Sorry, people who are still reading. I'm so tired of this! Really, I'm sorry. I just got tired of this story. You see, the part I wanted to write was like when Wu Ze Tian became Empress and how evil she was. I didn't actually want to write the last 16 chapters. I know, stupid. Whatever. So I did a time skip. Too bad if you didn't want it. ~aurum autumn

10 years later.

"Still as beautiful as ever," Liang Min whispers in my ear. His breath tickles my ear. I lean closer to him, not wanting to ruin the moment.

He abruptly pulls away. "I can't do this," he says, shaking his head. I can see my reflection in his eyes, just a small woman standing in front of the palace physician. 

I wrap my arms around him and he doesn't resist. "It's so wrong. But I love you, really I do," he whispers, sighing, and he rests his head on mine. I feel a shiver go through my body at his touch. It feels good to be with him now. Ten years of a secret relationship together, ten years of longing. It happened too fast. Before I knew it, I was with him.

"His Honoured Majesty is dying soon," I drop my voice and tell him, still wrapped in an embrace.

"I know," he says in a low voice. "But when the Emperor dies, all his concubines have to become nuns, right?"

"Yeah," I say, suddenly sad at leaving this palace. I still hate it, but my son, and Liang Min, have made it so much more bearable. 

He hugs me tighter. "Listen, we can never be together. I love you so much, but we can't be together."

The familiar panic rises up in me. "No, Liang Min.It can work out. I'm Gaozong's mother. He'll let me stay here, even if the other concubines have to leave."

He doesn't say anything. We both know in our hearts that this cannot happen, yet why am I still clinging on? I am surprised the sky god hasn't stuck me down already for doing this. 

"Go back and sleep," whispers Liang Min. He pulls away and looks tenderly at me. Then he leans down for a last kiss before he disappears. I can slightly see his shadow making its way across to where the palace physicians stay. I'm shocked by how fast it was. How he just left like that. I want to pull him back, but I can't because we're not even supposed to be together. Tears well up in my eyes as I turn to go back into my Marble Building. (I'm 2nd Concubine Wang now).

No one sees me, this is a secret passage I've learnt to use. I miss the old times when I was in the Jade Building as the 8th Concubine. The smallest Concubine who no one ever cared about. Here, it's all about winning and being the best. 

I lie in my bed quietly and listen to the night sounds. The occasional wind, the rustling of the leaves. Then I slowly fall asleep.

The next morning, I eat my normal breakfast and sigh as I look over my list of duties to do. My son Gaozong comes running up to me, waving a wooden board. "Niang, Aunty Wu gave me this!"

Rage boils up in me. Don't even talk to me about that woman, I want to snap. But I bite it back and nod to him. "Okay."

The happiness in him deflates and he sighs. "Okay, Niang. Guess you're busy."

"Shouldn't you be studying now? With your private tutor?" I ask him. 

He grins impishly. "Oh, I ran away. Aunty Wu helped me."

"She's the Empress now, you know. Not Aunty Wu," I point out.

No response. I turn to see Gaozong has already run off. He's only ten and already Wu Ze Tian is trying to use her tactics on him. I know how ruthless she is. I forgave her too many times in the past. When she did something unforgivable to me, I completely disregarded her existence, except when I was forced to. She is no longer my sister. She is a dangerous woman I don't wish to talk to. But I can't stop her form talking to my son. She is the Empress and I'm just the mother of the future heir.

Of course, the current Emperor, Emperor Taizong, is dying. I have my suspicions, but the palace physicians insist that his health has always been weak. 

I find myself hoping for the day when the Emperor dies. Maybe then, I can escape this hellhole. Maybe I can become a nun and forget the palace. Maybe-

Hua Le runs up to me, my current servant. Her face is alarmed and pained. "His Honoured Majesty is dead," she cries out. 

Finally.

Were you waiting for this, Wu Ze Tian?

You wanted to take over China, did you not?

You have the chance now.