"If someone is noble enough to be an empress yet cannot even find freedom within a single palace, what kind of empress is she? She is no better than a mere concubine, is she?"
The empress wore a melancholic expression as she stroked the tally, remaining silent for a long time.
Consort Wu watched from the side, anxious at heart.
As long as the matter remained unconfirmed, her heart could not settle, yet she could not urge her to hurry.
"Let Your Ladyship make a laughingstock of me. This concubine merely recalled past matters just now."
Gathering her wits, the empress smiled warmly, turned, and instructed Zhaoxia.
"Fetch my seal, for I shall write an imperial edict in my own hand."
"Yes."
"Do not worry. Since this empress has promised, I shall use the seal to issue the edict right now."
Zhaoxia accepted the command and withdrew, returning shortly after with a brocade box that she carefully placed on the table.
When opened, it revealed a jade seal. The jade was white and crystalline, without a shred of blemishes, and carved upon its back was a concise and lively, crouching-tiger knob. Amidst its majestic bearing, it exuded a soft and elegant charm, while all four walls were engraved with cloud patterns.
The empress's hand paused. Instead, she looked at the mother and daughter, letting out a long sigh of warning.
"Xinping, do you truly not regret this? Writing this edict is easy, but once it is carried out, it can never be undone."
"Your Ladyship, I do not regret it."
"The palace maiden Zhou Yi, of clean family background, well-read and sensible, has won this empress's profound favor. She is specially selected to enter the Crown Grandson's Residence to hold the position of secondary consort."
Upon writing this, the empress's