Several months ago, I recalled Prince Jing walking into my chamber. It was in December when we celebrated the Winter Solstice. I thought it was fairly normal for him to come in. I mean, he only did want to get that little brat away from my bed. Even now, I start to realise how informal the Empress and the prince acted.

She didn't punish him when he came to get Hua Yang; she looked delighted to see him. I couldn't grasp the idea of the Empress having an affair. Who would actually be in love with someone like her?

"Your Majesty, do you wish for us to call upon His Highness?" the Emperor's advisor, who hadn't spoken since, leaned over to ask him.

The Emperor didn't react, nor did anyone else. I was speechless. The Empress Dowager was already leaning back in her throne in ease. She was the first one to figure it out. The Emperor was still in thought.

"No..." the Emperor shook his head, looking at the Empress with loathing. It was hard to say how he was feeling. He was in denial. He waited for a while, but the Empress stayed silent. She kept her head down.

The Empress Dowager turned to the advisor. "Bring in Prince Jing."

This was, by far, the wildest thing that has ever happened to me. The eunuchs left swiftly and again, the silence consumed the entire room. No one commented. No one even breathed. The Emperor was reserved with his body language. He blankly stared at the nothingness in front of him.

The Empress was not carrying the next heir. This was another bad news from a piece of bad news.

I don't suspect the Emperor to be ruthless and kill the Empress who was carrying a child. Although he can be ruthless, he wasn't like that. The hurt and pain in his eyes debunked the myth that I always thought: the myth that he was heartless.

The Emperor, with the unreadable face as mysterious as an ancient language, expressed genuine emotions.

He leaned his frame to the right, resting on his elbow. "Empress, is this true? Do you have an affair with Prince Jing?"

Gently, the Empress raised her head to peer up at him.

"The gods are watching," the Emperor spoke louder. "Don't tell a lie again... like you always do."

But the Empress dipped her head down again in defeat. There was nothing else she could say, nothing else she could do. It was over.

I was already pitying the Emperor. I already want to counsel him and tell him that everything will be alright. My biggest fear was that he would discover my trysts with Jaxon. There was guilt forming in me. That's why I can never judge the Empress for her affair with Prince Jing.

I didn't want to be labelled as a hypocrite.

Prince Jing was roughly dragged into the hall. He was thrown next to the Empress. His steel-blue mianfu with grey designs was sprawled on the ground, neatly overlapping the Empress's beautiful red attire.

"Warm blessings to Mother," Prince Jing kowtowed. "Greetings to Your Majesty... What is going on?"

The Empress didn't look at him. She kept her head down, but Prince Jing had other things to say. He whispered something in her ear and the Empress shook her head.

"Take a guess," the Empress Dowager cocked an eyebrow. "The Empress is beside you, kneeling in pure sin. Haven't you heard? She's pregnant."

"Yes, Mother, I do know." Prince Jing responded cluelessly.

The Emperor straightened his posture. "Then do you know that you're the father of the child?"

Prince Jing's body stiffened. He snapped his head to face the Empress, but the Empress avoided his gaze. The Emperor watched intently. Casually, the prince let out a slight chuckle at the Emperor's words. He continued to let out soft laughter. "Your Majesty, that is such an accusation! The Empress belongs to you and only you. How could I dare disrespect the ruler of the nation like that?"

"The timeline doesn't match up. The Empress and I laid with each other nine weeks ago, but she's twelve weeks pregnant," the Emperor calmly explained, boring his eyes into his brother. "If you confess, I may consider only to exile you."

The Empress rubbed her stomach. "Your Majesty, you're under stress... You're not thinking straight. Prince Jing is—"

"Shut up," the Emperor interrupted. "If he confesses his sins, I might consider letting him live!"

"You're delusional! Listen to yourself!" Prince Jing let out a playful chortle.

"I'm delusional? You're sleeping with the Empress, that is a death wish! Who is the crazy one now?" the Emperor held the vessel in his hand with poise. His wrist was slightly trembling, and the Emperor's eyes were narrowing as he spoke.

The Empress leaned over to him, quietly whispering. "Tell His Majesty the truth... Save yourself."

Prince Jing and the Empress must have been very close. Well clearly, as they were sleeping with each other. But, Prince Jing was an enemy. I feel somewhat bad for him but I already knew he took the Empress's side with the way he looked at me the other day. He doesn't like me. I shouldn't like him. Prince Jing is an opponent. If he survives this trial, he might try to destroy me.

Think.

Prince Jing and the Empress. Something about their connection is bothering me. When they are together, having sex was not the only thing they'd be doing. If I can say something that might cause more chaos, I can get rid of my two enemies.

The Empress and her mother may be exiled, but Prince Jing might come back for me. He has power. He can hire assassins to kill me and they might succeed this time.

Wait. Assassins...

Assassins!

"Your Majesty," I called. He turned his attention away from Prince Jing and acknowledged me. His face softened. "Prince Jing and the Empress are fairly close... Does that mean they were both involved with your attempted assassinations?"

The Emperor joined in. "The actress who attempted to assassinate me must have worked for you."

"It was you, wasn't it? You've done enough damage," Prince Jing turned to look at me with disgust on his face. "Was this all your plan to depose—"

"Watch your mouth," the Empress Dowager barked. She slapped the armrest and shot up from her throne. "I never raised you to behave like this! You ungrateful traitor... Those children of the concubines of the late emperor would be glad to take your place!"

Prince Jing threw his head back, letting out another roar of laughter. The Empress placed her hand on his arm, but he swatted her hand away. He was insane just like the Empress. They both carried the same narcissistic tendencies and are rats.

Sadly, I was intrigued. I thought of tying both of them down to a chair and evaluating how their mind worked.

Prince Jing stood up. The guards hurriedly grabbed ahold of him while he remained standing.

"I'll tell you then, if you all want to know," Prince Jing addressed the audience with his arms as he rotated his body to the left. "Your Majesty, I would've been a better emperor. Ever since I was a child, I watched you and you weren't even up to my level!"

The Emperor's eyebrows lowered.

"I cannot fathom as to why I should be bowing to you," Prince Jing scoffed. "I ordered the hit. I wanted to usurp your throne. I wanted to achieve everything that I wanted as an emperor and do more for the nation better than you can!"

"All those years alongside you. All those years thinking that you loved and respected me as much as I loved and respected you," the Emperor's lips tightened. "You are nothing but a traitor... I have no other words for you."

The Empress Dowager settled on her throne again. "How about the attempted assassination against me?"

"Mother," Prince Jing addressed, shaking a finger at her. "I despised you! I couldn't stand how you mistreated me after all those years... You neglected me just because I wasn't the Crown Prince!"

"That is not true! I loved you as much as I loved all of the children," the Empress Dowager shouted. "Hua Yang is not my blood daughter but I still love her as if she was my own! I paid more attention to The Emperor because I wanted him to succeed efficiently! I have never, ever, neglected you and you and I know that. As a mother, it hurts to hear you say those words to me..."

Her eyes watered. "After everything I've done to keep my position... After all the things I did for you... You disgust me."

The Emperor eyed the Empress. "You supported him, why? To remain the Empress, is that right? You never loved me, did you?"

"Of course I loved you!" the Empress screamed, tears were falling down her cheeks.

As the Empress wailed, the guards forced the prince onto his knees, disregarding his title.

The Empress sniffed. "Your Majesty, everyone in here knows how much I love you! I love you so much that I couldn't bear to see you with other women! I love you so much even though you neglected me! We haven't slept together for so long, do you understand my pain?"

"Ying Yue has never given you a child and you promote her to an Imperial Noble Consort? Do you know how I felt? You never acknowledged me," the Empress sobbed. "You never did! I apologize, Your Majesty, that I loved you so much that I couldn't live to see you neglect me!"

The Emperor struggled to retort. He stared dully at her, his dark eyes pierced the words coming out her lips. As much as I wanted to roll my eyes at her outburst, I couldn't. The Emperor loved her but I knew there wasn't the spark anymore. I think both of them had faults in the relationship.

What am I even doing? Analyzing their relationship. I laughed in my head. How weird is that? What am I? A marriage counsellor? I bowed my head down to stifle a laugh. Laughing was totally uncalled for, but this entire journey was just satire at this point.

I pictured the Empress's poem Hua Er and I read, and I seriously couldn't stop smiling.

The Empress paused, she was looking up at the Emperor, waiting for a reply. There wasn't any. She sniffed again on the verge of breaking into more tears. "The title of an empress is important to me... But all I ever wanted was your unconditional love and your approval."

"Empress, I do love you—" the Emperor whispered in exasperation.

"No, you don't! An empress is supposed to be favoured," the Empress snapped. "Second to none... Like you told me. But we know that's false."

There was a shine in the darkness of the Emperor's eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed as he turned his eyes away from her. He looked away from the rest of us. Everyone could tell the pain and guilt in his eyes. It all stopped when faint laughter erupted from the Empress's lips.

She laughed. Her mother turned to her and rubbed her back. The Empress exploded with hysteria. Her dainty hands pressed against her stomach as she exploded with the deafening sound of painful laughter. Mouth widened, eyes closed—she looked insane with the tears running down her face.

"He was the one who made it feel as if I was the only woman in his eyes. Did I love him? No! But I felt special," the Empress leaned her body back as she rested her palms on the ground. "Your Majesty, I'm sorry I'll never be the woman you loved! After all, I stopped being your empress a long time ago... I'm sorry, I'll never be Wan Er!"

It was like the ticking bomb in the Emperor had finally hit zero seconds, because he stood up with rage. His eyes bugged out. His mother, behind him, gaped at her son's reaction. Many of the people around me were alarmed, some even gasping at her remark.

I looked around, and I was one of the few that was puzzled. Who the hell was Wan Er?

"Your Majesty," just like that, the tension was almost gone. The eunuchs arrived with the silk scarf, that brought me flashbacks, and a white piece of fabric. "The silk Guan Shu used to hang herself is the same material as the one the Empress has used in her previous hanfu."

"You disrupted the peace in the harem," the Emperor barked. "You and your mother... Evil, deceptive women... you two deserve death."

"Your Majesty, the Empress is still pregnant." his advisor warned.

The Emperor smirked. "Murder the mother, and have the Empress exiled away from Jing."

His mother nodded.

"No, no! Please spare my mother, please! Your Majesty, you mustn't—" the Empress wailed, crawling towards him but she was stopped by guards.

The Empress's mother gave her daughter a tight-lipped smile. "It's alright, darling. I'll be fine. As long as you're safe, I will be fine."

The mother and daughter duo looked at each other with regret. Both of them, hugging each other closely, almost made me emotional. The Empress deserves to die with the baby. All the things she put me through... No matter how many times I stop and pause to sympathize with her, I cannot let that get to me.

"Did you kill Wan Er too?" the Emperor asked, his voice softened when he spoke her name.

"No," the Empress chuckled, taunting the Emperor with her eyes. "But I wish I did."

Before the Emperor could respond, the Empress turned her body towards me and pointed at me. She narrowed her eyes at me. I tilted my head a little. I remained nonchalant in front of her, waiting for her to insult me.

"I've taken two maids... I've taken Guan Shu's little son... I murdered Imperial Concubine Chun as well! How I regret it because that was what you wanted all along, wasn't it? I fell for it! I murdered her for you! I thought I'd get away with it," the Empress snorted. "I really thought... But you, Madame Ying Yue, you're just like me. You're just like me! Even smarter than me!"

I cringed when she compared me with her.

"Empress, enough!" the Empress Dowager demanded.

The Emperor grimaced. "I'll make an example out of you!"

The Empress frowned as she wagged her index finger in my face. "You disgusting temptress... You dirty wench. You will never have the title of 'Empress.' You're just as evil as me!"

The Empress broke out in more hysterical laughter before the Emperor's main eunuch pulled out a scroll.

He cleared his throat. "An imperial decree has been passed! The Empress, Nian Shu, was found guilty for the death of Imperial Noble Consort Yang, Guan Shu, Rong Er, and Imperial Concubine Chun. She has been found guilty of bribing palace servants. She has been found guilty of defamation of Imperial Noble Consort Han. She has been found guilty for treason."

"Why was there an attempted assassination on the Empress?" the Empress Dowager looked at the quiet assassin and then at Prince Jing.

The assassin shook his head as Prince Jing stayed silent. "I am not apart of that scheme. I don't know, I apologize, Your Majesty."

Prince Jing was also found guilty, but as the Emperor declared his crimes, I was too busy celebrating the sweet victory.

Chang Ying and I glanced at each other. We shared a kind look.

My shoulders drooped and my body loosened. There was no more stiffness in my body, as I released all of the tension in my body. The people all around me, supporting me, made me feel proud. W did it. We finally did it. Su Yin wasn't there, but I know she was in her chamber waiting for the announcement of the Empress's evil doings.

Although I knew it wouldn't be true, I wished and hoped that this would be the last time someone would ever try to plot against me.

"Greetings to Your Grace." Su Yin bowed. Chang Ying stood behind her looking amused. I giggled under the warm, thick blankets wrapping around my body. I haven't left the bed for a while after the improper trial. Here I was, being a human burrito, right after defeating one of the most powerful women in the entire nation... second to the Empress Dowager of course.

Chang Ying sat on the edge of my bed, she held the tray holding tea and Su Yin brought the teacup towards me. I took the teacup gratefully and took a long sip. As I finished, I smiled at them. "It's nice for you two to visit me. Please whisper, Hua Er is sleeping."

"You truly have outdone yourself, sister," Chang Ying complimented. "His Majesty is still keeping the Empress in the Cold Palace."

"Prince Jing is still being kept for questioning later on this week," Su Yin added. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly. "You didn't drink the soup, am I correct?"

I shook my head, letting out laughter from my nostrils. "Of course not."

They both stared at me in admiration. I slightly felt uncomfortable under their stares, but I was secretly flattered. Su Yin had the widest grin on her face. I was sure she was waiting for this moment her whole life. I served justice and now, I felt on top of the world. I also knew that Guan Shu would've celebrated with me.

However, I was still shocked that I did it. I actually did. I was so nervous, yet I did it. I wanted to jump in joy and scream. I did it! This was one of my best achievements and it made me upset that I couldn't even share it with anyone else that I knew.

Also, I finally found out all the small mysteries in this place, but one thing I was clueless about is who Wan Er was. Chang Ying and Su Yin must've known because they've been here longer than I have, especially Chang Ying. She looked almost shocked that the Empress brought this person up.

"I have a question." I sat up from my bed, running my fingers through my combed hair.

Su Yin adjusted herself. She was kneeling on the floor, inches away from my face.

I took a deep breath. "Who's Wan Er?"

The two women in front of turned to face each other. My question had alarmed them. It hit a certain spot, and I knew it. However, I am a curious person. I always was. I don't want any more secrets here in the Palace, I was done.

Su Yin shook her head apologetically to me and smiled nervously. "I think Madame Chang Ying should be the one to inform you."

I fixed my gaze at Chang Ying, eagerly leaning forwards to her. She looked away from me. There was a terrible silence between them and I almost felt guilty for even bringing her up. It was bound to happen anyway. They knew me. Whatever they tried to hide from me, was already revealed by the Empress.

"That damn Empress," Chang Ying muttered under her breath. I widened my eyes at her cursing. She never cursed before. As she looked up to speak, I could see unease in her eyes. "Madame Wan Er was a favoured consort. His Majesty loved her more than he loved me... more than he loved Her Majesty as well."