Chapter 43

“The Empress Dowager’s decree:

Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, the Crown Princess, who was originally his official wife, has shown improper behavior.

During the late Emperor’s mourning period, she disrespected the rituals and caused Tang Fengyi to lose her child. Because of this, she is not fit to be Empress.

However, His Majesty remembers their past relationship and has granted her the title of Noble Consort. She will live in Yikun Palace.

From now on, she must deeply reflect on her mistakes, sincerely repent, and strictly follow palace rules. She must not act against the rules again.

Everyone in the palace should take this as a lesson. They must serve with respect and follow the rules strictly. Anyone who disobeys will be punished severely.

This is the decree!”

A palace eunuch in the Empress Dowager’s residence stood tall and read the decree word by word with a serious expression.

After reading, the eunuch walked toward Ling Yue and slightly bowed.

“Noble Consort, please accept the decree. Yikun Palace is ready for you, and you may move in today.”

Ling Yue’s body trembled, and her face was full of disbelief. Her expression twisted with shock.

She was the Emperor’s wife!

Now that he had become Emperor, she should have become Empress!

But… he only gave her the title of Noble Consort.

To be demoted from wife to concubine… What a humiliation!

Her maid, Meixiang, saw her devastated look and felt heartbroken. She gently tugged Ling Yue’s sleeve to remind her.

Ling Yue took a deep breath.

She had been trained by palace tutors to be a proper Crown Princess.

She knew she had no choice but to accept the decree.

Holding back her grief and anger, she took the decree with trembling hands.

The eunuch immediately smiled and said, “Congratulations, Noble Consort! You now have the highest rank in the palace.”

Then, he handed over the official seal of the Noble Consort.

Meixiang quickly took it and politely said, “Thank you, Eunuch.” She also gave him a prepared reward.

After the eunuch left, Meixiang carefully helped Ling Yue up.

Ling Yue was still shaking, lost in deep shock.

She sat down on the couch, looking like she had lost her soul.

She murmured, “Meixiang, he promised me… He said I would be his only wife. But now… what am I to him?”

Her eyes were empty, her face pale as a sheet.

She was now just a concubine. Even as a Noble Consort, what did it matter?

Meixiang comforted her gently, “Mistress, this must be the Empress Dowager’s decision.”

“After what happened at the late Emperor’s memorial, the ministers had already asked for you to be removed as Crown Princess.”

“Now that His Majesty is Emperor, he must have faced pressure from both the ministers and the Empress Dowager. Granting you the title of Noble Consort is already proof that he still cares for you.”

Ling Yue stayed silent. Her eyes held both despair and a hint of darkness.

That prayer bead bracelet… There was definitely something wrong with it!

Her hands wouldn’t have suddenly broken out in rashes for no reason.

But the Empress Dowager had already investigated. The palace servants were under strict control. No one had tampered with the beads or the prayer book.

Except… Tang Fengyi had touched them.

But Tang Fengyi had no reason to harm her.

She even lost her own child in this incident. She was a victim too.

Could it have been An Liangdi?

But An Liangdi had never touched the prayer beads.

If she had bribed a eunuch, the Empress Dowager would have found out. There was no way An Liangdi had such power yet.

Ling Yue bit her lip. No matter how confusing this was, she would find the truth!

Her eyes turned sharp with determination.

“Meixiang, I won’t stay in despair. I was framed at the late Emperor’s memorial, and I will find out who did it!”

Meixiang smiled with relief at her mistress’s regained strength.

“Yes, Mistress, that’s the right attitude. Your main goal now should be gaining power. The palace is even more dangerous than the Eastern Palace.”

Ling Yue nodded slowly, her eyes now firm.

Yes, she had been too naive.

There were only five concubines in the Eastern Palace. Other than An Liangdi, she couldn’t figure out the others’ true intentions.

Were women really this complicated?

She should have realized earlier—her husband was once the Crown Prince and was now the Emperor, holding supreme power.

Sometimes, when she was alone, she asked herself:

Did she regret marrying him?

Did she regret stepping into this deep and dangerous palace?

But no matter how hard things became, she always had the same answer.

She had never regretted it.

She was supposed to grow up safely in the Ling family in the capital.

Her father guarded the border for many years, so she lived with her mother in the Ling family when she was little.

But her father was only a concubine’s son, with a low status in the family.

Since he was rarely home, she often saw her mother being bullied. The main wife of the Ling family never treated her mother well.

When she was five, her mother suddenly passed away. She was too young to understand why her strong and resilient mother would die so suddenly.

As a weak child, she barely survived in the Ling family.

But after her mother’s death, her life there became even harder.

The legitimate daughters of the family all looked down on her.

For two whole years, no one protected her, and she slowly became timid and insecure.

When she was seven, her father finally returned home. She begged him to take her away.

She didn’t want to stay in the capital, in a place where she felt no love.

After moving to the borderlands, she found that her father was a general with some power. Though life there wasn’t as refined as in the capital,

The love her father gave her and the freedom of the vast land made her incredibly happy.

She became cheerful, confident, and her eyes sparkled with life.

When she was fifteen, the seventeen-year-old Crown Prince led his army to the border.

He was handsome and charismatic, leaving a lasting impression.

She often heard her father praising him, saying he was both brave and intelligent, a rare talent.

One time, when her father followed the Crown Prince on a battle mission, they returned victorious.

But one of her father’s soldiers rushed to tell her that her father was injured.

Worried, she disguised herself as a boy and sneaked into the military camp to see him.

The soldiers who had watched her grow up didn’t stop her.

And that was when she met the young Crown Prince.

At first sight, her fate was sealed.

Perhaps, this saying suited her perfectly.

The Crown Prince looked cold and distant, and they only exchanged a few words.

But after that, every time he returned victorious, she would look forward to “accidentally” meeting him.

Again and again.

He always rode horses across the grasslands and camels in the desert after battles.

As they became more familiar, she often joined him happily.

She once curiously asked him why he still went horseback riding when he already rode so much in battle.

The Crown Prince looked into the distance and answered:

“Riding itself doesn’t matter. What matters is where you ride.”

The grasslands and deserts were unique to the borderlands.

He loved the freedom of this land, and, of course, he also enjoyed the company of Ling Yue.

In this vast and open land, a special bond grew between them.

It was always Ling Yue who kept their connection alive.

She knew the Crown Prince could never have only one woman.

But when he solemnly promised her a lifetime of love and loyalty, she was overjoyed.

She never thought that a Crown Prince would be willing to give up all other women for her.

His deep love moved her, making her heart completely his.

The Crown Prince always thought she loved the borderlands and its freedom the most.

And yes, she did love it.

But more than that, she loved him—including his status.

After he returned to the capital, he immediately asked to marry her.

So, she returned in glory to the luxurious capital.

Just as she expected, the Ling family shamelessly came to her.

The family head pretended to be affectionate, saying that they were a loving family and would always support her.

Ha! How could that be?

Ling Yue never saw herself as part of the Ling family.

Since the day her father took her away, they had been separated.

For years, the Ling family ignored them.

Now that she was the Crown Princess, they rushed to get close to her.

She felt nothing but satisfaction.

At that time, she was powerful and firmly rejected them.

She told them with confidence:

“I don’t need the Ling family’s support or help.

Because the Crown Prince is my greatest support!”

Seeing that she wouldn’t help them, the declining Ling family could only leave in shame.

But now, Ling Yue had to admit—she overestimated the Crown Prince’s love for her.

In the two years since they married, she had been lost in his care and affection.

But a woman in the palace without a strong family is like a floating leaf.

Once she loses his love, she has nothing.

So she had to hold onto both his love and power.

The palace was full of danger.

But she would never give up.

The position of Empress would be hers.

Even if the Crown Prince stopped loving her,

She would still be his wife. His Empress.

That was his promise to her.

If he wouldn’t keep it, she would achieve it herself.

Ling Yue’s eyes showed determination and resolve.