Chapter 275: The Price of Independence
Morning sunlight filtered gently into the palace courtyard.
The air was calm.
Peaceful.
As if nothing dark had ever touched these walls.
—
Inside the Empress’s courtyard, breakfast was laid neatly.
Warm porridge.
Light dishes.
Fresh fruits.
—
The Empress sat quietly.
Across from her—
Princess Zhi.
—
Unlike before—
There was no heavy atmosphere.
No pain.
No grief.
—
Just quiet companionship.
—
Princess Zhi smiled softly.
"I missed you."
—
The Empress looked up slightly.
"...I was only gone for a few days."
—
"It felt longer."
—
The Empress paused.
Then smiled faintly.
—
"I missed you too."
—
Princess Zhi’s eyes softened.
"Tell
everything."
—
And so—
The Empress spoke.
—
About the wedding.
The preparations.
The laughter.
—
"The banquet was lively."
"Everyone was happy."
"I... enjoyed it."
—
Princess Zhi listened quietly.
Her expression peaceful.
—
"And I got new clothes."
"Jewelry."
"Shoes."
—
The Empress paused slightly.
"...There are still so I haven’t worn."
—
Her fingers tightened faintly around her bowl.
—
Because—
She rembered.
—
Those gifts.
—
From him.
—
The Emperor.
—
For a mont—
Her thoughts drifted.
—
"...He gave
those..."
"...Why?"
—
She lowered her gaze.
—
"...He never did before."
—
A bitter thought rose.
—
"...He did everything for Lady Chen..."
"...And now suddenly..."
—
She clenched her fingers slightly.
—
"...Why now?"
—
Her heart—
Didn’t feel light.
—
It felt—
Confused.
—
Heavy.
—
"...I thought..."
"...maybe..."
—
She stopped herself.
—
"...No."
—
Her expression hardened slightly.
—
"I was wrong."
—
Princess Zhi noticed the shift.
"...What are you thinking?"
—
The Empress didn’t answer imdiately.
—
Instead—
She spoke slowly.
—
"I’ve decided sothing."
—
Princess Zhi frowned slightly.
"...What?"
—
The Empress lifted her gaze.
—
"I will leave."
—
Silence.
—
Princess Zhi froze.
"...Leave?"
—
"Yes."
—
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
—
"I will divorce him."
—
The words—
Fell like stones.
—
Princess Zhi stared at her.
"...Why?"
—
The Empress smiled faintly.
But it didn’t reach her eyes.
—
"I don’t belong here."
—
"I don’t want to depend on anyone."
—
"I want my own life."
—
Her voice grew softer.
—
"...Maybe I’ll run my restaurant."
"...Or..."
—
She paused.
—
"...et soone who truly loves ."
—
Princess Zhi’s heart tightened.
—
"Don’t say that so easily..."
—
The Empress didn’t respond.
—
Because her mind—
Was already drifting far away.
—
Away from the palace.
Away from expectations.
—
Toward sothing free.
—
But before anything could be said—
—
Footsteps approached.
—
Guards.
—
"Her Majesty the Dowager summons you."
—
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
—
Princess Zhi frowned.
"...Now?"
—
The guard bowed.
"Yes."
—
Princess Zhi turned to the Empress.
"You should go."
—
"...Don’t make her wait."
—
The Empress nodded.
—
And stood.
—
The Dowager’s Courtyard
The air here—
Was different.
—
Cold.
Heavy.
Strict.
—
The mont the Empress entered—
She bowed.
—
"Greetings—"
—
Before she could finish—
—
A sharp sound cut through the air.
—
Crash.
—
A teacup.
—
Thrown.
—
It struck her.
—
Hot tea spilled across her clothes.
—
The shattered pieces scattered across the floor—
One cutting into her foot.
—
She flinched.
—
Pain shot through her leg.
—
But she didn’t move.
—
"...Mother—"
—
"Silence."
—
The Dowager’s voice was cold.
Sharp.
Filled with anger.
—
"Every ti I try to believe you are improving..."
—
"You prove
wrong."
—
The Empress stood still.
"...What have I done?"
—
The Dowager laughed.
—
"What have you done?"
—
Her gaze turned piercing.
—
"The Whisper Bowl."
—
Silence.
—
The Empress froze.
—
"...You opened it."
—
"...Without permission."
—
The Empress’s mind raced.
—
"...Who told her?"
—
But then—
She exhaled slowly.
—
"...It doesn’t matter."
—
She lifted her gaze.
—
"Yes."
—
"I opened it."
—
The Dowager’s eyes darkened.
—
"...Why?"
—
The Empress answered calmly.
—
"Because I don’t want to depend on anyone."
—
"I want to stand on my own."
—
The Dowager laughed again.
—
Mocking.
—
"So you are mocking my son?"
—
"He gave you everything."
—
"Clothes."
"Jewelry."
"Status."
—
"What more do you want?"
—
The Empress remained silent.
—
Because—
She didn’t want those things.
—
And saying that—
Would only make things worse.
—
The Dowager’s voice dropped.
—
"Answer ."
—
The Empress spoke quietly.
—
"...I didn’t open it for wealth."
—
"I opened it for myself."
—
Silence.
—
Then—
The Dowager’s expression changed.
—
Colder.
—
"...Then choose."
—
The Empress’s eyes lifted.
—
"Leave the Whisper Bowl."
—
"...Or leave the palace."
—
The words echoed.
—
Heavy.
Final.
—
But—
The Empress didn’t hesitate.
—
"...I won’t give up the Whisper Bowl."
—
Silence.
—
Even the servants froze.
—
The Dowager’s eyes widened slightly.
—
"...What did you say?"
—
The Empress stood straight.
—
"I won’t give it up."
—
"...But I can leave the palace."
—
Silence.
—
Complete silence.
—
The Dowager stared at her.
—
For a mont—
She was speechless.
—
"...You are giving up the title of Empress?"
—
"Yes."
—
The answer was imdiate.
—
The Dowager’s expression shifted.
—
Not anger.
—
Shock.
—
"...At a ti like this?"
—
"Do you know what people will say?"
—
The Empress didn’t respond.
—
Because she didn’t care.
—
For the first ti—
She truly didn’t care.
—
But then—
The Dowager spoke again.
—
"No."
—
The Empress looked up.
—
"You will not leave."
—
"...Not now."
—
Her voice turned firm.
Commanding.
—
"You will stay."
—
"And you will learn."
—
The Empress’s brows furrowed slightly.
"...Learn what?"
—
The Dowager stepped forward.
—
"Discipline."
—
"From today—"
—
"You will wear plain clothes."
—
"Eat simple als."
—
"And serve at the shrine."
—
"Until you understand your place."
—
Silence.
—
The Empress stood still.
—
"...A punishnt."
—
She had been ready to leave.
—
But now—
—
She was being held back.
—
Bound.
—
Controlled.
—
Her fingers tightened slightly.
—
"...Why not just let
go..."
—
But she didn’t say it.
—
Because she knew—
The Dowager would never allow her to leave so easily.
—
This wasn’t about punishnt.
—
This was about control.
—
About keeping her—
In place.
—
The Empress lowered her head.
—
"...I understand."
—
The Dowager nodded.
—
"Good."
—
"Go."
—
The Empress turned.
—
Her steps slow.
Steady.
—
Each step—
Heavy.
—
But her eyes—
Clear.
—
Because deep inside—
Her decision had already been made.
—
This punishnt—
Would not break her.
—
It would only delay her.
—
And when the ti ca—
—
She would leave.
—
On her own terms.
—
No matter what.
Chapter — A Heart That Quietly Breaks
The Emperor sat in his study, brush in hand, eyes fixed on a docunt.
But his mind—
Was not there.
Not on the court.
Not on governance.
—
Sothing had been unsettling him since morning.
—
Then—
A shadow appeared.
One of his guards.
—
"Your Majesty."
—
He didn’t look up.
"Speak."
—
The guard hesitated.
Then—
"Her Majesty... went to the Dowager’s courtyard."
—
The Emperor’s hand paused.
—
"And?"
—
The guard continued,
"The Dowager... punished her."
—
Silence.
—
The brush slipped slightly in his fingers.
Ink stained the paper.
—
"...What punishnt?"
—
"Simple clothes."
"Two als."
"Service at the shrine."
—
The Emperor stood abruptly.
—
"...What?"
—
His voice—
Low.
Dangerous.
—
"And..."
The guard swallowed.
"...The Dowager spoke about the Whisper Bowl."
—
The Emperor’s gaze darkened instantly.
—
"...Who told her?"
—
The guard lowered his head.
"We don’t know, Your Majesty."
—
But the Emperor already understood.
—
This wasn’t coincidence.
—
This was planned.
—
He didn’t waste another second.
—
"Prepare."
—
And without waiting—
He left.
—
Dowager’s Courtyard
The Dowager sat calmly.
Tea in hand.
—
As if nothing had happened.
—
But the mont she heard footsteps—
She smiled faintly.
—
"...He ca."
—
The Emperor entered.
His aura—
Sharp.
Cold.
—
He didn’t greet.
Didn’t bow.
—
"...Mother."
—
The word carried tension.
—
The Dowager placed her cup down.
"You ca quickly."
—
"...Why did you punish her?"
—
Direct.
—
The Dowager raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
—
"So now you question ?"
—
The Emperor stepped forward.
—
"I gave her permission."
—
"To open the restaurant."
—
"I have no issue with it."
—
Silence.
—
Then—
The Dowager laughed.
—
Soft.
Mocking.
—
"...So you are taking her side now."
—
The Emperor didn’t deny it.
—
"I am stating the truth."
—
The Dowager leaned slightly forward.
—
"Do you know what she said?"
—
The Emperor frowned slightly.
—
"When I asked her to choose..."
—
"...Between you and the restaurant..."
—
She smiled.
—
"She chose to leave."
—
Silence.
—
The Emperor froze.
—
"...What?"
—
The word ca out quietly.
—
"...She said she would leave the palace."
—
"Leave the title."
—
"Leave you."
—
Each word—
Hit.
—
The Emperor stood still.
—
For the first ti—
There was no control.
—
No composure.
—
Just—
Shock.
—
"...No..."
—
His voice was barely above a whisper.
—
"She wouldn’t..."
—
But deep inside—
He knew.
—
She would.
—
Because she never held onto him.
—
Not like he had begun to hold onto her.
—
"...Am I..."
—
He didn’t finish the thought.
—
But the question remained.
—
"...Am I that insignificant to her?"
—
The Dowager watched him quietly.
—
"...You are late."
—
The Emperor’s jaw tightened.
—
"I will remove the punishnt."
—
The Dowager’s expression hardened.
—
"No."
—
"This is my decision."
—
"You cannot undo it."
—
Silence.
—
The Emperor’s hands clenched slightly.
—
"...Then I will speak to her."
—
The Dowager nodded.
—
"Go."
—
"See for yourself."
—
"...What she has chosen."
—
Empress’s Courtyard
The atmosphere—
Was heavy.
—
Silent.
—
Empty.
—
Inside the chamber—
The Empress stood still.
—
Servants surrounded her.
—
Removing.
—
Jewelry.
Hairpins.
Silk robes.
—
Each piece—
Taken away.
—
As if stripping away her identity.
—
As if reducing her—
To nothing.
—
She didn’t resist.
—
Didn’t speak.
—
Didn’t react.
—
Because inside—
Sothing had already broken.
—
"...So this is how it ends..."
—
Not with anger.
Not with tears.
—
But with quiet.
—
With acceptance.
—
The maid held a simple cloth.
Plain.
Rough.
—
"...Wear this."
—
The Empress nodded.
—
She changed.
—
From elegance—
To simplicity.
—
From Empress—
To nothing.
—
The ghosts stood nearby.
Silent.
—
For once—
No teasing.
No jokes.
—
Only—
Pain.
—
Fen Yu whispered,
"...Say sothing."
—
The Empress didn’t respond.
—
The scholar ghost looked away.
—
The general clenched his fists.
—
"...This is wrong."
—
But none of them could change it.
—
Because this wasn’t physical.
—
This was—
Emotional.
—
And deeper.
—
Then—
Footsteps.
—
The door opened.
—
The Emperor entered.
—
His eyes searched imdiately.
—
And then—
He saw her.
—
Standing there.
—
In plain clothes.
—
No jewelry.
No ornants.
—
Simple.
Fragile.
—
And yet—
More distant than ever.
—
His chest tightened.
—
"...
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