Zhao Qian's POV
The substitute bride is either the bravest woman I've ever met or the most foolish.
I watch her through the ceremonial screen as servants lead her away to separate chambers. She walks with her spine straight, head high, even though she must know I could have her executed for this deception.
Most women would be weeping by now. Begging for mercy.
Mei Lin just... accepted her fate and told me the truth.
Refreshing. And dangerous.
Your Majesty. Captain Feng appears at my side, his expression carefully neutral. The bride has been settled in the Eastern chambers. What are your orders?
What are my orders? Execute her family for treason. Annul the marriage. Find another political bride who isn't a replacement.
But something stops me.
Tell me what you observed during the ceremony, I say instead.
Feng hesitates. She never trembled. Not once. Most brides shake through the entire ritual—nerves, fear, excitement. But Lin Mei stood perfectly still. Like she'd already accepted whatever came next.
Like someone walking toward execution.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I think about her words: I expect to be discarded once the alliance is secure. Substitutes usually are.
She came here knowing she would die. Did it anyway to save a family that threw her away.
Either incredibly noble or incredibly broken.
Probably both.
The marriage stands, I say abruptly.
Feng's eyes widen. Your Majesty? But the deception
Was her family's doing, not hers. She was honest the moment I asked. I move toward my private chambers. The Lin family wanted an alliance. They have one. The bride they sent doesn't change the political value.
The court will question
Let them question. I am the Emperor. My decisions don't require explanations. I pause at the doorway. But Feng, I want to know everything about Mei Lin. Her childhood, her education, why her family considers her disposable. Everything.
Yes, Your Majesty.
He leaves, and I'm alone with my thoughts.
I should be angry about the deception. Should feel insulted that they sent me a damaged substitute instead of the celebrated beauty.
Instead, I'm... curious.
Because Mei Lin looked me in the eyes and told the truth when lying would have been easier.
In a palace built on lies, that's worth investigating.
Three days later, I have my answers.
Feng's report sits on my desk: the fire at age eight, the scars, fifteen years of systematic neglect. A brilliant mind wasted because her face didn't meet her family's standards.
They sent me their throwaway daughter and expected me not to notice.
I notice everything.
Which is why I notice that my new empress hasn't left her chambers in three days. Hasn't requested anything. Hasn't caused any problems.
She's surviving by being invisible.
Just like she did in her family's house.
Something about that irritates me more than it should.
Your Majesty. A servant bows low. Minister Lin requests an audience.
Of course he does. Time to deal with the architect of this deception.
I receive him in my study. Minister Lin prostrates himself, his forehead touching the floor.
Your Majesty, I must apologize for my daughter's
Which daughter? I cut him off. The coward who ran, or the one brave enough to take her place?
He freezes. I... Your Majesty, I meant no disrespect by the substitution
You meant to save your own neck. I keep my voice cold. Your daughter Rong committed treason by refusing the Emperor's summons. The penalty for that is execution of your entire family.
His face goes white. Please, Your Majesty, mercy
Mei Lin already paid the price for your daughter's cowardice. She walked into this palace expecting to die to save you. I lean back. Tell me, Minister, what kind of father throws away his child like that?
Mei is... she's damaged goods. She has no marriage prospects, no value
She had enough value to save your worthless life.
Silence.
Here's what will happen, I continue. The marriage stands. Mei Lin is now Empress, with all the rights and protections that title brings. If I discover you've mistreated her, threatened her, or made any attempt to harm her, I'll remember that your family still owes the crown for Rong's treason.
Your Majesty is most generous
I'm not generous. I'm practical. I wave him away. And Minister? Stay away from the Empress. She's under imperial protection now.
He leaves, practically crawling.
I should feel satisfied. Instead, I'm restless.
The substitute bride saved her family. Now she sits in a golden cage, probably believing she's still worthless.
Someone should tell her otherwise.
But not yet. First, I need to understand what I'm dealing with.
Because something tells me Mei Lin is far more valuable than her family ever realized.
That evening, I attend a formal dinner with my ministers. My new empress sits beside me at the high table, silent and composed.
She hasn't looked at me once.
The ministers drone on about tax revenues and trade disputes. Boring. Necessary. Mind-numbing.
Then General Han mentions the northern border situation.
The barbarians are testing our defenses again, Your Majesty. I recommend massing troops at Tiger Pass—a show of overwhelming force.
Several ministers murmur agreement.
I'm about to respond when I notice something.
The empress's hand tightens on her cup. Just slightly. Like she's restraining herself from speaking.
Interesting.
What about supply lines? I ask Han.
We'll establish forward camps, Your Majesty. Standard procedure.
Another slight tension in the empress's shoulders.
She disagrees with him.
My curiosity ignites.
After the dinner ends, I watch Mei Lin leave with her maid. She moves like a ghost—there but not there, noticed by no one.
How long has she been invisible?
And what would happen if someone finally saw her?
The next morning, I make a decision.
Captain Feng, where is the Empress currently?
In her chambers, Your Majesty. She hasn't requested to leave.
For three days?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Three days alone in a room, ignored by everyone. Just like her old life, but in a prettier prison.
Unacceptable.
I head toward the Eastern chambers, then pause. If I summon her officially, it becomes court business—formal, observed, political.
But if I happen to encounter her somewhere neutral...
Where is the imperial library?
Feng blinks at the random question. The North Wing, Your Majesty. But it hasn't been used since—
Since my last empress died. I know. I change direction. Have someone mention to the Empress's maid that the library exists. Casually. As if it's information she might find useful.
Understanding dawns in Feng's eyes. A convenient accident, Your Majesty?
Exactly.
Because I want to see what the substitute bride does when she thinks no one's watching.
I want to see who she really is.