Chapter 12

Qin Xiyi’s carriage traveled for a full month before finally reaching Liangzhou, the frigid land of the north.

Emperor Chenghong, Liang Shi, traveled a hundred miles out of the city to welcome his empress. The coronation ceremony was held with extraordinary grandeur.

Qin Xiyi was somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. She was, after all, a mere sacrificial lamb from a defeated nation, yet it seemed the entire State of Liang held her, this queen of convenience, in high regard.

Emperor Chenghong did not possess the monstrous features of legend; instead, he had a frail build and a pale face devoid of any color. He was quite gentle toward Qin Xiyi, bestowing upon her countless gifts of gold, silver, and fine silks.

Yet, Qin Xiyi remained prepared for death at any moment. Shortly after arriving in Liangzhou, she discovered she was pregnant.

She knew all too well that Emperor Chenghong had never even touched her, his primary empress.

The child was Cheng Mozhi’s; that went without saying.

She had cuckolded the Emperor. This fact alone was enough to reignite war between the two nations. She felt her own life was not worth pitying, but having endured everything and given up so much to get this far, she could not bring herself to harm the common people of both lands again.

Qin Xiyi was determined to terminate the pregnancy. But just as she was about to drink the abortifacient, Liang Shi kicked the door open and snatched the medicine away.

The Emperor of Liang gave Qin Xiyi a single slap across the face. Without a word, he turned and left.

Immediately following this, an imperial edict was issued. The Liang imperial family, which had seen no heirs born in the five years since the Emperor’s ascension, finally had its first child.

The entire nation of Liang erupted in celebration.

Eight months later, Qin Xiyi successfully gave birth to a baby boy. Emperor Liang Shi announced to the world that the Empress had gone into premature labor, deceiving all his subjects.

Qin Xiyi looked at the infant in his swaddling clothes—such a tiny, adorable thing—yet she could not bring herself to smile.

The moment the child was born, she knew she could no longer be indifferent to everything. She had to live. But the gentle Emperor Liang was like a blade hanging over the heads of her and her son.

She had once tried to ask Liang Shi for his reasons. He said nothing, but he had all the eunuchs and palace maids who had been shut outside—those who couldn’t have possibly heard the conversation—buried alive.

That was the first time Qin Xiyi witnessed the Emperor’s ruthlessness.

Outsiders knew only that Empress Qin Xiyi was the most favored in the harem, but they did not know she lived as if walking on thin ice, plagued by nightmares every night.

Only the man who protected her in those dreams was buried deep within her heart, never to be spoken of.

Three years passed in this manner, and the little prince, Liang Ying, grew up.