The Zhao Kingdom, Year of the Tomato 1.
The ninth day of the eighth month, a day auspicious for weddings.
The main gate of the imperial palace was wide open, welcoming the Xiao family to the Central Palace.
The Emperor and Empress's grand wedding was a cause for nationwide celebration.
After the Emperor lifted the bridal veil and they drank the wedding wine, both were tired and ready to rest.
All the attendants retreated outside. Xiao Wenxuan felt a wave of dizziness and lost consciousness.
Zhao Jingheng immediately withdrew from the bed and plunged his hand into the basin beside him, scrubbing it furiously.
Even though it was just a pretense, he felt utterly disgusted. He beckoned to the darkness, and a figure in black knelt before him.
"The rest is up to you."
"Yes."
Believing everything to be foolproof, Zhao Jingheng eagerly went to see the one who held his heart.
The man in black approached the bed and reached for his clothes. Just as he was about to pounce, Jun Jiuli delivered a powerful kick to his chest, sending him flying a considerable distance.
With a loud bang, the maids and eunuchs guarding the door outside were startled. Xiao Wenxuan's two personal maids were distraught but dared not enter rashly.
The Grand Eunuch by the Emperor's side inquired, "Your Majesty, Empress, do you require anything?"
The man in black was filled with disbelief, his mind momentarily frozen. He had never imagined his plan would be exposed, and now, only death could silence him.
With a surge of effort, he bit down on the poison capsule in his mouth. Such matters by the Emperor could not be revealed.
Framing the Empress for infidelity on their wedding night was impossible. His death, labeled as an assassin, was a more plausible narrative.
How to deceive the Empress after this was the Emperor's concern, but this was the best solution he could devise at the moment.
Shui Wa: "Tsk, some people really aren't afraid of death. Are all the Emperor's subordinates this loyal?"
Jun Jiuli: "Dying now means a quick end. If I say even one more word, my entire family might be implicated."
The original host, Xiao Wenxuan, was the legitimate daughter of the Zhao Kingdom's Left Prime Minister, doted upon by her family.
Her father had intended to choose a suitable husband for her from among his many disciples. Unexpectedly, with a single imperial decree from the new Emperor, she became the Empress of the Central Palace.
Despite their deep reluctance, her family could not defy the imperial edict and tearfully married her into the palace.
Zhao Jingheng's mother was merely a humble palace maid who passed away shortly after giving birth to him. The late Emperor did not favor him, and those in the palace were accustomed to flattering the high and stepping on the low. His journey was fraught with hardship.
When he was beaten by other princes as a child, there was always a young girl who helped him. She would bring him new clothes and food, and he had always regarded that girl as his "white moonlight."
He swore to protect her with his life. That girl was Zhao Jingyi, the daughter of the late Emperor's favored consort. Initially, he truly saw her only as a sister, but over time, that affection transformed.
He endured hardship, secretly cultivated his own power, and courted officials. After the late Emperor's death, he successfully seized the throne after a period of struggle.
The late Emperor had designated a Crown Prince, so most of the old officials were not convinced of his legitimacy. They believed he had murdered his brother and usurped the throne, acting cruelly and unjustly, and thus unfit to rule the Zhao Kingdom.
But the situation was settled. The late Emperor's princes were either dead or crippled. The ministers could only begrudgingly accept him. To consolidate his power,
Zhao Jingheng decided to marry the original host. She was merely a pawn in his power consolidation. He paid her no mind, naturally not touching her.
Fearing she might discover something amiss, he had his secret guards act on his behalf. Ostensibly, he spent every night in her palace, but in reality, he was with his beloved sister.
Over time, Zhao Jingheng eliminated his rivals and suppressed the old guard, concentrating more power in his hands. The officials began to grow restless and sought to offer their daughters to the palace.
Zhao Jingheng cultivated an image of a devoted lover, using the original host as a shield. The original host remained childless, much to the dissatisfaction of the ministers. Rumors began to spread among the populace that the Empress was a demoness who had bewitched the Emperor.
Shortly thereafter, witchcraft dolls were discovered in her Weiyang Palace, and the Empress was immediately banished to the cold palace.
Her trusted confidantes were all sent to the Ministry of Punishments for severe interrogation, ultimately leading to the entire Prime Minister's mansion being executed.
This served as a warning, and the officials became much more subdued. No one dared to mention the matter of selecting new consorts again. Zhao Jingheng now held absolute power.
He immediately arranged for Zhao Jingyi to take on a new identity and become his Empress. Although the officials were greatly shocked upon seeing her face, not a single one dared to voice an objection.
The original host, in the cold palace, wished to see Zhao Jingheng dismembered upon learning the fate of her mansion.
She had absolute control over everything in her palace. The only possibility for the dolls was that Zhao Jingheng had planted them.
She could never understand why Zhao Jingheng had done this. Her father had generously relinquished his power, and she herself had entered the palace as a hostage. Why would he not spare their family?
She and Zhao Jingheng were not deeply in love, but they maintained a respectful relationship. She had been Empress for two years, and she believed she had made no mistakes.
Her limbs were shackled with iron chains, and she was given only leftovers once a day by a palace servant. Her tongue had been cut out, rendering her unable to die even if she wished.
After an unknown period, someone opened the door to the foul-smelling room. The person wore a magnificent phoenix robe, and upon closer inspection of the face, the original host was greatly shocked.
"Surprised, aren't you? Ah Heng has always loved me. Marrying you was merely a strategic move; he never touched you. Those nights were spent with a few lowly secret guards. How fitting for someone as lowly as you. Did you really think being the Prime Minister's daughter meant you could compete with me?"
The original host, a lady of proper upbringing, found this to be a profound humiliation. She disdained matters of love and romance. Her entry into the palace was solely for her family, yet she had encountered such a pair of lunatics.
Her resentful gaze amused Zhao Jingyi immensely.
"Someone like you is not worthy of Ah Heng. You even tried to marry me off. No wonder Ah Heng hastened his actions. Your Prime Minister's mansion fell because of you, Xiao Wenxuan."
The original host's anger surged. As the Empress of the Central Palace, and with no Empress Dowager, it was natural for her to be concerned with the marriage of the princesses.
Zhao Jingheng had been furious with her that time, and she had attributed it to their deep sibling bond. She never imagined such sordid affairs were involved, and they had been the fuse that led to the downfall of the Xiao family.
She felt she had failed the Xiao family and hated her own foolishness. She spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.
After the original host regained consciousness, Zhao Jingyi ordered her to be torn apart by five horses. Although the original host had not been touched by Zhao Jingheng, her occupying the position of Empress caused Zhao Jingyi no end of displeasure.
Horses dragged the mangled remains through the training grounds as Zhao Jingyi laughed with unbridled glee.
Witnessing the original host's tragic fate and the spraying blood further exhilarated her. Obstacles in her path should be kicked aside.
Zhao Jingheng found everything she did adorable and indulged her. This was not cruelty or tyranny; it was Jingyi's love and concern for him.
The original host's wish was to save the Xiao family and see her brother and sister scorned by the world and meet a terrible end. Kuai Shu Ge.
Shui Wa: "Tsk tsk tsk, what a twisted game. Double yandere, incestuous love, utterly disgusting, blech~."
Jun Jiuli: "Indeed, there are always perverts in every era."