Fifth Princess of Chang.

"Who are you that you think you can interrupt a private conversation?" Emperor Jianyuan asked sourly.

Feng Rong stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Emperor Taio of Heping has passed away. In his stead, a new Emperor has been crowned. I, Emperor Rong of Heping, have come to greet Emperor Jianyuan with respect."

"Emperor Rong, you say?"

"Yes. My Empress has come as well. In fact, this visit was her idea."

Tang Daiyu stepped forward and kept her back straight.

I have bowed to this infuriating man for too long.

"Your Empress is either insolent or too thickheaded to know proper respect!"

Feng Rong didn't answer. Despite what he had done, he knew this was her retribution. Her justice for the deaths of her family members.

She raised her arms and bowed her head. Tang Daiyu flipped back the veil.

As she looked up, she said coldly, "I don't think I'm either, Your Majesty."

All three Liu's choked. Emperor Jianyuan's eyes bugged.

Prince Han and Princess Ling whipped around.

"Qiao Yue?" Prince Han breathed. "But, but how?"

Tang Daiyu afforded him a fleeting glance. "I married Prince Shandong. He became Emperor. I wanted to come back to offer proof of unity between Chang and Heping. And really, this was a tedious journey, especially since… I'm with child."

After a short pause, she turned her gaze back to Emperor Jianyuan who sat back in his throne, shocked. A ruthless smirk crossed her lips.

Tang Daiyu taunted him, eyes blazing, "It just burns you, doesn't it? That my family line will continue, and you can't do anything about it? Because now that I'm the Empress of Heping, if you dare to harm the little Prince, war will come to Chang. And trust me, Your Majesty, I will be at the forefront, leading the invasion of Chang'an, my sword held high."

"Qiao Yue, don't be too much!"

"Qiao Yue?" she scoffed and shook her head. "I hope to never hear that name ever again."

Then, she changed the subject. "Did you know that the ambassadors from Heping that my family entertained all those years ago were Prince Yelang and his son, Prince Shandong?"

In response, she got raised eyebrows and knew that was a no. Her eyes glinted with glee and retribution as she gave him a jeering grin.

"Also, do be rest assured, An Mei has been taken care of. Rong and I had decided to leave her here in Chang, where she belongs. But after her insolence towards me, my goodwill towards her died. So, I decided to have her killed. I don't need any Chang spies in my residence."

Princess Ling stared at Tang Daiyu incredulously. "Qiao Yue! I helped you, and this is how you repay me? By being disrespectful to my Royal Father?"

Even Feng Rong was shocked by her proclamation.

Tang Daiyu whipped around and spouted off, "I repaid you by taking your place in the intermarriage, Princess Ling. My debt to you has been settled. I owe you nothing. And as for your father? I was disrespected first when I was dragged from my burning home in gags and ropes, holding onto my crying baby brother. I wasn't the one who started this."

Emperor Jianyuan glared menacingly at Tang Daiyu. "No, your father did."

"My father was a good man! You, on the other hand, are not! Constantly threatening a fifteen year old girl with death if she doesn't comply with your orders. Now, that's too much!"

"I didn't think that you'd ever slander and lie about my Royal Father, Qiao Yue," Prince Han began. "But I guess that I seriously misjudged you."

Tang Daiyu looked at him. "Well if you think that, look no further than your father."

"How can you blame him?!"

Feng Rong straightened up and cleared his throat. He addressed Emperor Jianyuan.

"An Mei has apparently been dealt with by my Empress. I have replaced her with servants I personally assigned to attend to her. No one, not even you, Emperor Jianyuan, can hurt or touch her ever again."

"You-!"

"I thought you were better than this, Qiao Yue," Prince Han sighed.

"You don't even remember me, Your Highness. So don't think you know the real me, because you don't. And thanks to your father, you've been taught to hate and look down upon me and my family."

Prince Han's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he titled his head, trying to think. "There are no Qiao's, not ones of influence at least."

Tang Daiyu scoffed. Feng Rong was about to speak up for her when another familiar voice beat him to it.

"That's because she isn't really a Qiao."

Tang Daiyu turned to see Sixth Concubine Luli enter the Front Hall. The older woman smiled as her warmly.

"Welcome back to Chang, Tang Daiyu."