I stared at the woman sitting in front of me. The woman looked back, yet I did not recognize her. She was me. The large golden mirror reflected me and I stared at myself in awe. I've never worn a red hanfu before, except if you count the time I was humiliated in front of many people.

The red screamed danger, yet power and passion. The yellow embroidered different designs. Red and yellow. The colour of royalty. Nobody was allowed to wear this but the Emperor and me. The sash around my waist was tight, accentuating my hourglass body. The hanfu was beautiful. It wasn't worn daily as the back of the hanfu dragged way behind me. Someone could seriously trip on it.

Maids carefully made sure everything was perfect before I arrive at the Hall of Supreme Harmony. My hair was beautifully made. It was big and heavy but I was so used to it now. This was real gold, wasn't it? I felt like I was holding so much money just above my head.

"You look beautiful," Hua Er gushed, scanning her eyes all over my body and my face. "My closest friend is Empress!"

"Hua Er, you flatter me." I let out a soft chuckle, then closed an eyelid to do my winged eyeliner. Wearing winged eyeliner will be a trend I've started here. I was surprised they never did it. My maids couldn't do it, so I had to do it myself.

I made a mark in this world, in a lot of ways.

Blue folded the lip paper and allowed me to press my lips on it. As I did, she gave Pink a look before looking at me through the mirror. She let out a slow exhale. "Your Grace... The late empress suffered a miscarriage."

"Did she?" I smacked my lips together.

"Y-Yes," Blue replied, hesitantly. "His Majesty is planning to... execute her."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Interesting."

My make-up was well done and it looked more modern than I thought it'd be. I was going to get married. I was going to be married to the emperor of China. I was going to be married in front of all the people working in the Palace. It was so hard to believe.

My maids sent me off, waving at me with delight on their faces. I was already starting to feel the spike of anxiety. What if I trip? What if I mess up?

I was carried in a sedan chair to the main hall. The Emperor was waiting for me to arrive, and literally everyone else. My body stiffened. I didn't want to move an inch because I was afraid if my hair toppled like a large wedding cake or the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I was not going to humiliate myself as Empress.

"Today, Imperial Noble Consort Han will be crowned Empress! May the gods bless Her Majesty!" the voice boomed.

Wearing my designer shoes, I stepped down and carefully walked forward. I tried to fixate my eyes only in front of me. As an almost nineteen-year-old girl, of course, I was nervous! If you told me a year ago that I'd be the Empress of China, I wouldn't have believed you. I was going to rule the harem. I was going to be beside the Emperor.

I could faint right now.

"Han Ying Yue, Madame Ying Yue, or Imperial Noble Consort Han has been blessed with beauty, talent, virtue and benevolence!"

Everyone was kneeling on the side respectfully, but I couldn't help but wonder what they were thinking about. Were there rumours that I plotted to depose the late empress? Were they gossiping about my class and how I wasn't fit to be the empress? So many questions I had in my mind, that I already knew the answers to.

I walked past the women in the harem. Chang Ying kneeled in front of all of them, there was just one Imperial Noble Consort. I wondered who will be the second? Funny how there was a curse going on, yet the third woman to be Imperial Noble Consort has been blessed instead.

Three times's the charm.

"Her brilliant character will rule the harem with grace and fairness!"

This was the ceremony. This was technically my coronation. I was the step-empress. I defeated the late empress. How could anyone match up to me now? No one here has the power that I do, and I'll make sure of it.

My heart almost stopped as the Emperor stood in front of me. As I took my last step up the annoying stairs, I continued to walk forwards towards him. I kneeled in front of the eunuch holding a scroll with two hands. His long grey beard fascinated me. I let my fascination go as I stood up before the eunuch thrust the scroll and the Imperial Empress seal to me.

I took it with both hands and handed it to my eunuch. He proudly took it from me. He would serve the Empress, which was me. How could you not be proud?

This was like an enouement, I wanted to tell my past self this moment, to tell Imperial Concubine Han that she would be the next empress. I wish I could tell my past self the crazy things I've done and witnessed. The bittersweetness to this victory was that I went through too much to get here.

I noticed Jaxon staring at me from a few meters away. He looked oddly serious, but once we made eye contact, he gave me a small smirk. We were almost home. My family and my friends, I was excited to see them. I already planned what I was going to say when I arrive. Something along the lines of me being kidnapped...

The Emperor held his hand out towards me, slightly smiling. I couldn't help but beam at him once I took his hand. There was no turning back now. I am officially the empress.

I stood next to him, still holding his hand. We faced the people. They stood up to acknowledge our presence. The maids were located very close to us, and I knew my maids were cheering me on. Although I never established a connection with Blue, Pink, and Feng Xi, I think I've treated them fairly well.

Guan Shu should've been there. Guan Shu should've been standing there, watching me become the next empress. Rong Er would finally be right and he would greet me when I am Empress. Guan Shu wasn't able to see me, standing in victory in front of the many who tried to bring me down. She would've been proud of me.

"May the Imperial family be prosperous and blessed with all sorts of abundance!" the voice continues. "The royal prerogative of the Empress is equal to that of the Emperor!"

The 'three kneelings and nine kowtows' started to take place as I scanned the movement below us.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!" the crowd exclaimed in unison.

Again, guilt washed over me like the sea to the shore. The voices were loud, I was sure the late empress could hear from here. The bells were also loud. Every time the large bell was hit, I knew the late empress was listening. I felt like they were white noise to me as I planned on how I was going to tell the Emperor about my departure.

I figured I'd stay for a bit and enjoy the sweet victory, and then confess that I was a fraud the entire time. The Emperor had noticed my discomfort because my palms were starting to sweat. He gave me a slight squeeze to reassure me.

What can I say? How do I say it? I hated thinking about leaving sometimes because I just didn't know what to say.

There was just one more thing I had to do as Empress—something that I've been dying to do for the longest time. I wanted to do it alone. The eunuchs followed me as I kept my chin up, walking straight towards my destination. Birds chirped, I wanted to think they chirped to congratulate me. The sun shone, causing me to sweat under the heavy hanfu.

I waved the fan lightly next to my face. The doors opened slowly for me to walk in. As I continued to wave the fan, I took a deep inhale for what was next. The eunuchs stepped behind me. They continued to follow my lead until I stopped walking.

A sharp feeling of joy shocked my body. The Empress and her mother, looking unkempt as I did in the Cold Palace. This was the place she put me in, and look what happened. Karma was real, even if I did interfere a little.

"Joy and bliss to the Empress." they both kneeled, kowtowing to me. For many months I've never had anyone kowtow to me, let alone the late empress. Her hairpiece and pins were removed. The bags under her eyes were dark, yet she still looked beautiful.

How could someone be filled with such hate and jealousy? No matter how many times I've tried to talk her out of it, no matter how many times I've tried to sympathize with her, I just couldn't anymore. I lost three people because of her. She had to face my wrath.

I continued to wave my fan, casually strutting in my red brocade hanfu. I was sweating, but the glamour was overriding my system. The Empress and her mother, still having their head pressed onto the floor, made me smile a bit.

"At ease." I finally said, watching them closely.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," they responded immediately.

As they straightened their back, still kneeling, I slowly looked over to my eunuch, Li Shu. He nodded solemnly. I placed my hand on the mother's shoulder, giving her a smug smile. "Your life is saved. You will be in exile."

Before the late empress could process what had happened, the eunuchs had already grabbed her mother. Her mother widened her eyes at me. "Your Majesty, that's wrong! My daughter is facing exile! I should be executed!"

The late empress refused to look at me. She dropped to her knees and kneeled, almost as if she was going to thank me for sparing her mother.

"Don't bother," I quickly said to the late empress, then faced my attention to the eunuchs. I gave them a curt nod and watched as the mother pleaded and begged. My lips were tight. There was an urge to pity, but how could I? They've harmed me, but the love they had for each other was pure.

The late empress and her mother, they only had each other. I hated to let emotions take over my decisions. I refused to. I've been through too many situations that the late empress caused, and I wasn't going to any longer. I listened to them as they said their goodbyes and hugged each other tightly. They both cried.

I stepped back for the eunuchs to set up the wine. The late empress watched, glaring at them but I chose to let her. She would die anyway. It wouldn't matter. After they were done, they stepped aside and waited for me to speak.

"You may all be dismissed." I addressed the eunuchs.

When they left, I towered over the late empress. She peered up at me. The fear, the hatred, the guilt, it was written all over her face. As much as I wanted to shove it in her face, I already did with my actions. I didn't need to open my mouth to assert my dominance; I was engulfed in it.

She didn't insult me, nor have a witty remark. She stayed silent. I figured she would have something clever to say, after all, she always did when I was one rank below her. Before I came, it was highly likely that she'd done worse to other people and got away with it. I was doing them justice.

I folded my fan and placed it gently on the table. "I'm sorry for your loss."

The late empress shook her head, scoffing at my words. She looked up at me so bitterly, that I was anticipating whether she was going to fight me or not. My guards were near. If she was smart, she wouldn't want to die by the blade.

"No, Your Majesty, you're not," the late empress responded, narrowing her eyes at me. "Don't lie to me and say you are."

My eyes trailed away from her and to around the room. I still remember Guan Shu in grief here. I still remember all of us trying to help her up. I still remember planning with Jaxon at the dining table. This was recent. I haven't forgotten the look on Guan Shu's face.

The sudden flashback of her body, hanging from the bed, caused a shot of anger through me. I refused to acknowledge it. As an empress, I have class—something the woman I was looking at, didn't have.

"The Imperial decree has been made," I explained, pacing around the room to keep me from lashing out. "You are sentenced to death."

The late empress snarled. "How does it feel, Empress? How does it feel to be in my shoes?"

"I don't understand what you're trying to do. You provoking me will not do much for your sake." I shrugged. I enjoyed taunting her. I know it was wrong, but this wouldn't hurt. I deserved this.

"You know," I continued. "You're not the only woman who plotted against me. You're not the only evil in the harem."

"I beg to differ," the late empress narrowed her eyes. "Who would be the first then, Empress?"

If I told her, how would that benefit me? There was an urge to tell the late empress. She wasn't the only one who hurt me. Whatever I was feeling right now, wasn't only because of her. If she thinks that provoking me and continuously reminding me that she was the cause of my pain, I had to shut it down.

We both look at each other with the same hatred we had ever since the beginning. There was still the same level of hate she had for me, and there was still the same level of hate I had for her. No more, no less. We were just able to show it more.

My lips curled up into a smile. "Imperial Noble Consort Lu. Did you know? She acted like my friend, but I recently found out I was just her little pawn so I can do her dirty work and depose you... She murdered Wan Er's son."

The late empress furrowed her eyebrows. She locked her eyes at the ground.

"Now you know how hectic it is in the harem," she whispered.

"You're the one to speak," I said sharply. "You and Chang Ying, you both are the cruellest women I've ever met!"

I widened my eyes at her sudden behaviour. She threw her head up and laughed, her body shook with the sound leaving her lips. "You expect friendship and trust in the harem? You must be foolish to think the harem was all fun and games! No one cooperates unless it's to plot against another woman!"

The late empress continued to laugh, she tried to collect herself while she dug her palms against the hard floor. She was ridiculing me. I know she was. But she was right. I was dumb enough to think we could all be in harmony with each other. Women were scary.

"You're so oblivious, Empress, you think the harem will ever unite? The women here, I was the enemy of all of them! The things I've faced," the late empress exploded. "The things I've faced were so harsh that I had to protect myself!"

"I told you that I wasn't fighting for your position!" I exclaimed.

"Look at you! You're the Empress, now, aren't you? You're in my position! You deposed me so you can take my throne," she let out another loud laugh. "When you told me that you weren't going to take my title from me, I had the slightest trust in those words."

I tightened my grip on the edge of the table. "You don't understand what you're talking about! I wanted to avenge the people you took away from me!"

I hated her. Every time she let out a smile or a laugh, I wanted to wipe it off her face. I always wanted peace between us. I never wanted to lash out on the late empress. When there were times when I was angry, I chose to keep my hands to myself.

"I even saved you from the assassination attempt Prince Jing ordered on you!" I exclaimed, not caring whether it affected her or not. With the look on her face, I realised she already knew. The eunuchs taking care of her probably informed her. I wished they didn't so I could break the news.

"The concubines would do anything for the Emperor's love and affection," the late empress ignored what I said. She looked away from me. "But you seemed to look the other way... The difference between us, is that one of us truly loves His Majesty... and that woman doesn't receive his favour."

I kept quiet. There was nothing I could say to that because it was true. My shoulders relaxed as the late empress started to cry. This time, it wasn't a cry for help, nor pity. The more she attempted to hide her tears, the more she let out.

"The one who receives his favour... doesn't love His Majesty," the Empress sniffed.

She wiped the tears with her hanfu sleeves. She was in her own world now, as she disregarded my presence. I wanted to confront her, I did. Although I hated this woman, I understood her love quandary. It was tough to not be chosen by a man you love. It was tough to not be the only woman in a man's eyes. It was tough that a man will choose anyone but you.

"His Majesty loves you," I tried to put on a soothing voice, but I was still angry with her. "The 'Empress' title was vacant for weeks..."

"Please, Empress," the late empress chuckled behind her tears. "His Majesty loves me. I know he does. But he hasn't loved me the same anymore... Do you want to know something?"

I awkwardly crouched down to give her an embrace. She didn't refuse it either. She accepted it and moved closer to my body. Tears started to run down her cheeks even more. The room was quiet and all you could hear was the sniffles.

She continued to cry into my chest. She pulled away, still staring off into the distance. "I loved His Majesty and I still do... I could have interrogated you even more... intimidated you... and cornered you into a life filled with trouble and fear."

"I couldn't do anything to keep you from thriving. You didn't even care about titles," the late empress pressed her head against my chest. I was holding her like a baby. If anyone walked in on this scene, I couldn't even explain it. "I could've bribed you..."

As I held her, I tried my best to stifle a laugh. I was sure she caught on what we were doing, and she quickly pulled away from me. We both looked at each other at eye level. The late empress's eyes softened.

"How do you do it, Ying Yue? You temptress... you had His Majesty's love and gained this title, but you never loved him," she continued while I stood up. Her eyes watched me, I almost caught innocence in her. "You don't love him. I can see it in your eyes that you don't... But I do!"

Did she say these things for pity? Did she want me to convince the Emperor to let her go? Was she trying to guilt-trip me into feeling bad for her? Or was she confessing because she knew she was going to die? Her love didn't justify putting me into the Cold Palace. Her love didn't justify why she killed my innocent maid and her child. Her love didn't justify why she bribed and framed my maid for a murder she didn't commit.

Her love for the Emperor was a personal problem. She didn't trust me, neither did I trust her. I can't blame her for not trusting me, but she lacked the compassion an empress should have. I wanted to understand her. I wanted to help her. But now, it was too late.

She wasn't done.

"I love him! I did everything I could to keep him from losing interest! Everything I did... It wasn't for power, or luxury," the late empress cried harder. "It was for love!"