Chapter 309: — The Promise He Never Intended to Keep

The mountain shrine rested quietly beneath the pale evening sky.

Snow-covered trees surrounded the ancient temple grounds, their branches swaying softly under the cold wind. Prayer bells hanging beneath the shrine roof chimed gently whenever the breeze passed.

It should have felt peaceful.

But inside the small courtyard behind the shrine—

The atmosphere was tense.

—

The Empress sat beneath the pavilion, wrapped in a thick white cloak.

A cup of warm tea rested untouched beside her.

Her expression was calm.

Too calm.

—

Since leaving the palace and temporarily staying at the shrine for safety, she had found something she had not experienced in a long time—

Silence.

No palace whispers.

No concubines.

No court politics.

No suffocating eyes watching every step she took.

—

Only quiet.

—

Her three ghost companions floated nearby.

Fen Yu sighed dramatically.

"I like it here."

Wei Rong crossed his arms.

"Too cold."

Li Shen looked toward the distant mountains.

"But peaceful."

—

The Empress smiled faintly.

"Yes."

Peaceful.

At least for now.

—

Then—

Footsteps approached.

—

Not hurried.

Not light.

—

Steady.

Familiar.

—

The Empress slowly lifted her gaze.

And there—

Standing at the entrance of the pavilion—

Was the Emperor.

—

The cold wind moved his dark robes slightly.

His expression remained composed as always.

But beneath it—

There was exhaustion.

Tension.

And something heavier he refused to name.

—

Fen Yu whispered loudly,

"Oh no."

Wei Rong sighed.

"He came personally."

Li Shen adjusted his sleeves.

"This will be troublesome."

—

The Empress looked at him calmly.

"...Your Majesty."

—

The Emperor stepped forward slowly.

His eyes lingered on her for a brief moment.

Checking.

Confirming.

Alive.

Safe.

—

Only then did he speak.

"The weather here is too cold."

—

The Empress blinked slightly.

"...That’s your opening sentence?"

—

The Emperor ignored that.

"You should not stay here any longer."

—

The Empress leaned back slightly.

"And why is that?"

—

He answered immediately.

"It’s not safe."

—

At those words—

The atmosphere shifted slightly.

—

The Emperor’s gaze darkened.

"The kingdom’s condition is becoming unstable."

"There are too many unknown movements outside the palace."

"The shrine is isolated."

"If something happens—"

—

"I can protect myself," the Empress interrupted calmly.

—

The Emperor’s jaw tightened slightly.

"...That is not enough."

—

Silence followed.

The cold wind passed through the pavilion again.

—

Then—

The Empress looked directly at him and asked quietly:

"...Did you come to give me a divorce?"

—

The words hit harder than expected.

—

The Emperor’s expression changed instantly.

Not dramatically.

But enough.

Enough for her to notice.

—

His face fell slightly.

His gaze sharpened.

Something in his chest tightened painfully.

—

"...Divorce?"

He repeated the word slowly.

As if he disliked even hearing it.

—

The Empress looked away calmly.

"You said before that if I wished to leave..."

"...you would consider it."

—

The Emperor stared at her.

Long.

Silent.

—

Then he finally spoke.

"...The kingdom’s situation is unstable right now."

—

The Empress frowned slightly.

"What does that have to do with divorce?"

—

The Emperor answered smoothly.

Too smoothly.

"If the Emperor suddenly divorces the Empress while the kingdom is already unstable..."

"...people will talk."

—

Fen Yu whispered immediately,

"He’s lying."

Wei Rong nodded.

"Very badly."

Li Shen sighed.

"He didn’t even prepare a better excuse."

—

The Empress narrowed her eyes slightly.

"...So this is about reputation?"

—

The Emperor held her gaze calmly.

"Yes."

—

A lie.

Half-truth.

Excuse.

Anything but the real reason.

—

Because the truth was far more dangerous.

—

He didn’t want to let her go.

—

Not now.

Not ever.

—

The thought alone—

Of her no longer being beside him...

No longer being his Empress...

No longer returning to the palace...

—

It made something inside him feel hollow.

—

The Emperor took another step forward.

"Come back with me."

—

The Empress looked at him quietly.

—

"The palace is safer."

"There are guards."

"Protection."

"Control."

—

Fen Yu rolled her eyes.

"Control is correct."

—

The Emperor continued calmly,

"Once the kingdom becomes stable again..."

"...we can discuss other matters."

—

Another half-truth.

Another delay.

—

Because inside his mind—

A completely different thought existed.

—

There will never be a divorce.

—

Not after realizing what she meant to him.

Not after almost losing her.

Not after watching her lifeless body on that bed while he begged silently for her to wake up.

—

Never.

—

The Empress remained silent for a long moment.

Thinking.

Watching him carefully.

—

Then finally—

"...Fine."

—

The Emperor’s eyes flickered slightly.

"...You agree?"

—

She nodded slowly.

"For now."

"If the situation outside is truly dangerous..."

"...then returning is reasonable."

—

The Emperor felt an unfamiliar sense of relief spread through him.

A tension he had carried for days eased quietly.

—

And despite himself—

A small smile appeared.

Subtle.

But real.

—

The Empress noticed.

And strangely—

Her heartbeat skipped slightly.

—

"...Then we leave tomorrow," he said calmly.

—

She nodded.

"Alright."

—

The conversation should have ended there.

But neither moved immediately.

—

The evening light faded slowly around them.

The shrine bells rang softly in the distance.

—

Then—

The Emperor spoke again.

Quietly.

"...Did you sleep well here?"

—

The Empress blinked slightly at the unexpected question.

"...Yes."

—

"Did anyone trouble you?"

—

"No."

—

Another pause.

Then—

"...Did you miss the palace?"

—

This time—

She laughed softly.

"No."

—

The Emperor sighed.

"...Fair."

—

Fen Yu burst into silent laughter.

Wei Rong smirked.

Even Li Shen looked amused.

—

The Empress looked at him.

"...Did you miss the peace without me there?"

—

The Emperor answered immediately.

"No."

—

Too quickly.

Too honestly.

—

The Empress froze slightly.

And so did he.

—

Silence.

—

The cold wind suddenly felt warmer somehow.

—

The Emperor looked away first.

"...Rest early."

—

Then he turned.

Preparing to leave.

—

But before he stepped away completely—

He paused.

Without looking back, he said quietly:

"...I’m glad you’re safe."

—

Then—

He walked away.

—

The Empress remained seated beneath the pavilion.

Watching his figure disappear into the snowy path.

—

Her heart felt strangely unsettled.

—

Behind her—

Fen Yu floated closer dramatically.

"He’s completely in love."

—

Wei Rong nodded.

"Hopelessly."

—

Li Shen sighed softly.

"And he still thinks no one notices."

—

The Empress looked down at her tea quietly.

Her cheeks slightly warm from the cold.

Or perhaps—

Not from the cold at all.

—

And somewhere far away—

The Emperor walked through the shrine paths with calm steps.

But inside his thoughts—

Only one thing echoed clearly.

—

Divorce?

—

Impossible.

—

Even if the entire kingdom collapsed—

He would never let her go.

The afternoon sun hung softly over the palace roofs as the Empress finally returned from the shrine.

A faint scent of incense still clung to her robes.

Her steps were slower than usual.

Not because she was weak—

But because the punishment ordered by the Dowager Empress had exhausted her.

For three days she had copied scriptures, prayed at the shrine, and remained kneeling for long hours in silence.

Even the palace maids watching from afar had whispered that such punishment was too harsh.

Yet—

The Empress never complained.

Now, as she walked through the palace corridors toward her courtyard, the wind gently lifted the edge of her pale robe.

The palace seemed quieter today.

Almost peaceful.

Then—

The moment she reached the entrance of her courtyard—

A cheerful voice suddenly echoed.

"Imperial Sister!"

The Empress blinked.

Before she could react, Princess Zhi came running toward her with a bright smile on her face.

Unlike her usual careful and reserved behavior in public, the young princess looked genuinely happy.

"You’re finally back!"

The Empress laughed softly.

"Why are you running?"

Princess Zhi stopped in front of her, slightly breathless.

"I was waiting for you!"

The maids behind them smiled quietly.

Ever since the Princess became close to the Empress, the once lonely princess had become much brighter.

The Empress looked at her warmly.

"You waited here the whole time?"

Princess Zhi nodded immediately.

"Yes!"

Then she frowned slightly after noticing the tiredness in the Empress’s face.

"You look exhausted."

The Empress smiled faintly.

"The shrine is not exactly comfortable."

Princess Zhi’s expression darkened slightly.

"She punished you too much."

The Empress gently shook her head.

"It’s over now."

Princess Zhi looked unconvinced but did not continue the topic.

Instead she quickly grabbed the Empress’s hand.

"Come inside!"

"I prepared lunch!"

The Empress blinked in surprise.

"You prepared lunch?"

Princess Zhi lifted her chin proudly.

"I supervised."

The Empress immediately understood.

"...So the kitchen prepared it."

Princess Zhi coughed awkwardly.

"That’s not important."

The Empress laughed softly.

The atmosphere around them instantly became lighter.

Inside the courtyard hall, a table had already been prepared near the open window.

Warm dishes filled the table.

Soup.

Steamed fish.

Sweet pastries.

Fresh tea.

The scent alone made the Empress feel more relaxed.

Princess Zhi quickly helped her sit down.

"Eat first."

"You probably barely ate at the shrine."

The Empress looked at her with amusement.

"You sound like an old grandmother."

Princess Zhi gasped dramatically.

"I’m caring!"

"Yes, yes."

The Empress finally picked up her chopsticks.

The first bite of warm food made her shoulders relax slightly.

Princess Zhi watched her carefully.

Then smiled in satisfaction.

"See?"

"Food solves everything."

The Empress laughed quietly.

"That sounds exactly like Lian Hua."

Princess Zhi tilted her head.

"Your sister?"

"Yes."

"She also believes eating fixes every problem."

Princess Zhi nodded seriously.

"She’s smart."

The Empress nearly laughed again.

The two of them slowly continued eating together.

Unlike palace banquets filled with rules and formality—

This lunch felt simple.

Comfortable.

Princess Zhi spoke excitedly about small palace gossip, funny servant mistakes, and how one maid accidentally spilled tea on a minister’s robe and almost fainted from fear.

The Empress listened quietly, occasionally laughing softly.

For the first time in days—

Her mind finally relaxed.

At one point Princess Zhi suddenly became quiet.

The Empress noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

Princess Zhi lowered her gaze slightly.

"When you were at the shrine..."

"I was lonely."

The words were soft.

Honest.

The Empress looked at her for a moment before gently placing food into her bowl.

"I’m back now."

Princess Zhi looked up.

"...Really?"

The Empress smiled.

"Yes."

The princess’s eyes brightened instantly.

Then she whispered quietly,

"You’re the first person in this palace who treats me kindly without wanting anything."

The Empress’s expression softened.

Princess Zhi had grown up surrounded by palace politics, coldness, and hidden intentions.

Even servants treated royal family members carefully out of fear.

But with the Empress—

Things felt different.

Warm.

Safe.

The Empress reached out and gently touched the princess’s head.

"You’re a good child."

Princess Zhi immediately protested.

"I’m not a child anymore!"

The Empress raised an eyebrow.

"You were running through the courtyard earlier."

Princess Zhi froze.

"...That was temporary childishness."

The Empress burst into soft laughter.

Princess Zhi finally laughed too.

Outside the window, the wind moved gently through the courtyard trees.

Inside—

The sound of their laughter filled the once quiet space.

And for a brief moment—

The palace no longer felt cold.