The dark sky was densely filled with goose - feather - like snowflakes. Mixed with the biting winter wind, they lashed painfully against people's faces.
However, they could not dampen the boiling blood of the soldiers.
"Kill!"
"Smash these barbarians!"
"His Majesty has decreed that Princess Zhaohua be captured alive!"
Inside the tent, Zhaohua's subordinates looked flustered. "Your Highness, the Jing troops are coming! Our men won't hold out for long. Your subordinate will defend Your Highness to the death and escort you away!"
The shouts outside grew louder and louder. The sounds of battle, the clashing of weapons, along with the screams and cries of women and children, all stabbed at Zhaohua's nerves.
Despair welled up in her heart. Had all her schemes of a lifetime come to naught?
How could she lose?!
Her plans had been flawless, accounting for every detail. Why had they failed?!
"Your Highness, the new king of Beirong has been captured! Your Highness, hurry! It'll be too late if you don't leave now!"
"We can't leave." Zhaohua seemed to have anticipated this outcome. Her expression was extremely calm.
"Your Highness! As long as the green mountains remain, there'll always be firewood! Don't give up!"
Zhaohua ignored him and calmly drew out her sword.
She wasn't afraid of death. To be utterly defeated was no different from being dead.
She was just unwilling.
Success had seemed so close. Why had she ended up in utter defeat?
She was the one more suited to be a monarch. Why did she have to submit to others?
Just because she was a woman?
Yes, just because she was a woman!
She wanted to be an empress and change the status of women. If she didn't stand up, the oppressed fate of women would never change.
She had seen talented women have their brilliance stolen by their brothers. She had seen women beaten to death for failing to bear sons because of local customs. People believed that a woman's bad luck was the reason for not having a son, so they beat her with sticks to drive away the bad luck and make her bear a son. She had also heard of the baby - abandonment towers in the countryside, filled with baby girls.
If she didn't stand up, no one else would. Women in this world had been oppressed by men for far too long. They were numbed by the so - called Three Obediences and Four Virtues, as well as the "Rules for Women" and "Instructions for Women," and even regarded this as normal.
Although she had lost, she never regretted her actions.
If given a second chance, she would only do better!
With a tearing sound, the thick felt was ripped open. Jing soldiers in armor rushed into Zhaohua's tent. Their eyes were filled with greed when they looked at her.
His Majesty had decreed that whoever took Zhaohua's head would be granted the title of Marquis with ten thousand households!
As long as they killed her, they could rise to the top!
Zhaohua's old subordinates fought desperately to protect her. "Protect Your Highness to the death!"
Zhaohua's old subordinates were all determined to die. Their will to survive made them extremely powerful.
But there were simply too many Jing soldiers.
As her old subordinates fell one by one, Zhaohua closed her eyes and raised the sword in her hand, slowly placing it on her neck.
A splash of blood spattered on the tent, standing out brightly against the white felt.
It was so cold...
Zhaohua slowly fell, and everything in front of her gradually blurred.
In the blur, she seemed to see that she had succeeded. The Jing, Jiang, Xingshu, and Beirong kingdoms were all under her control. She had unified the country during her lifetime, and there would be no more wars.
She ascended the throne as the empress, establishing a dynasty ruled by women. She taught women to trample ungrateful men under their feet and made those once - high - and - mighty men taste the humiliation of being stepped on by the women they had looked down upon.
But why had she failed?
She didn't have time to find the answer.
The once - powerful Princess Zhaohua closed her eyes forever on this snowy New Year's Eve.
In the Jiang Kingdom's palace, however, there was a festive atmosphere.
This was a happy year. Everyone was in high spirits. Even the usually boring palace banquet didn't seem so dull this time.
Emperor Jing of Jiang finally met the queen.
He had been busy recently, but it wasn't that he had no time at all. The textbook had said that he should maintain a proper distance and not be too hasty.
So he had endured until today.
Fortunately, after more than half a month of effort, the queen finally showed him a bit of kindness.
The textbook works!
Emperor Jing of Jiang cast an appreciative look at his prospective son - in - law not far away.
After the palace banquet ended, it was already late at night and everything was quiet.
The queen was about to return to Qiwu Palace when Emperor Jing of Jiang reached out his hand to her. "I have something for the queen. Would you like to come with me, my dear?"
The queen didn't know what he was up to, but since she hadn't left yet, she didn't want to refuse him. She placed her hand in his.
"Sure."
Emperor Jing of Jiang and the queen went to the highest place in the palace together.
Emperor Jing of Jiang dismissed the attendants and went up hand in hand with the queen.
The night wind was cold. Emperor Jing of Jiang took off his cloak and put it on the queen.
He casually said, "My dear, I still remember when you first entered the palace, you said the roof of Qiwu Palace was too high and you often felt cold."
The queen smiled slightly and continued, "At that time, Your Majesty said that no matter how high the roof of Qiwu Palace was, it couldn't be higher than that of Yangxin Hall. Those in high positions should worry about the people. The queen is not only a wife but also the mother of the nation. She should set an example for women and influence the world."
Emperor Jing of Jiang sighed. "But later I realized that the queen is the queen of the world, while you, my dear, are my wife alone."
The queen couldn't help but look at him.
He had been so busy recently. When did he find the time to learn these things?
If it had been in the past, it would have taken him ten years to say such words.
"My dear, I know you've been wronged in many things before. I was wrong about Zhaohua and Jianing. I shouldn't have hidden things from you, let alone indulged them and raised a tiger to cause trouble. I've also warned the empress dowager. She'll stay in Fuguang Temple for the rest of her life to pray for the country."
"I've always remembered our promise. Niannian will get married soon. Although I still don't like Ji Junye, he is indeed worthy of Niannian. After seeing Niannian off on her wedding day, I'll put aside my work and accompany you to fulfill your old wishes... Will you give me this chance?"
Emperor Jing of Jiang's voice was a bit cautious.
Her old wishes...
The queen's thoughts drifted far away. Her greatest wish in the past was to marry someone she loved, travel with him, visit every corner of the world, have one or two children with him, and teach them to read, write, play musical instruments, and do painting and calligraphy.
But since the moment she entered the palace walls, all these had turned into bubbles.
She had been prepared for the daily intrigues in the palace. The only thing she hadn't expected was that Emperor Jing of Jiang would give his heart to her.
She felt the same way.
But those things had faded with time during the years when Niannian was missing.
Now that he brought up the old things again...
A look of surprise flashed across the queen's face. "Are you going to abdicate?"
Considering what he had done these days, it seemed that he really had such an intention.
Emperor Jing of Jiang looked extremely serious. "The crown prince is already capable of ruling the country. I can rest assured leaving the country to him. My dear, in the past, I was the king of the country and had to bear too much. In the future, I just want to be your husband."
"After I abdicate, we'll travel around the beautiful rivers and mountains. If we miss Niannian, we'll go and stay in the capital of the Jing Kingdom for a while..."