"What?" she breathed when Feng Yun told her.

"He seemed truthful. I have no reason to doubt him."

"If Liu Jin really makes it an imperial decree, then..."

"You'll rule both Heping and Chang."

"Uniting them into one China."

She coughed, and he quickly turned to Hua Chao-Xing and Wu Caihong.

"Go get her some warm water."

They nodded and left. He wiped the blood from her mouth with a cloth.

"Your Majesty," Sima Qianlu said from outside the door. "His Majesty is approaching."

Tang Daiyu sighed and said weakly, "Older Cousin, apologise to him for me."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She rested her head on Feng Yun's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her back.

"Greetings to Your Majesty. I'm afraid Her Majesty is indisposed at the moment. I greatly apologize on her behalf," Sima Qianlu said.

"That's okay. I've simply come to say goodbye."

Tang Daiyu sat up, surprised.

"So soon?"

"Yes. I need to return to Chang'an. There's some business I need to finish."

"Older Cousin," she murmured.

He nodded, walked over to the doors and slid them open. Liu Jin couldn't conceal his shock. Feng Yun bowed to him.

"Greetings to Your Majesty. Even though Her Majesty isn't feeling well, but she's agreed to see you for a few minutes."

"Many thanks to Her Majesty."

Feng Yun led him inside. He stood at Tang Daiyu's side, while she remained seated.

"Liu Jin."

"Tang Daiyu. I trust your Imperial Advisor told you about my decision?"

She nodded slowly. "I know Sixth Concubine wanted me to rule Heping, but she never gave me indication that I was also to rule Chang."

"I was surprised as well, but I read it in one of her many daily journals."

"Ahh, yes. She wrote everyday. Blocked out time for it even. She always dismissed me then. I never did know what she wrote about."

"All things praising her plan... and you."

"Why me?"

"She said you were special. That you had some truly unique birth chart."

Shocked, Tang Daiyu turned her head towards Feng Yun. "How is it that everyone knows about my birth chart? You, Lord Shuo, Master Cao, Master Pei, Master Liang, and even Sixth Concubine Luli apparently. I'm pretty sure that Prince Yelang and Rong knew as well, but I'm not as certain about them. Who else in this world knows?"

He shook his head. "I always thought my mother and I were the only ones outside of the Tang family that knew."

Tang Daiyu waved it off. "Master Liang was present at my birth. He's known for as long as he's known me. But the others... it doesn't make sense. Who's the puppetmaster pulling the strings here, Feng Yun? There's no way destiny could be this generous towards me. Not after everything I've done."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"I'm not sure. I can have someone look into it."

"Don't bother. The stage has already been set. There's nothing that can be done now."

"Who would want you to rule all of China so badly?"

"I'm not sure. Earlier, I would've said Sixth Concubine Luli, Rong, or Prince Yelang. But now, I have absolutely no idea."

Liu Jin cleared his throat. "Tang Daiyu?"

She turned to him. "Yes?"

"If you don't want to govern Chang as well, I completely understand. I'll pass the throne over to one of my brothers."

She shook her head. "I can do it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Very well. I'll leave Chang to you. When I get back to Chang'an, I'll write the decree."

"I'll be awaiting news of it."

~~~

A month later, in Nanchang, Liang Yingzhou was walking through the city with Cao Meixin. As they passed a restaurant, they overheard a couple middle-aged men talking.

"Did you hear that Emperor Tiandao abdicated the throne to Empress Lihua? She now rules both Chang and Heping!"

Both masters suddenly stopped in their tracks. They looked to one another.

"Ah Daiyu governs both now?"

"She must. I haven't heard anything though. Emperor Tiandao must've just decreed it."

Then, they heard, "I don't know how well she'll be able to govern. I've heard rumours coming from Nanning Palace that the Empress is terribly ill."

"Hush! Do you want to bring bad fortune to Her Majesty by saying such things? Once she's coronated as Empress of Chang, all of China will be bowing to her. Perhaps, she can even reunite us."

Panic flashed across Liang Yingzhou's face. Cao Meixin rested a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sure it's just rumours coming from some of the Feng family. They're probably trying to discredit her."

He sighed, "Let's hope you're right."

"The Three Kingdoms Period was too tumultuous. Chang and Heping have been at odds with each other from the beginning of the Meng Dynasty. If Empress Lihua can bring us peace like during the Han Dynasty, then all will be well."

"Her coronation’s in a week. And in Luoyang of all places!"

"Are you going to go?" Cao Meixin asked softly.

"I just want to make sure she's okay."

She nodded. "I'll go with you."

"We've just returned. You don't have to come with me."

"I know. But we're old friends, and what will happen to the Three Ancient Sects Alliance if we don't stand by one another?"

He sighed, "Alright, alright. We'll go together."

~~~

One week later, an imperial decree was released from Southern Palace in Luoyang.

By decree of Her Majesty, Empress Lihua,

Chang and Heping will be united into one unified China under a new dynasty. The new capital will be Changsha, which rests on the border between Chang and Heping with the city spanning both countries. Starting with Her Majesty's coronation, the Lan Dynasty will officially begin and Chang and Heping will cease to exist.

~~~

That same day, a large crowd gathered around the Southern Palace in Luoyang. Inside the palace, minister and officials from both Chang and Heping gathered inside the throne room. Liang Yingzhou and Cao Meixin entered and slipped off to the side so they wouldn't be noticed by anyone.

Back in the Northern Palace, Tang Daiyu was being dressed by her maids-in-waiting. After putting on the gold and yellow coronation robes, Hua Chao-Xing did her hair, putting in many gold and pearl hairpins and resting a newly made headdress on her. Wu Caihong applied enough makeup to mask her sickly pallor. Upon looking at herself in the mirror, Tang Daiyu sighed.

"Do you not like it, Your Majesty?" Hua Chao-Xing asked.

"We can do something different. There's still some time," Wu Caihong added.

"No, no, you two did a wonderful job. It's not that."

Sadness filled her eyes.

Father, Mother, Baobao, Older Cousin Pei, I hope you all are proud of me. I hope I made the right choice.

Then, there was a knock at the door.

"Yes?"

"Younger Cousin, it's time."

She stood with her maids' help and walked over to the door. They opened it, and Feng Yun was waiting. He took in her appearance and smiled.

"No one will dare to say you aren't China's Empress."

She blushed and took his arm. He supported her as they walked to the Southern Palace.

Just outside the throne room, Sima Qianlu announced, "Welcoming the Empress of Imperial China, Empress Lihua!"