Chapter 936: Chapter 936: Stand-in Empress vs. Beloved Little Concubine (Part 1)
Without surprise, she watched as the body of the Little Green Bird disappeared from her palm.
Gu Shengyin calmly spoke to the system, "Start the next world."
Su Chaohua, daughter of the Right Prime Minister of the Da Lie Dynasty, was born amidst celestial phenomena; the world witnessed the shadow of a phoenix descending upon the Right Prime Minister’s mansion, circling three times without dispersing.
The Emperor of the Da Lie Dynasty believed it to be destiny’s decree and immediately issued an imperial edict, betrothing Su Chaohua as the Main Consort to the Crown Prince Yun Qi, then four years old.
Su Chaohua did not disappoint the title of Phoenix reincarnate; she was intelligent and well-read in poetry and texts from a young age, and grew up to be exceptionally beautiful.
Su Chaohua was groomed as the future queen mother from childhood, every word and action exemplary for women of the world.
At sixteen, she married into the Eastern Palace, sharing deep affection with the Crown Prince.
At twenty-six, she took charge of the Central Palace.
Ten years, favored, but childless.
She once believed herself the happiest woman in the world, with the most prestigious status and a husband, noble as the Emperor, who cherished and respected her.
Until that imperial edict arrived at her palace.
"Empress Su... childless for many years, unfit to continue as Empress, demoted to Concubine, relocated to Youyun Palace. By decree!"
Youyun Palace, long a place for concubines out of favor, lacking the title of Cold Palace but fulfilling its essence.
Su Chaohua never imagined that man would treat her so heartlessly.
She rushed into Yun Qi’s palace, only to face a scene that turned her pale.
The most noble man in the world was cautiously holding a bowl of soup, gently coaxing a woman, hoping she’d take another sip.
When the woman saw her approaching, she didn’t know what came over her and brazenly knocked the bowl from the Emperor’s hands to the ground.
"Audacious!" Su Chaohua said habitually.
Yet, the woman ignored her completely, and the Emperor seemed utterly unfazed by the dirtied hems of his robe. His indifferent glance passed over, looking at her like a stranger.
"Get out!" she heard him say to her.
Sixteen years of childhood companionship, ten years of marital love.
Now only a cold "Get out."
Su Chaohua straightened her back, "As you command."
Even if she was now utterly defeated, Su Chaohua’s pride allowed her no vulnerability.
That afternoon, she moved out of the Central Palace, symbolizing the Empress’s residence, and was driven step by step to Youyun Palace.
And the next day, Youyun Palace had a visitor.
The concubine who had thrown a tantrum in front of the Emperor yesterday, Su Chaohua looked at her for a long time.
She knew who she was, Lu Xi, daughter of the Prime Minister of the Left.
They entered the palace around the same time, one as the esteemed Crown Princess Consort, the other an un-favored Concubine.
In ten years, Yun Qi had never shown love towards Lu Xi; everyone knew the Crown Prince held most dear the Crown Princess Consort, fated with the Phoenix’s Life Pattern.
Yet now, what was left unclear to Su Chaohua?
Lu Xi looked at Su Chaohua as if seeing something utterly detestable.
"Did you know, Su Chaohua, the person I hated most this life is you."
"Yun Qi and I were childhood sweethearts, mutual in affection, but you, with that Empress destiny."
"For ten whole years, I watched you stand by his side for ten whole years, while I could only be a lowly concubine, watching you and him receive the world’s blessings from the shadows."
"Every day, I kept thinking, Su Chaohua, why haven’t you died yet?" Lu Xi looked at her coldly, her tone icy.
This story was partly inspired by ideas from my dear demon Jiubaoer~