Chapter 15

But Qin Xiyi never imagined that the end of that peace would come so quickly.

A month after the Crown Prince was appointed, it was her birthday. To quell the rumors of discord between the Emperor and Empress, Liang Shi held a special banquet to celebrate her longevity.

Dressed in her full ceremonial regalia, Qin Xiyi entered the outer court. The eunuch receiving her offered fawning congratulations to the Empress.

“The Emperor has issued a decree! He has ordered the tribute mission from the State of Zhao to enter the palace early. They bring gifts from the Emperor of Zhao and the sounds of your homeland to celebrate your birthday!”

Qin Xiyi nodded. She knew the tribute mission from Zhao had set out half a month ago, but she hadn’t expected them to arrive so soon.

Though she felt nothing for her father and the others, she still felt a flicker of joy at the thought of people from her home country, and her pace quickened involuntarily.

The palace music began to play softly as the Empress entered the main hall. The assembled officials knelt in greeting and then rose to stand by their tables.

With just one glance, Qin Xiyi felt the blood in her body suddenly boil, searing through her heart and making her head ring.

Dressed in a crimson robe with a jade belt, wearing a high crown and possessing a face like fine jade, Cheng Mozhi stood among the officials. He looked toward her with a desolate expression, his eyes looking as though they might bleed.

Qin Xiyi had calculated everything, but she never imagined that the Great Envoy of Zhao would be him.

The past she had suppressed deep in her heart was resurrected by a single look.

Qin Xiyi’s ears were ringing so loudly she couldn’t hear a note of the palace music. She stumbled and nearly collapsed, but Liang Shi caught her, his hand gripping hers tightly beneath his wide sleeves.

“Empress, I have specifically ordered the Zhao mission to come and celebrate your birthday. Are you pleased?”

Qin Xiyi forced herself to snap out of her shock and squeezed out a smile. “I thank Your Majesty.”

Liang Shi led Qin Xiyi down the imperial steps and stopped directly in front of Cheng Mozhi, smiling pleasantly.

“Since that is the case, Empress, why don’t you take a look? Are there any old acquaintances among this mission?”

He was right before her; there was no escape.

Qin Xiyi met Cheng Mozhi’s gaze and parted her lips to utter two words.

“None.”