After dealing with Xiao Run's affairs, Xiao Cui and I discussed returning to the border. However, as soon as I finished packing, a letter arrived from the palace.

Qi Zhang asked if I was willing to become the empress, and I was so scared that I dropped the pie in my hands.

Looking at the crumbs on the ground, I calmed myself down. When I looked up, I met Qi Zhang's smiling face. My breathing became rapid.

After a moment, I slowly nodded.

Qi Zhang's decision to marry me had nothing to do with love or passion. He was just worried that I would conspire with the general, who held military power, and threaten his throne.

Marrying him was also not about love.

It was simply a transaction.

On the day of my marriage, Cuihua hugged me and cried. She had wanted to enter the palace with me, but I didn't agree.

Both she and I cannot be trapped in the palace. Someone needs to replace me and see the outside world.

Half a year later, I unexpectedly discovered that I was pregnant. I thought Qi Zhang would not keep this child, but he sent me many medicines to ensure the pregnancy.

I spent the next six months in fear and doubt. But when I confirmed that he genuinely wanted this child, I finally relaxed.

However, Qi Zhang had hidden injuries from the previous dispute over the throne, and his health deteriorated day by day. After the empress dowager passed away, he also fell ill.

Reluctantly, I had to move my sleeping arrangements to the Qianqing Hall and read memorial petitions with him.

At the beginning, Qi Zhang didn't trust me, but later he saw that I acted properly and let go of his concerns.

By the time Lin'er was born, he was too sick to leave his bed.

I stood in front of his bed, holding Lin'er. He took a glance at us, with a smile on his face. But as soon as he tried to speak, he couldn't stop coughing.

I quickly handed Lin'er to the wet nurse, picked up the medicine bowl from the table, scooped a spoonful, and tested the temperature. I brought it close to his lips and said, "Your Majesty, take your medicine."

Qi Zhang looked at me intently, his eyes hazy and unclear.

I held the spoon tightly, my heart pounding.

"Ping An," Qi Zhang suddenly called me.

My fingers trembled imperceptibly, and I forced a smile. "Your Majesty, what's the matter?"

Qi Zhang looked at me and suddenly smiled. He opened his mouth and let me feed him the bitter medicine. Then he closed his eyes and lay back on the bed, his hand feeling along the edge of the bed.

I became extremely nervous, pinching the edge of my sleeve, and saw him pull out a scroll of bright yellow color from the side of the bed.

"Empress, Lin'er has been appointed as the crown prince. When I am gone, the throne will be passed on to Qi Lin. However, since he is young, the political affairs will temporarily be under your charge until later when you can hand it over to him."

Qi Zhang said this whole passage, his breathing becoming rapid.

I silently agreed and tightly gripped the decree. "Qi Zhang, did you already know?"

That I had poisoned you.

Qi Zhang smiled without answering, "Ping An, I know you are not a heartless person. I will give you what you want, but there is one thing, you must not disturb the peace of the people."

"I will comply with the decree," I said as I looked down at his thin face, lowered my eyes, and slowly knelt down.

Qi Zhang's eyes softened, and he waved his hand. "I'm tired, you may leave."

Tears welled up in my eyes, I closed my eyes, turned around, and walked step by step out of the palace.

Qi Zhang was a good emperor, so when he discovered that the aristocratic families had occupied a large amount of resources, causing difficulties for the people, he proposed a plan to eliminate the aristocratic families to the previous emperor.

The emperor agreed and sent Princess Zhaoping to carry out the plan.

But he shouldn't have taken no investigation into consideration and disposed of all the aristocratic families together.

Although my mother came from an aristocratic family, she cared for the people of Qinghe.

The shops and fields owned by the Shen family were all rented to the people of Qinghe at a low cost. Sometimes, the Shen family even had to pay taxes to the court.

Therefore, although my mother was born into an aristocratic family, she was also a benevolent ruler who protected the people of Qinghe.

The palace doors slowly closed, and the palace bell rang for a long time. I led Lin'er step by step toward that highest position.

(The End)