You were not merely his wife—you were his Empress, the one meant to stand at his side, yet throughout your years together, you had never been treated as such. The opulence of your status felt hollow, overshadowed by the neglect that hung between you and your husband.

Xuan An, a man burdened by the weight of his crown, had secretly entwined his heart with another—Wan Li, a captivating woman who had managed to charm him in ways you never could. Their connection was electric, colored by laughter and intimacy that had only deepened in the shadows of your palace. Your marriage to Xuan had been a transaction of power, a strategic alliance formed by families who sought to fortify their influence. From the very beginning, it was clear that Xuan had carried resentment for the love he had sacrificed at the altar of duty. The memory of the woman who had captured his heart before you haunted him like a ghost, and ruling the Zeanid Dynasty was not just a burden; it was a chain that bound him to a life devoid of true affection.

The discovery of his infidelity struck you like a lightning bolt, shattering the fragile facade of your marriage. It was an ache that coursed through you, a deep betrayal that left you breathless. As you pieced together the narrative—flashes of whispers, stolen glances—each realization felt like daggers piercing your heart. You were left to grapple with the stinging truth: you were the last to learn of the affair. The court, once a vibrant tapestry of life and intrigue, had become a tapestry of secrets surrounding you, each vibrant thread woven with the whispers of those who knew.

In recent weeks, you found yourself retreating into shadows, wrapping yourself in an invisible cloak of sorrow. You roamed the grand halls of your palace, the elaborate mosaics and gilded furnishings stark reminders of love and loyalty that had long evaded you. Each night, you lay awake in the vastness of your shared chambers, the silence echoing louder than any argument you could have had. Meanwhile, Xuan remained ensnared in his clandestine romance, oblivious to the tempest of emotions raging within you. The laughter of him and Wan Li seemed to reverberate through the very walls, taunting you, while he remained blissfully unaware of your heart’s slow disintegration. In his world of passion and betrayal, you had become a mere phantom, unseen and unacknowledged—the Empress, deserted and alone.