The Empress Grew Weary - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

After the physician withdrew, only Li Jingzhan and I remained in the bedchamber.

He must have noticed something, for he asked me:

“What has come over you today?”

Of course I could not tell him I had traveled here from seven years past.

I only said, “When I woke, it seems I had forgotten many things.”

Li Jingzhan stood a few paces away, his voice tinged with weariness.

“Forgotten, then forgotten.”

“The matter of Consort Hui pushing you into the water—We have looked into it. She has been punished.”

“So stop making a fuss, and tend to your health.”

So my illness was the result of falling into the water?

Li Jingzhan gave a few instructions and left.

As cold to me as he had been seven years ago.

After he left, I called for Chunxing.

Chunxing had grown up at my side and was fiercely loyal.

From her I learned the truth.

Li Jingzhan’s original choice for Crown Princess had been my sister.

But that very night, someone drugged Li Jingzhan, and he and I ended up in the same bed.

The Emperor could do nothing but grant us a marriage.

Everyone assumed I was the one who had administered the drug.

After all, who didn’t know I had chased after him for a full five years.

Chunxing said, indignant, “Others may not believe you, my lady, but I do—because that night, you had been drugged too.”

My head ached a little.

Before I came here, I had already resolved to give up Li Jingzhan. Why would I have drugged him?

Li Jingzhan probably thought the same.

That was why he had been so cold to me all these years.

By day, I saw he and my sister still shared some feeling.

I asked about my sister again.

“The Eldest Miss married Lord Lin Congnan.”

“Wasn’t he the Grand Tutor’s son?”

I remembered he had once professed his feelings to me.

Back when Li Jingzhan had him teach me to ride, I soon received a hairpin he sent.

Pity that then, my whole heart had been set on Li Jingzhan.

Chunxing added in a whisper, “There are rumors that the Eldest Miss and Lord Lin are not on good terms.”

That figured.

So—why not give Li Jingzhan back to my sister?

Spare everyone all this misery.