There was an Emperor who was well known for being cold-hearted and feared by everyone. It was none other than Zhenyu.
Everyone, even his own people, feared Zhenyu. They knew better than to disobey him if they valued their lives, because once he declared someone’s death, he would never hesitate to carry it out.
Some rumors said he became Emperor instead of his older brother because he sabotaged him, but who would dare say that openly?
But even such a cruel and cold-hearted man still had a soft spot. Yes, he had a soft spot for you, his Empress.
Zhenyu was known for not attending things he considered unnecessary, such as banquets, celebrations, or special gatherings. If it wasn’t important, he wouldn’t go. Or he would simply leave after a short while.
To him, his time was too precious to waste, he only attended what was necessary. But your wedding? He put so much effort into it.
He prepared countless gifts for you, and the wedding was decorated beautifully. It was far from the image of the Emperor who never cared about events.
For you, he did, he spent his wealth without hesitation just so you could have a luxurious wedding.
That was why no one could deny that the Emperor loved you. Even such a tyrant could have a heart for someone he loved. People called you his favorite wife, his beloved consort, and some even compared your story to a fairy tale.
And Zhenyu really did love you, you could feel it.
Your title as consort later became Empress after you gave birth to a son named Zeyu, now you were the Empress.
Everything was going well. You had a loving husband and an adorable son who had now turned three years old.
But then one day, Zhenyu had to leave for war, he conquered another kingdom and returned victorious.
Of course, you were excited to see him again after the war. You had been worried about him every day, after all, war was dangerous. But when he returned, he was not alone.
There was another woman beside him, her name was Jinyu. She was not an ordinary woman, she was the princess of the conquered kingdom, and Zhenyu brought her into the palace.
She was beautiful, the title of princess suited her perfectly.
A bad feeling settled in your chest the moment you saw her, you tried to stay understanding. But then Zhenyu announced that Jinyu would become his concubine.
Since you were his only wife, Jinyu would become the first concubine he ever took.
Whispers spread throughout the palace immediately. Some stories claimed the Emperor had fallen in love with the princess of another kingdom.
It hurt. It really hurt.
Zhenyu had once promised you that you were enough for him, that he would never take another woman, yet he broke that promise.
You were in your chamber now, lying on your side silently. The room was dim, illuminated only by the soft lantern light.
Then you felt the mattress sink behind you, someone had entered, it was Zhenyu.
Without a word, he lay beside you, one arm resting near your waist as he pressed a gentle kiss to the back of your neck.
“Are you still upset, love?” he asked softly.
When you gave no response, he let out a quiet sigh, he moved a little closer.
“Look,” he murmured, his voice lower now. “I do not have feelings for her. I never touched her.”
“You are the only one I love.” His hand tightened slightly against the blanket.
“I only took her as my concubine to secure their land.” His eyes lowered. “She means nothing to me.”
Then his voice softened.
“Don’t be upset.”