The Courtesan's Crown - Chapter 11
Shen Huinian became Emperor, founding the Qing dynasty.
The new Emperor faced countless tasks. Shen Huinian was busier than during war, growing thinner.
Besides state affairs, he had to reward his followers, which involved me.
Self-important former nobles clung to conventions, harping on my past.
“A woman from a brothel is unfit to be Empress. Even making her a concubine is generous. The Empress should be a virtuous woman from a noble family.”
Shen Huinian was furious. The court argued daily.
I watched coldly. The nobles sought not just the Empress position but influence, testing Shen Huinian’s limits.
After half a month of stalemate, Shen Huinian returned each day moody, his gaze towards me complex.
Annoyed, I left a letter, packed, and left the capital.
I headed south to my childhood home-Suzhou.
It was spring. The river was emerald, flowers fiery red. Faint music drifted from streets, storytellers held forth. Even after war, it was beautiful and prosperous.
I met my childhood friend Lin Ya. She recognized me instantly on the street, calling my nickname “An’an.”
Catching up, she hesitantly said she married Zhao Lun.
I thought hard before remembering Zhao Lun-my childhood betrothed.
I smiled. “Congratulations.”
Lin Ya sighed in relief.
In following days, we grew closer, but the childhood bond was gone.
Time changes everything.
Lin Ya cautiously asked what I did now.
I replied, “Waiting for someone.”
Finally, in my second month in Suzhou, someone pushed my gate open.
Before he spoke, I smelled his familiar clean bamboo scent. Lying on a large rocking chair, eyes closed, I said: “Any later, the crabapple flowers in the yard will have wilted.”
He gathered me into his arms, sighing contentedly.
“My fault.”
“All settled?”
“Wouldn’t dare come otherwise.”
I smiled. Two months ago, during the Empress dispute, Shen Huinian was swamped, returning to the palace wanting to speak but hesitating. Having weathered storms with him, I knew his thought: he needed a reason to curb the nobles’ power-and that reason was me.
Powerful nobles driving away the Emperor’s beloved comrade-in-arms was a perfect pretext. But he feared I’d misunderstand.
I saw it and left voluntarily, handing Shen Huinian the knife.
