Lihua was the Empress, though she lacked the one thing she craved most - love. Her husband, who had sworn he could not love anyone, brought home a mistress. The realization hit her like a slap to the face.

It wasn't that he couldn't love anyone, he just couldn't love her.

It all started when Empress Lihua heard rumors of another woman in the palace from her lady in waiting, who ran to her out of breath with the news. Immediately the empress stormed to the throne room, anger burning in her veins. She had always wanted to love her husband Shi, but he wouldn't let her. She wasn't jealous - she was furious. Disrespected. Hurt.

Before servants could announce her presence, she pushed through them like a storm. A beautiful woman rested upon the emperor's lap - her emperor's lap - as he sat on his throne. She was in his loving embrace, the very thing Lihua had longed for since the beginning. She just wanted someone to love her, to hold her and care.

"Your majesty, may I ask what you are doing?" Lihua spoke, forcing composure despite her racing heart.

"I brought in a concubine. She is precious to me, not like you." His voice remained monotone, lacking any emotion for Lihua. "You have not given me a child, you never will at this rate. You're growing old, I can't keep wasting my life without an heir."

How could she have given him a child when she remained a virgin? They never consummated the marriage because he delighted in humiliating her. Yet this woman was worthy? A commoner meant to carry his child?

Something in Empress Lihua snapped.

"If you can have a lover, so can I."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

"Oh really? Any man who touches you will be executed immediately." Emperor Shi's victorious grin spread as the woman remained snuggled against him.

Then inspiration struck - scandalous but unassailable. "If I can't have a man, I'll choose a mistress who is a woman instead."

The emperor looked stunned. She walked forward, lifting the concubine from his lap with surprising strength. "If this woman is to be your mistress, I'd like to understand why. To do that, I'll make her my mistress as well."

The emperor seethed but couldn't protest without endangering his new concubine. "I allow it. You two may become... friends."