Just as Shangguan Liqian let out a heavy sigh over the book in her hands, feeling as though her rebirth might be useless after all, Luo Wushuang stirred. She rolled over, her eyes fluttering open in a daze.
“What are you reading, Sister? Why the long face?”
Luo Wushuang reached out and took the romance novel that Liqian had barely skimmed. She flipped through a few pages at random, her eyes landing precisely on a passage where a man and woman were confessing their deepest feelings to one another.
You know my intent, and feel my devotion; let the heavens witness this love!
First, I wish for my lord’s longevity. Second, I wish to possess his heart. Third, I wish we were like swallows nesting together, meeting year after year…
Luo Wushuang’s eyes sharpened. In an instant, any lingering sleepiness vanished.
The book was nothing more than a clichéd story about a wealthy young lady falling for a failed scholar. Why was her sister so moved by it?
Was she pitying the characters in the book, or was she lamenting that she couldn’t be like an ordinary woman, free to seek out a husband of her own choosing?
And what was this drivel about the vast seas turning into mulberry fields while I stay here to miss you?
Pah!
What kind of absolute rubbish was this?
Trash!
If her sister truly felt swayed by this book, she would make sure the author learned the true meaning of begging for a death that would not come!
Just as Luo Wushuang was about to be consumed by dark, twisted envy, Liqian let out a sigh and spoke.
“Prince An arrived earlier seeking an audience. I saw you were sleeping deeply, so I had the palace attendants lead him to the side hall. Do you wish to see him?”
At the mention of Luo Wuyan’s name, Luo Wushuang’s brow furrowed slightly.
“What is he doing in the palace at this hour?”
Seeing Wushuang sink into thought, Liqian subtly began to poison the well. “Perhaps he’s simply here to build a better relationship with you, his Imperial Sister.”
And then, when the time is right, he’ll seize your throne, Liqian added silently.
Luo Wushuang, unaware of her inner monologue, could still sense from Liqian’s attitude that she didn’t seem to like Prince An very much.
To this, Luo Wushuang gave her silent approval.
She didn’t want her sister’s gaze to fall on anyone but herself. Her sister was so gentle and kind; for Prince An to earn her dislike was quite an achievement.
Naturally, she would never like someone her sister detested.
With that thought, Luo Wushuang mentally filed this long-unseen younger brother into the category of people to be despised.
“Wait for me here, Sister. I’ll be back shortly.”
Luo Wushuang’s gaze lingered on Liqian’s face for a moment. After a brief hesitation, she slid the Golden Shackles from her own wrist and locked them into a specialized notch at the head of the bed.
She stole a quick glance at Liqian after finishing these small movements. Seeing that the other woman didn’t resist, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave.
However, as she walked out, she made a point of taking that irritating romance novel with her.
The moment Luo Wushuang—who had been acting like a well-behaved, obedient kitten in front of Liqian—stepped out of the bedchamber, her expression turned cold and dark. She beckoned a nearby Secret Guard over, her voice freezing.
“Investigate. How did this book find its way into my chambers?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” The Secret Guard replied, turning to leave.
“Furthermore,” the Empress continued, “aside from miscellaneous records and biographies, find some books that are actually suitable for Liqian to read and have them sent over!”
The Secret Guard paused, startled. Suitable for Lady Shangguan?
How was she supposed to know what kind of books Lady Shangguan liked?
However, looking at the Empress’s grim expression, she followed the path of least resistance and bowed. “Understood.”
Luo Wushuang stared fixedly at the guard until the woman began to sweat, her legs trembling under the pressure. Only then did Wushuang frown and speak.
“Do you understand what I mean?”
The guard, who had planned to ask Commander Ling Yun later what Lady Shangguan preferred, stammered, “Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!”
Luo Wushuang glanced at the book the guard was now holding, her words heavy with hidden meaning. “Matters of love and affection are exceptionally complex. They are not limited to…”
She trailed off. Seeing the bewildered look on the Secret Guard’s face, she realized she was essentially casting pearls before swine. She decided to be more direct.
“If you still don’t understand, go ask Ling Yun!”
The guard nodded frantically. “Yes, Your Majesty!”
Well, there was no need to ask in secret anymore. Now she could ask the Commander openly.
Luo Wushuang gave the blockheaded guard one last look of disdain before finally departing.
Inside the bedchamber, it was only long after Wushuang had left that Shangguan Liqian sat up, the chain of her shackles rattling softly.
The attendants outside had been carefully listening for any movement. Hearing the faint sound, one called out respectfully, “Lady Shangguan, do you require our assistance?”
Liqian sat at the table and took a small sip of tea. “No need.”
Silence immediately returned to the hallway.
Liqian continued to search her memories of her past life, trying to find anything that could help Luo Wushuang.
In her previous life, Luo Wuyan had eventually succeeded in taking the throne. While part of that was because Wushuang had let go, the man himself must have possessed some level of capability.
Otherwise… out of all the princes who had fought for the throne, why was he the only one left alive?
But she still couldn’t understand why Wushuang had killed every other prince related to her by blood, sparing only Luo Wuyan.
If Wushuang had known that Luo Wuyan would be the one to inherit her empire, she wondered if the Empress would have regretted not pulling him up by the roots back then.
***
While Liqian was lost in her grim reflections, Luo Wushuang emerged from the side hall. She watched Prince An’s retreating figure, silently noting the changes in him.
In her memory, Luo Wuyan was timid and weak. Whether it was before their Imperial Father, herself, or the other princes, he had always spoken in a tiny voice, possessing almost no presence.
It was for that very reason that she had shown him a modicum of mercy when she purged the other princes.
Fortunately, though he was timid, he was clever enough to know when he had been spared and showed appropriate gratitude.
At the beginning of her reign, when the court was unstable and the borders were plagued by war, the Ministry of Revenue’s granaries had been empty. Luo Wuyan had actually convinced his wealthy maternal family to provide significant support.
Because of this, once she had secured her throne, she had granted him his title and promised him a lifetime of luxury and honor.
Luo Wuyan had always been tactful, never trying to insert himself into her business and rarely associating with court officials.
But today, she felt as though Prince An had become a different person entirely.
From his demeanor to his tone of voice, he no longer seemed timid, and the “purity” in his eyes had vanished.
Had he simply grown up, or had he developed other intentions?
Luo Wushuang’s eyes narrowed. He had just asked her for a decree to marry Shen Youran, the concubine-born eldest daughter of the Minister of War.
In the past, she might have assumed he was truly in love and was simply asking for a marriage blessing. But after witnessing his transformation firsthand, she couldn’t help but overthink it. Was Prince An after something else?
If he truly had a scheme, why wouldn’t he seek to marry a favored legitimate daughter? Why choose a concubine’s daughter instead?
The more she thought about it, the deeper her frown became. After ordering the Secret Guards to investigate, she turned and walked back toward the main palace.
