NOVPUBThe young couple had gone through many ups and downs together for nearly twenty years.
What could have been a legendary love story was shattered three years ago…
As Empress, Qiao Chuyi not only managed the inner palace efficiently but was also well-loved. She treated all the concubines equally and even regarded their children as her own.
Because of this, the Emperor never focused on the inner palace. He only visited other concubines at Qiao Chuyi’s request.
Due to her own inability to conceive for many years, Qiao Chuyi felt guilty and personally oversaw the selection of new concubines.
But despite her perfection, she still met a tragic end.
Jealous individuals harbored resentment after Xu Zening was born.
Initially, many schemes were left unresolved, even if Qiao Chuyi was truly harmed. She suppressed these issues with her benevolence.
Xu Zening grew up healthy at first, but repeated incidents eventually forced Qiao Chuyi to take them seriously.
After Xu Zening was poisoned, Qiao Chuyi, who had been in the inner palace for many years, got angry for the first time and replaced most of the palace staff.
At that time, the concubines realized that their seemingly gentle Empress just wanted to live a peaceful life.
Life went on until three years ago, during a spring hunt.
At that time, there was turmoil caused by rebels, remnants from the border city dispersing into various towns and counties.
They formed numerous small factions, claiming to restore the previous dynasty under the rebel banner. 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝖔𝔪
The spring hunt was ambushed by these rebels. One faction charged directly at the Emperor, trapping him in the hunting lodge. While chaos reigned outside, with swords and arrows raining down, news of the Empress’s death spread.
Qiao Chuyi was pregnant with her second child. After the Spring Festival, she stayed in the lodge to pray, and no one expected such a tragedy.
The rebels somehow found their way to the innermost, supposedly safest, residence of the Empress.
They tore her clothes and shattered her pride.
The rebels then stood up and, amidst crude and vulgar mockery, stepped over her.
“The Emperor’s woman isn’t that great, hahaha…”
Qiao Chuyi lay in a pool of blood, like a discarded rag doll, tears streaming down her face, staring blankly at the door.
Xu Zening arrived to rescue her, witnessing this scene.
The proud mother and son were instantly plunged from the heavens into the mud.
Neither knew how to face the other.
Xu Zening rushed out, killing all the rebels. He no longer concealed his martial skills, slaughtering dozens before turning back to drape his cloak over Qiao Chuyi.
Then he turned and left.
But an undeterred rebel in the pile of corpses suddenly launched a hidden arrow, hitting Xu Zening’s calf.
The arrow was coated with a deadly foreign poison that could only be stabilized but not fully cured.
His leg was injured then and never recovered.
Because he couldn’t let go of his pride, unwilling to be seen limping, he spent the following years in a wheelchair.
