Summary
On the first day of the New Emperor’s reign, the entire court was waiting to see me named empress. After all, three years ago, when he was still the Deposed Crown Prince confined to the cold palace, I was the one who stole steamed buns to keep him alive. But after he took his seat on the dragon throne, his very first imperial edict banished me from the capital. “Jiang Wan, daughter of a convicted official, is to be sent to Qingzhou North Ridge to reclaim wasteland and farm.” The eunuch delivering the edict looked at me with pity. “Miss, His Majesty said you are not permitted to return to the capital for three years.” I kowtowed and thanked him for the grace. But from my sleeve fell a slip of paper he had written with his own hand last night. On it were only four words. Don’t trust the edict.