The Empress stood before the Buddhist altar, gazing blankly at the misty sky.
The Emperor's heart was ruthless. Back then, he had relied on the Tantai Family's support to secure his throne. Now that his power had grown, he had begun purging the old noble families who once aided him.
With her family annihilated, the Empress was left utterly alone.
Leaning against a pillar, she thought to herself—the edict to depose her would likely arrive soon.
Once she fell, the position of the Six Palaces' sovereign would lie vacant. Shen Wei and Lu Xuan would surely fight tooth and nail for the title of Empress, and the harem would once again be thrown into turmoil.
Wild chrysanthemums swayed in the courtyard breeze, their scent mingling with the heavy incense from the altar.
The Empress clenched her prayer beads, suddenly smiling. "The seat of the Six Palaces' sovereign is not an easy one to hold. Shen Wei, Lu Xuan, Concubine Lan—sooner or later, they will become the next me."
