It should have been a joyful occasion when the Ning Consort became pregnant.

　　But it turned into a scandal since the Prince Ning passed away three years ago.

　　I saw the emperor's pale and slightly greenish face, and I understood immediately.

　　As the empress, I have always been known for my virtue, and since I have no other recourse, I took the initiative to persuade the emperor to let the Ning Consort enter the palace as a gesture of magnanimity.

　　The emperor initially declined but ultimately personally welcomed her into the palace and bestowed upon her the title of Noble Consort.

　　My personal maid, Rendong, complained to me about the Ning Consort entering the Yikun Palace, expressing her discontent, "Your Majesty, this is outrageous." After my initial anger subsided, I remained calm.

　　I had known for a long time that this day would come.

　　Hearing Rendong's complaint, I warned her, "Be careful with your words." She blushed and fell silent but still looked defiant.

　　I couldn't help feeling helpless.

　　How could she know that the emperor was no longer the Xuanqi he used to be? Moreover, if it weren't for the twists and turns of fate, the position of empress should have belonged to the Ning Consort.

　　Today is the first day of the month, according to royal etiquette, the emperor must come to the Central Palace.

　　The emperor feels guilty about the matter with the Noble Consort, so not only did he arrive early, but he also brought exquisite treasures from various regions as compensation.

　　I thanked him with a smile, "Thank you for your rewards, Your Majesty." The emperor quickly motioned for me to rise; he must still be embarrassed.

　　While eating, he kept his head down and didn't dare to look at me.

　　Seeing the exhaustion in his eyes, I took the initiative to say, "I understand Your Majesty's intentions.

　　The entrance of the Noble Consort into the palace is bound to attract criticism.

　　I will restrain the palace attendants and prevent any discussions throughout the palace." The emperor nodded, "The empress is virtuous." Seeing him hesitate to speak, I thought for a moment and added, "You can rest assured regarding the Empress Dowager.

　　I will mediate on her behalf and ensure that the Noble Consort will not suffer any grievances." The emperor covered his forehead and muttered, "I apologize to the empress." I spoke softly, "Your Majesty, you're being too harsh on yourself."

　　After finishing dinner, completing my evening routine, and changing clothes, it was time to go to bed.

　　I dismissed the palace attendants and skillfully arranged the bedding on the floor.

　　The emperor hurriedly came over to help.

　　I didn't refuse; the bedding was soft but not lightweight, and it was quite tiring for me to lay it out alone.

　　We spent the night as we had for the past three years – he slept on the floor, and I slept on the bed, clearly separated.

　　Perhaps the matter of the Ning Consort entering the palace today had disturbed my peace of mind.

　　I lay there for a long time, so long that it became quiet, and I could hear the emperor's steady breathing.

　　Nevertheless, I still couldn't fall asleep.

　　I had never thought that I would become the empress.

　　The imperial family of this dynasty is made up of the Manchu people from the frontier.

　　After they conquered the Central Plains, although they admired Confucianism and followed the traditions of the Central Plains, they still married within their own clan or married noble women from the North as allies.

　　The founding emperor and the previous emperor had a few low-ranking Han concubines, but they were not allowed to bear heirs.

　　However, my ancestors have always been Han Chinese.

　　I am from the prestigious Cui family of Nanyang.

　　After the collapse of the previous dynasty, the Han people suffered greatly, and the Cui family retreated to Nanyang, living in seclusion.

　　Until the late emperor ascended to the throne, in order to counterbalance the military power held by the parallel King Mingche, he extensively employed Han officials.

　　The Cui family had been dormant for many years and finally rose again with the support of the court.

　　My father, Cui Yao, was an outstanding figure in the clan.

　　He achieved remarkable success in the imperial examinations and impressed the late emperor during the palace examination, leading to a smooth career.

　　By the time I was born, my father was already a rising star among the Han officials in the court.

　　However, neither I nor the Cui family ever imagined becoming the empress consort.

　　It was not until I turned seventeen that a sudden edict from the late emperor designated me as the concubine of the Crown Prince Xuanqi.