The Empress

Chapter 3: Regret and hate

It has been exactly 15 years since the tragedy that befallen on the Kingdom of Leng had happened. The commoners till this very day still talk about what had happened on that tragic day. It is not news that the Emperor hated the Xue family and their enormous power in the military. The Xue family by then had been loyal to the royal family for 3 generations, with that, their power in the government grew too. The late General Xue Hu was known for not only being extremely loyal and valiant but kind-hearted as well. He was loved throughout the Kingdom of Leng.

When the Emperor must marry the daughter of the late General, that is the cause of the growing hatred inside the Emperor's heart. The posthumous decree of marriage was made by the late Emperor that none other than the daughter from the Xue family can be allowed to be the Empress of the Kingdom of Leng.

The newly appointed Emperor then thought that the late General used his influence to force the late Emperor into making the decree. Little did he know that the late Emperor is quite fond with the daughter of the Xue family. Not only she is as valiant as her father, but she is also very loyal and wise as well. The late Emperor thought that that is what the mother of a nation should be. Xue Lianhua is the right person for his son he thought. Before he passed away, he made that decree as the then Crown Prince already have 3 consorts but still without a main consort. The decree is for the Crown Prince to marry Xue Lianhua to be made his Empress after he is crowned as the emperor. Too bad he was blinded by his hatred and prejudices against the Xue family. He did not see how the Xue family has done everything for the royal family. His hatred made him treated the Empress with extreme bias as well. He favours his concubines more than the Empress.

The Empress despite being treated badly by the Emperor, treated the Imperial Concubines with nothing but respect. They are at first are quite wary with her but then they realized that she only has nothing but pure and kind intention against them. All three of them have been given equal status. She only reminded them not to bother with what's going on between her and the Emperor and concentrate on their own respective life. Though the Imperial Concubines do sincerely hope that the Emperor will realize one day that the Empress is an exceptional woman.

But it ended in tragedy after a year of the royal marriage. The Xue family has been executed. The previous Empress and the rest of the Xue family supporters have been missing without a trace. The Crown Prince is dead. This is karma for the "blind" Emperor. Only after the Xue family is gone and the Empress has been missing then he realized how the Xue family existence is important to the Kingdom of Leng. Most ministers who have supported General Xue Hu have resigned from their posts. The citizens are mourning for this tragic loss.

The relationship between the Kingdom of Long and Kingdom of Leng is not as closed as before. He found out that the late General Xue Hu do have a sworn sister and it happens to be the mother of the Empress of the Kingdom of Long. She and her family found out what happened to the Xue family. The Emperor whom respected the late General decided that Kingdom of Leng is no longer a friend of his Kingdom. Even the borders between the 2 Kingdoms are guarded by the Hu1 family, Imperial General Hu to be exact, the sworn sister of the late General Xue Hu.

The nail in the coffin is that 10 years ago, a new kingdom has emerged, Kingdom of Xi. Kingdom of Long and Kingdom of Xi have a very close relationship where their people can freely roam in both kingdoms without any restraint. Not even once that the ruler of the Kingdom of Xi had accepted any invitation from the Kingdom of Leng. On the other hand, even when the Kingdom of Long is quite cold towards the Kingdom of Leng, the Crown Prince always attended any private function whereas the Kingdom of Xi does not even bother to send anyone. The Emperor is angry with the ruler of this new Kingdom, Madame Red. The woman who successfully conquered the wild grassland and unite all those barbaric tribes. The barbarians even proclaimed that she is the right person to rule them under one kingdom. So, it was done by her and her people. She is the sole ruler. Her people will be the chancellors and leaders from the tribe are chosen as chancellors as well. In just 10 years, the new kingdom has become as strong as the other 2 Kingdoms.

With the Xue family are no longer available to support the Kingdom of Leng, the Emperor can only watch the rise of the Kingdom of Xi. He regretted his decision 15 years ago. The Xue family are no longer there to support him. The missing Empress is no longer to guide him too. With her gone missing, he realized that the reason the late Emperor decreed her as his wife and Empress was that she is well-respected even by his ministers as she is very wise and knows what needed to be done. Seems like behind his back, she was the one whom make sure that all his plans have been executed with success. When the Xue family was entirely executed and the Empress has gone missing, his concubines have started to treat him coldly as well.

Only Imperial Noble Consort Jiaohua2 treats him kindly so he elevated her to be the new Empress. He remembered how pale her face is when the decree was announced. She was scared, scared that what happened to the Empress will happen to her too. Her father, an Imperial Scholar, after knowing that his daughter has become an Empress, immediately sent a memorial saying that due to his failing health, he needed to go back to his village with the rest of his family. Emperor Leng mockingly laughed when he read the memorial and granted it.

Only then, Empress Jiaohua feels better and become a good Empress towards the other 2 concubines as well. She remembered that only by being nice towards others will make the others being nothing but nice too. The Empress taught them to be kind to one another. Be a respectable woman she once said, not a petty woman towards another woman. Empress Jiaohua do everything according to what the missing Empress has taught them in the past.

If only the Emperor did not commit such a sin in the first place. If only...

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