Female supremacy: blasphemy of imperial power [Yuri/GL]

Chapter 99: Enshrining the Empress

Zhao Huang walked into the ice chamber, as she always did, gazing at the "sleeping" Zhao Yang. The changes in Zhao Yang were almost negligible—no, they were practically nonexistent. There wasn't even a speck of dirt or dust on her; her skin remained pristine and white.

Yet, Zhao Huang still habitually took out a silk cloth to gently wipe Zhao Yang’s face. As her hand grazed Zhao Yang's skin through the thin fabric, it trembled involuntarily, and tears began to flow freely from her eyes.

Since she came to the ice chamber daily, her own body had grown weaker. Even in summer, she would experience coldness in her hands and feet.

Two years—perhaps for some, it felt like just a fleeting moment. Yet without the presence of someone named Zhao Yang, Zhao Huang felt like she aged a little more each day. It wasn’t just her outward appearance that was deteriorating; it was the exhaustion in her heart. She felt so tired. If there came a day when she stopped believing that Zhao Yang would wake up, she felt that would be the end of her life as well.

Zhao Huang stared fixedly at the peacefully sleeping Zhao Yang, recalling how people often urged her to marry, claiming that even if she didn’t take a wife, at least finding a concubine would suffice. Suddenly she spoke out, “If you don’t wake up soon, I’ll go marry someone else.”

After saying that, she turned to leave.

Meanwhile, the fingers of the person in the ice coffin twitched imperceptibly.

Upon returning to her own quarters, Zhao Huang nearly couldn’t wait to get moving, instructing Xiao Li to summon someone from the Department of Rites.

The people below didn’t dare to delay; the Minister of Rites was soon called in. She was a slender woman whose face appeared benevolent, always wearing a smile that suggested she was blessed.

Zhao Huang wasted no time on pleasantries, directly stating her intentions, “Starting today, the Department of Rites will begin preparing for the enshrinement of the Empress. Time is of no concern; six months should be sufficient. The most important thing is that it must be grand and magnificent, and the wedding must be held to the best of standards!”

The Minister of Rites was stunned, her mouth agape. Her hearing was fine, so what had she just heard? The enshrinement of the Empress? A wedding?!

The Empress was to be enshrined? How had they received no news at all? Which fortunate man was it who was being so favored? Moreover, hasn’t the Empress been so in love with the Regent? How could she suddenly compromise and decide to enshrine an empress?

“Minister, aren’t you going to carry out the command?” Although Xiao Li was also taken aback by Zhao Huang's words, he had been through enough to remember his responsibilities; his daze lasted only a second. Seeing that the Minister of Rites was still kneeling there in a daze without responding, he spoke up to remind her.

The Minister of Rites was jolted back to reality by his voice, trembling as she kowtowed to accept the edict before retreating.

Zhao Huang slumped into her chair, waving her hand at Xiao Li. “You may go; do not let anyone disturb me.”

Xiao Li respectfully lowered his head and exited.

Zhao Huang stared blankly, eyes wide open as if she had seen something. In reality, she was not looking at anything; her gaze was empty.

——————

Zhao Yang felt as if she had been asleep for a long time. She had a sense of awareness, but it was unclear.

When she opened her eyes, she discovered she was lying in an ice coffin. Easily, she sat up from the coffin, realizing her body felt unusually light.

Instinctively lowering her gaze, she was taken aback to find that she was transparent? How strange! Moreover, there was someone else lying in the coffin; she was currently sitting atop that person.