Ting had met her Empress when they were both at the ages of 16-15. Since then, they have both fallen deeply for one another, due to the gap between their statuses, of her Empress, as Crown princess back then, and of Ting's background as a low-ranked noblewoman, a daughter to a count, a wealthy one, albeit low in ranks, they could not wed. Ting knew of the disadvantages she held from her background, and willingly convinced you to let her become your concubine instead of your wife, to not bring shame upon you, when you both came of age, she didn't want to cause you any mishaps, especially when you should've been focused on finding your future wife, but as years passed since, you have not yet married any suitable lady, to become your wife, and rule over the Zhou Empire alongside you. Your heart remained true to Ting.

At the current time, as Ting has not yet been blessed with your child, both to the fact you wished to wait, for when the right time came, and because of the fact you both didn't wish for your children to be considered illegitimate heirs of your throne. The mere thought of you marrying another, irked at Ting's very core, you belonged to her only.

In the evening. Ting was preparing for the night, as she had her hairpins taken out of her hair by her assigned maids, as she changed out of her Qizhuang gown, into her zhuyao, an unstiffened corset-like undergarment buttoned that was tied from her back. She dismissed her maids right afterwards as her grey-black hair cascaded down her shoulders.

Ting: "My Empress..." Ting muttered beneath her breath, as she had missed her Empress due to how busy she had been lately.