The Empress Grew Weary - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Us?

Well, that made sense. Five years ago, Li Jingzhan had been the Crown Prince.

After all this time, it was only natural that he had ascended the throne.

If Li Jingzhan was the Emperor, then my sister must surely be the Empress.

After all, he had said it himself, back then: he was fond of my sister, and only she could ever be his Crown Princess.

I threw back the covers, about to get up and pay them my respects.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, I—”

But my sister pressed me back down.

Then she reached out and felt my forehead.

“You’re still a little warm.”

“I knew it. No wonder you’ve been talking nonsense since you woke up.”

Li Jingzhan, standing nearby, at once ordered someone to summon the imperial physician.

After a flurry of activity, the physician knelt and said:

“Her Imperial Highness took a fright; she will need some days to recover. Above all, she must not be agitated.”

Wait.

Did “Her Imperial Highness” mean me?

My sister and I are twins, but we are easy enough to tell apart.

She is gentle and easygoing; everyone likes her.

I am willful and disobedient—the child who gave our parents the most headaches.

Anyone who had met us would never think we looked alike.

When I was little and got punished, I would be the first to run crying to my sister.

This time was no different.

I looked at my sister and said, a little aggrieved:

“The physician seems to have mistaken me for you. Go on, tell him—you’re the Empress…”

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

My sister cut me off, a flicker of unease crossing her face.

She rose and said to Li Jingzhan:

“Now that my sister is awake, I’ll take my leave.”

She looked almost as if she were fleeing in panic.

Li Jingzhan watched her retreating back, motionless, for a long moment.

So this was it—Li Jingzhan’s heart belonged to my sister.

His eyes could hardly leave her.

So how in the world had I ended up married to Li Jingzhan?

He was the Emperor now. Surely no one had forced him into it?