The imperial palace of Great Xu stood silent beneath the evening sky.
Golden lanterns glowed softly along the palace corridors, and guards stood motionless like statues at every gate. Inside the Hall of Eternal Harmony, the Emperor of Great Xu had just finished reviewing memorials from the northern front.
The war with the Northern Kingdom had lasted eight long months.
Although the capital remained peaceful, the weight of the battlefield rested heavily upon the emperor's heart. His only son, Crown Prince Xu Chen, commanded the armies far from home.
Just then, a palace servant entered quietly and bowed.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived."
The emperor immediately set aside the memorials.
"My mother has returned to the palace?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Moments later, the doors opened.
The Empress Dowager entered slowly, supported by her attendant. Though age had placed silver strands in her hair, her presence remained dignified and commanding.
Behind her came the Empress, who had come upon hearing that the Empress Dowager wished to meet them both.
The emperor rose from his throne and bowed respectfully.
"Mother."
The empress also bowed.
"Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager smiled faintly as she sat upon the seat prepared for her.
"It seems the palace has not changed much in the months I was away."
The emperor studied her carefully.
His mother had insisted on traveling outside the palace several months ago, claiming she wished to see the capital like an ordinary citizen.
Though palace guards secretly followed her, she had remained mostly hidden from the public eye.
Only now had she returned.
"Mother," the emperor said gently, "you traveled for many months. Are you well?"
The Empress Dowager chuckled softly.
"Better than well. Sometimes stepping outside palace walls reminds one how vast the world truly is."
The emperor and empress exchanged a glance, both curious.
The Empress Dowager did not waste time.
"There is someone I met during my travels," she said calmly.
"Someone remarkable."
The emperor leaned forward slightly.
"Someone remarkable enough to earn Mother's praise must truly be extraordinary."
The old woman's eyes gleamed.
"Her name is Yue Ning."
The name caused no immediate reaction from the emperor.
But the empress's brows lifted slightly.
"Yue Ning… from the Yue family?"
The Empress Dowager nodded.
"Yes. The daughter of Yue Chen."
The emperor frowned thoughtfully.
"The Yue family is respectable, but not among the highest noble houses. Why does Mother bring up this young girl?"
The Empress Dowager folded her hands.
"Because I wish her to become Xu Chen's wife."
Silence filled the hall.
Even the palace attendants lowered their heads further, afraid to breathe too loudly.
The emperor looked stunned.
"Mother… are you saying you wish Yue Ning to become the Crown Princess?"
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
The empress looked thoughtful rather than surprised.
"I have heard of Yue Ning," she said slowly. "People say she is gentle and intelligent."
The emperor rubbed his temples.
"This is not such a simple matter."
The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
The emperor sighed.
"Because Xu Chen has already spoken of someone."
The Empress Dowager's eyes sharpened.
"Oh?"
The empress nodded.
"Several months ago, before leaving for the northern war, the Crown Prince mentioned to His Majesty that he was interested in someone."
The emperor continued.
"He never revealed her name. But he was unusually serious."
The Empress Dowager leaned back slightly.
"That foolish boy…"
Her tone was amused rather than annoyed.
"He truly did not say who it was?"
"No."
"Did he describe her?"
The emperor shook his head.
"Only that she was someone he admired deeply."
A faint smile appeared on the Empress Dowager's lips.
In her heart, she already knew the answer.
But she chose not to reveal it yet.
Instead, she spoke calmly.
"Then perhaps fate has already arranged things perfectly."
The emperor looked confused.
"Mother?"
But the Empress Dowager raised a hand, stopping him.
"There is another matter I wish to discuss first."
The emperor nodded respectfully.
"Please speak."
The Empress Dowager's expression became serious.
"I want an imperial edict issued for Yue Ning."
Both the emperor and empress waited.
The old woman spoke slowly, each word carrying immense weight.
"I want a decree stating that Yue Ning will never have to kneel or bow before the emperor—or anyone else in the world."
The words struck the hall like thunder.
The emperor immediately stood up.
"Mother!"
Even the empress looked shocked.
Such a privilege was unheard of.
In the entire history of the Xu dynasty, only one person had ever received such an edict.
The Crown Prince himself.
When Xu Chen was very young, the emperor had issued a special decree allowing him to stand without kneeling before the throne.
It was a privilege granted only to the heir of the empire.
Now the Empress Dowager was asking for the same privilege to be given to a thirteen-year-old girl from the Yue family.
The emperor shook his head.
"That is impossible."
The Empress Dowager remained calm.
"Why?"
"Because such an edict is reserved for the Crown Prince."
"Then make an exception."
The emperor sighed deeply.
"Mother… you are asking me to elevate a noble daughter above the laws of the empire."
The Empress Dowager's gaze grew sharp.
"Am I?"
The emperor hesitated.
"Yes."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Or perhaps I am simply recognizing someone whose worth exceeds such laws."
The emperor fell silent.
The empress spoke gently.
"Mother, granting such a decree would place Yue Ning above nearly every noble in the empire. It would cause endless discussion in court."
The Empress Dowager waved a hand dismissively.
"The court already gossips about everything."
Then she looked directly at the emperor.
"Tell me something honestly."
The emperor straightened.
"Yes, Mother."
"If Xu Chen himself requested such an edict… would you grant it?"
The emperor hesitated.
Then he answered truthfully.
"Yes."
The Empress Dowager smiled.
"Good."
The emperor frowned.
"Mother…"
But the old woman spoke again.
"Let us assume that the girl Xu Chen admires is Yue Ning."
The emperor and empress both went silent.
The Empress Dowager continued calmly.
"If that is the case, then granting this decree now will simply be acknowledging the future Crown Princess."
The emperor slowly sat back down.
His expression was troubled.
"Even so… such an edict would be unprecedented."
The Empress Dowager looked completely unconcerned.
"History is made by unprecedented decisions."
The empress watched the two of them quietly.
After a long moment, she spoke.
"Your Majesty… perhaps it would be wise to wait until the Crown Prince returns from the northern war."
The emperor nodded quickly.
"Yes. That would be the most reasonable course."
But the Empress Dowager shook her head.
"No."
Both of them looked at her.
"Why not?" the emperor asked.
The old woman smiled mysteriously.
"Because some things should be prepared in advance."
The emperor sighed helplessly.
"Mother… you have already decided, haven't you?"
The Empress Dowager's eyes gleamed with quiet certainty.
"Yes."
The emperor leaned back in his throne.
For a long moment, the hall remained silent.
Finally, he said slowly:
"I will consider it."
The Empress Dowager stood up.
"That is enough for now."
Then she turned toward the door.
But before leaving, she looked back at the emperor with a faint smile.
"Trust me."
"One day you will realize that granting this edict was the wisest decision you ever made."
The emperor watched his mother leave the hall.
A strange feeling stirred in his heart.
For reasons he could not explain…
He felt as though the future of the entire empire had just shifted slightly.