DA CHENG'S CAPITAL:
IMPERIAL CITY
Imperial Palace
Cold Palace
Yibai lay on the marble floor of the Cold Palace, freezing. He shivered as his hands, feet, and lips turned blue from the cold, yet he felt as if he were freezing while his body burned hotter than magma. He gazed at the desolate palace, covered in dust and webs—a testament to the fact that nobody had lived there for a long time—yet his husband had banished him here three weeks ago.
As he lay there, flashes of the time he had spent with his husband ran through his mind. When they married, his husband had been disabled and poisoned—a man with no power in the eyes of the masses. Yìbái had fallen for that fragile but strong image: the man who refused to give up despite his weakness. He remembered the man who was fierce, yet would still cover him with a shawl while Yìbái fell asleep late at night studying prescriptions. His husband would tell him to leave Prince Tian's mansion so he wouldn't waste his health staying up late. He was the man who had scolded him and driven him away to rest, telling him to never return so he wouldn't waste his life on a disabled man. That caring pretense was the reason Yìbái had given his heart to the devil whom he had worked tirelessly to nurse back to health.
He did it so Li Wei zhi would be able to walk again and protect him.Yibai amassed immeasurable wealth, and when he learned that his husband wanted the throne just to give Yibai the noblest rank in all of Da Cheng, Yibai decided to win it for him.
He won over court officials, set traps for the crown prince to break down his influence, and did his best to undermine the crown prince at every turn. In the end, when the crown prince was exiled and the emperor drew his last breathe, Li Wei Zhì was finally announced as the succesor by imperial edict.
He had never imangined after the emperor's funeral his so- called husband would bar him to the cold palace. Li Wei Zhi claimed that Yibai was planning a rebellion, citing the county prince titles bestowed upon Yìbái and His twin brother, Yìmíng at birth had led him to become arrogant and ambitious. He accused Yìbái of trying to help the previous crown prince take over the throne in exchange for custody of of General Su's now elevated concubine- turned-wife—a woman Yibai blamed for his brother's death. In reality, it was all a ploy for Li Wei Zhi to marry Yibai's-concubine-born half–brother, Su Yichen.
The betrayal from the two people he trusted most hurt Yibai beyond imagination. As he lost himself in these memories, his body burned in the cold, inching closer to death.
The whole of the capital was dressed in red, echoing the throes of passion burning in the emperor's heart for his newly–wed Empress. Everyone in the capital was celebrating except for Yìbái. Yibai felt desolate; his husband of three years had barred him from the palace after ascending the throne as the emperor, leaving him there while he married his concubine-born half-brother.
Yibai had loved that man with all his heart, but in the end, all he recieved was betrayal. after serving him with total—loyalty becoming his blade, his shield, and his personal doctor Yibai had cared for him day and night. He helped him recover his health, helped him stand again, and helped him Garner immeasurable wealth. He won over court minister and plotted against the crown prince; yet, after giving his all to Li Wei Zhì, he was discarded.
"As per tradition, the newlywed sovereigns 我occupy the Kunning Palace, where the walls were painted red to symbolize their union."
In the Da Cheng Imperial Palace, the Eastern Chambers (Dongnuan Ge) of the Kunning Palace served as a vivid, red sanctuary for the newlywed couple. Every inch of the room was designed to radiate "Double Happiness" (Shuangxi) and ensure the prosperity of the imperial line.
The centerpiece of the chamber was the Dragon-Phoenix Marriage Bed, a massive, low-platform kang (heated brick bed).
The Hundred Children Canopy: A large, exquisitely embroidered red silk curtain draped over the entire bed. It featured "one hundred little boys" in various playful poses, a powerful symbol of fertility and the hope for many imperial heirs.
The Bedding: The mattress covers and quilts were also red silk, heavily embroidered with the Dragon (representing the Emperor) and the Phoenix (representing the Empress) amidst clouds and floral motifs.
The "Sun and Moon" Plaque: Hanging above the bed was a significant plaque reading: "The sun at dawn and the moon at the first quarter," comparing the Emperor to the sun and the Empress to the moon.
The atmosphere was "warm" and festive, created through specific colors and symbols:
The "Double Happiness" (Shuangxi) Characters: Large, gilded characters for "Double Happiness" adorn the walls, windows, and even the lanterns, representing the union of two souls and the harmony of the state.
The Nuanshen (Body-Warming) Carpets: Thick, red wool carpets featuring floral patterns of peonies—the "King of Flowers"—symbolizing wealth, honor, and the blossoming of a new imperial era.
The Hejin Ritual Cups: Two gold cups tied together with a single red silk thread, placed on a nearby table. They represent the "drinking of the nuptial cup," signifying that the Emperor and Empress are now of one flesh and one mind.
The heavy scent of the wedding incense from the Kunning Palace seemed to drift even to the desolate Cold Palace, mocking Yibai's final, ragged breaths. As his heart slowed, the door creaked open, admitting a sliver of the festive red light from the outside world.
As the sound of distant footsteps grew near,
Su Yichen entered. A bone–chilling breeze, fthick with the scent of the wedding incense, followed him, his phoenix-embroidered robes sweeping over the filthy marble. Behind him came his loyal maid, xiao Cui. He didn't come to offer mercy; but he came to ensure that his predecessor was truly
extinguished. Standing tall , he mocked Yibai's desolate fate.
"Ahh, Xiao Cui, why are you doing standing there? Pay your respects to my brother," he sneered.
Xiao Cui stepped forward and bowed "Greetings, young master."
!Oh, Xiao Cui, you can't call him that!" Yicheb laughed. "Ah, dear brother, what should I call you? Oh no no I can't address you like that anymore. After all, you're married to Prince Tian. I should call you Princess Consort Tian. Oh no–wait—Prince Tian is no longer a prince; he was announced as the Crown Prince after the emperor's death. So, as his princess I should call you crown princess now, huh? Ohh no look at my memory! He's no longer the crown price either. He's the emperor now, and he's marrying his Empress today. Wait a minute....,... he's shouldn't that be you? Ahh you your Majesty, why are you on the floor on your wedding day?"
He gestured sharply. "Xiao Cui, step forward! Hurry and help the 'future Empress' up."
Xiao Cui stepped forward and tried to haul Yibai up, but Yibai suddenly lost his balance. He fell, his head striking the sharp corner of a mahogany side table with a sickening thud. Su Yichen stepped forward, his voice, a mocking tone laced with fake concern. "Are you okay, your Majesty? Ah, Xiao Cui, what have you done? Do you know what will happen if his majesty finds out you injured his 'precious Empress' on his wedding day?"
Su Yichen knelt down and gripped Yibai's chin, oulling out a handkerchief to wipe the blood streaming down Yibai's temple. "Brother, look at your face. It was already unsightly, but now....it's truly hideous. You can't possibly marry the emperor like this. How about I Replace you? After all, his Majesty has liked beautiful things like me. Let me tell you how far you've fallen. His Majesty he was laughing when he signed the decree for the Cold Palace.
Yibai threw his head back and let out a hollow, broken laugh. "You think you've won, Yichen? You think Li Wei Zhi would stay loyal to you? He is a selfish, bloodthirsty hound who will never be satiated, even if you cut off your own flesh to feed him. Look at me. I gave him my everything, and he still discarded me. What makes you think he'll stay loyal to you? He'll do the same to you for some one else—for someone prettier, more resourceful, more useful, Just like how he did to me."
Su Yichen's face hardened. " Oh, please. You were always out of bounds. What Alpha would ever a disfigured omega jinx like you?You were so unlucky that you killed your mother the moment you were born. And after Seventeen years, when you finally returned, you killed your brother, your grand mother, and your grandfather, the Grand Marshal, Bai Zhong. And you're the sole reason for the death of those innocent soldiers and civilians .You've killed anyone who ever cared for you. In this life. You are the reason they're dead.
He confessed Yibai's mother had been killed at birth by Mu Xinyan, who bribed the midwife and the attendants, and his brother was later murdered by Mu Xinyan and Yichen themselves. They had even killed the old lady Su to keep her from revealing the truth.
Worse yet, his husband had known everything. They had planned this elaborate scheme just to uproot the influence of The Grand Marshal and Grand Tutor, the Marquis of Wu, Bai Zhong—Yibai's maternal grandfather.
The marquis was an Alpha whose sole descendent was Yibai's mother—a female Alpha who had fallen in love with Yibai's father, Su Jianfeng, during a military campaign. After his mother's and following Yibai's return from the countryside 17 years later. The marquis became Yibai's greatest support. This planted seeds of suspicion and distrust in Li Wei Zhì's heart; fearing that Yibai's ambition would grow too large; he chose to nip the danger in the bud after using and discarding him. He told Yibai, "The Emperor doesn't need an Empress that outshines him and reminds him of his dark and dull past,' calling Yibai a "useful tool that had finally blunted its edge.'
Li Wei Zhi even went so far as to tip off the enemy kingdom's general about the battle plan. This treachery led to the massacre of 500,000 elite cavalry soldiers and the death of The Grand Marshal, the Marquis of Wu, Bai Zhong who defended the border until his last breath.
"Hearing how much the power which Yibai had amassed to assist Li Wei Zhi had bothered the man—soo much that he had slaughtered everyone Yibai held dear— Yibai's heart gave a painful agonizing lurch in his chest.
As his blood boiled over, Yibai could no longer hold on. Yibai took his final breath burning in the fire of vengence. He swore if he ever had the chance to choose again,he would never chose Li Wei Zhi. He would have his revenge on Li Wei Zhi, Su Yichen, Su Jianfeng, Mu Xinyan and protect his loved ones at any cost."
"As Yibai took his final breaths the world disappeared into darkness. After floating for an unkown amount of time, A blinding light suddenly came from afar. In the center of the light was a golden book. Out of curiosity, Yibai hesitantly reached forward and then white–hot flashes of memory ran through his mind.
It was his life, but from another person's view. According to that person, he was just a stepping stone for his husband and his concubine-born half-brother. His concubine-born half–brother was the 'son of heaven ', and his fated Li Wei Zhi whom Su Yibai had supposedly 'stolen', everything that happened to him was because he had coveted Su Yichen's fortune."