Chapter 1322: Chapter 491: Palace Schemes Are No Match for Rebellion (Part 28)_3

What kind of luck does she have?

Yes, she’s now the Empress, the Queen Mother of the Dayuan Dynasty, a symbol of dignity, adored by all.

Yet, this is merely superficial glory.

Less than a year after entering the palace, she feels as if she has spent a lifetime enduring hardship in these deep halls.

Before entering the palace, Empress Tao knew there would be no love between her and Emperor Yongcheng.

Empress Tao and the whole Tao Family didn’t care about these things; they believed that as long as Emperor Yongcheng granted her the honor of a legitimate wife, making her a true Empress was enough.

As for how many women the little Emperor has, which concubine he favors, those are all minor matters. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

But once she truly entered the palace and became the Empress, some things went beyond her expectations.

Emperor Yongcheng indeed did not love her, but he was also unwilling to grant her the respect and dignity deserved by a wife.

Less than three months after their grand marriage, Emperor Yongcheng began the large selection of the harem.

The Four Concubines were rapidly filled, and this treacherous Emperor used the power of managing palace affairs as bait, causing disputes between the Four Concubines and the Empress.

Empress Tao’s dignity as the master of the harem was utterly destroyed by Emperor Yongcheng.

Afterwards, Empress Tao was even put under house arrest.

Before leaving her maiden home, Tao Youwei was such an assertive and unruly character.

But she was abruptly polished down by the Imperial Palace.

Confined for several months, if it weren’t for the upcoming birthday of the Empress Dowager, and her request that the Empress manage the birthday feast, she would still be "confined."

Stepping out from the courtyard where she had been imprisoned for almost half a year, seeing the layers of familiar yet unfamiliar palaces, Empress Tao feels as if it’s another world.

Her heart seems to have grown old!

"...Don’t frown!"

Empress Tao is lost in thought when suddenly a gentle voice rings in her ear.

She abruptly raises her head and meets a pair of caring eyes.

"You’re still so young, just fifteen or sixteen, like a budding flower; it’s wrong to look like a deep palace grudgeful wife, frowning in resentment!"

"I remember you liked to wear crimson dresses, riding horses, playing wildly!"

He Tiantian speaks with reminiscence.

And her words make Empress Tao’s eyes sour and tears fall.

Sob!

She also misses her once bright and assertive self!

"Back then, you played polo, went on lake excursions, and enjoyed the spring outings with groups of young men and young ladies, truly ’clothed in finery and riding fierce horses,’ joyful beyond measure!"

"Entering the palace and marrying, although you need to restrain yourself, you must not lose your nature!"

"The Emperor indeed did wrong, but you shouldn’t punish yourself for others’ mistakes!"

"Youwei, your father was a founding hero, and during those war times, he once took orders from me."

"In a way, we are long-term friends. Now, we’ve become mother-in-law and daughter-in-law; with so many ties, I really don’t want to see you become like this!"

"Gather your courage, be proud and confident like a young girl of the past, and don’t let people laugh at you!"

He Tiantian’s eyes are filled with encouragement.

Empress Tao feels the goodwill and takes her words to heart.

Yes, the Emperor is a scourge, but Tao Youwei is a noble person.

Why should she wallow in self-pity and resentment over such a worthless man?

She certainly doesn’t want to be a deep palace grudgeful wife.

And as for that lowly maid Ms. Zheng, what even if she becomes Noble Consort, or has the Emperor’s favor?

Vulgar is still vulgar!

No matter how much elevation, it doesn’t wash away inherent lowliness.

In the past, the Empress Dowager He refrained from expressing her stance; now, she rekindles old ties, acknowledging relationships, Empress Tao may be willful and stubborn, but she isn’t foolish!

Her eyes flicker, and regardless of what the Empress Dowager He plans, in this deep palace, with the Empress Dowager as her "backing," she isn’t even afraid of Emperor Yongcheng!

Straightening her spine, Empress Tao slowly raises her head, transforming back into the Eldest Miss of the Tao Family with her head held high!

After some casual chat with He Tiantian, Empress Tao bids farewell.

But, just as she steps out of the side hall, she meets Wang Shijiu head-on, who is carrying a stack of documents.

"Minister, I pay my respects to the Empress!"

Even though Wang Shijiu is carrying objects, inconveniencing her movement, she still renders her salute with elegant grace.

"..." Seeing Wang Shijiu in full official dress, Empress Tao has a moment of trance.

This is the Nineteenth Lady of the Wang Family, originally the candidate for Empress.

However, the Wang Family saw through the heartless and ruthless true nature of Emperor Yongcheng and refused to have Wang Shijiu endure suffering here.

Thus, the Dayuan Empress position fell to her, Tao Youwei.

In the past, Empress Tao had some aversion, even dislike for Wang Shijiu, always feeling like she picked up what others discarded, feeling affronted.

Yet now, after half a year, seeing Wang Shijiu again, her feelings are very complex...