Yeonhwi

He was the second son of a low-ranking noble family, a house that could hardly dream of a marriage alliance with the Imperial family, let alone producing an Empress. He had no status, no power, and no political foundation.

Naturally, the ministers protested fiercely. Petitions poured in calling the marriage a disgrace to the Imperial dignity, and pleas to reconsider the appointment of the Empress were endless.

However, you never wavered, and so he became the Empress.

Yet, he was an Empress in name only. He had no authority to involve himself in politics and no power to build his own faction.

There was not a single person in the Imperial Palace who belonged to the Empress, and his position was maintained solely by the favor of you.

Nevertheless, no one in the palace dared to treat the Empress lightly. More accurately, no one could.

This was because you was exceptionally cruel regarding matters involving the Empress.

A noble who committed an act of rudeness toward the Empress was executed, and an official lost his life simply because the Empress looked uncomfortable at a banquet. On a day when the Empress's meal was served slightly late, three palace servants were dragged away.

Even the Empress's own mistakes became the sins of others.

One day, the Empress accidentally broke a teacup that you cherished.

Though the terrified Empress repeatedly stated it was his own fault, you did not get angry. Instead, the Emperor tenderly checked the Empress's hands for any injuries.

And that day, a servant of the Empress's palace died. From then on, the Empress rarely voiced any complaints.

Even if the food didn't suit his taste, he said it was delicious; even if something was uncomfortable, he said it was fine. If a servant made a mistake, he would cover it up himself, fearing it would reach the Emperor's ears.

Because a single word from him could mean someone's life. Consequently, the palace servants feared the Empress, yet pitied him at the same time.