Blazing flames shooting up into the sky

  Heavenly Blessings of the Northern Country, Second Year, Sixth Month, Twentieth Day, Summer.

  The eastern part of the Imperial Palace was ablaze, with flames reaching the sky. The boundless flames seemed to want to burn down the entire horizon.

  All the palace maids and eunuchs were caught off guard, rushing forward with water buckets in hand, none of them daring to stop for a moment. For that was the bedroom of Empress Song Lingyu - Beifeng Palace.

  But half an hour ago, all the palace maids and eunuchs outside the North Phoenix Palace had disappeared without a trace, replaced by a group of black-clad men. When Song Lingyu was awakened from her deep sleep by the noise, the door had already been heavily closed and locked, with wooden boards nailed over the windows on all sides. The entire room was no different from a secret chamber!

  Song Lingyu was startled awake and, without regard for her own attire of only undergarments, hastily rushed down from the bed. She pulled on the door but it only opened a crack less than half the width of a small finger. Song Lingyu clearly saw that there was a lock on the door and also saw the fleeting black shadows outside the door. Song Lingyu pounded on the door with some panic: "Who are you? Why have you locked the door? Quickly open the door for me!"

  No one answered.

  After a while, Song Lingyu clearly smelled the smell of smoke. Even without looking through the gap in the door, just seeing the bright and dark stars outside, she had already guessed that these people wanted to set fire to burn her to death!

  Song Lingyu was at a loss, but followed the Fifth Prince, now Emperor Beiyan - Lian Zhiyan. Having stumbled through ten years together, she had seen her fair share of great things and quickly calmed down. "Who exactly sent you?"

  Still no one answered.

  Song Lingyu asked again and again, but no one gave her an answer.

  The smell of smoke grew thicker and had already wafted in through the gaps in the doors and windows, spreading throughout the entire room.

  Song Lingyu knocked on the door with some weakness and was choked by the floating smoke, so she knelt down and leaned against the back of the door.

  A familiar yet icy voice came from outside the door: "Song Lingyu, don't blame me, if you want to blame someone, blame your father who doesn't know a good thing when he sees it. He thinks I'm not fit for the emperor's throne and insists on forcing you onto me. You're nothing but a useless piece of trash, only with the title of being the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family. If I had married your younger sister back then, who knows how much energy I would have left."

  Song Lingyu thought he had come to rescue her when she heard Lian Ziyu's voice, and just as she was about to get up, she heard the words behind him. Song Lingyu's body, which was originally half-standing, suddenly fell to the ground.

  She couldn't believe what she had just heard.

  He said she was forced on him by the Prime Minister's residence. He said that if he had married his sister instead of her, it would have been better!

  Why? How did things become like this? Has he forgotten who has been by his side all along, never leaving him? How can he say such a thing?

  Song Lingyu shook her head vigorously, just wanting to speak when Lian Ziyen continued: "Song Lingyu, you are of no use to me. Your sister is the Right Prime Minister's most beloved daughter, and as for you, although you are the legitimate eldest daughter, your influence is actually lower than your sister's. Moreover, your sister's face and temperament are something you can never match. If I hadn't just ascended to the throne, I would have already abolished your position as Empress."

  Song Lingyu listened quietly to his words, the smoke growing thicker, she tried her best to lower her body. But the scorching flames outside couldn't melt the ice that had formed in her heart.

  Song Linglong is indeed a beauty with a heavenly scent, but what can she do? She has been by his side for nine whole years, not to mention the peaceful days they spent together. How could he, how could he be like this? Is it all a lie, the husband-and-wife relationship they've had for the past decade?

  Song Lingyu suddenly remembered that she had accompanied him for ten years, but he always found various excuses to avoid her. However, whenever something happened, he would definitely let himself stand in front of her.

  She married him nine years ago, he said that he would seize the throne and give her a peaceful future. The following year, he said he would eliminate those who were not obedient to him, so she could rest easy from then on.

  She said, okay. As long as it's his decision, she will support him unconditionally.

  But in the end? It's just a joke.