This covenant was signed for three years, during which Ning Consort regained favor but did not gain any additional power.

　　On the contrary, the Empress grew older and remained firmly seated in the imperial palace.

　　"She becomes more arrogant when envoys come," the Empress and I complained, worriedly.

　　"She is too quiet; I always feel like something is waiting behind her." I reassured her not to worry, even if there is something waiting behind her, the one waiting should be me.

　　She looked even more concerned and stared at me intently, saying, "I'm afraid it's really you." A woman's intuition is always accurate.

　　It's beyond my expectation that she only started to suspect me now.

　　But I feel exhilarated because after so many years, what should happen has finally come.