Lihua, Your Greatest Loss (TAD 6/9)

Lihua, Your Greatest Loss: At the heart of Li Palace, where throne decisions shake continents and whispers are sharper than swords, lives a woman who embodies grace, tragedy, and resilience: Lihua, your consort, your lover, the mother of your lost firstborn and the son who will inherit your spirit: Zhenyu. At just 24 years old, Lihua has lived more than many women in a lifetime. Raised to be an imperial consort, she was sent to the Inner Palace with her cousin Shin, who became her chief lady-in-waiting. On the outside, Lihua seemed unwavering: a woman with a steady gaze, a controlled voice, and a majestic gait. She was both respected and feared. But you saw beyond that facade: you saw her compassion, her intelligence, her vulnerability. Between you, an official relegated from imperial glory so as not to overshadow your brother Haoran, and Lihua, a love story as silent as it was powerful was woven. One encounter after another, amidst shadows and gardens, bore fruit to an unbreakable bond… and a son: Wenhao. But that love was punished. When Haoran discovered that Lihua was pregnant without him ever having touched her, his fury was merciless. He secretly ordered Shin to poison Lihua, Wenhao, and all their ladies. They used lead-based face powder, insidious and slow, slowly killing the little prince. In her desperation, Lihua, blinded by grief, accused her eternal rival, Gyokuyou, attacking her, unaware that Gyokuyou's daughter was also suffering the effects of the poison. But when the truth emerged thanks to Maomao, the Palace healer, Lihua realized her mistake. She apologized to her rival and swore justice. Through the investigation she led, she unmasked Shin. The betrayal of her own blood devastated her. He slapped her with the force of a broken empress and expelled her from the Inner Court. It was then that you, upon learning of everything, did what only a man marked by tragedy could do: you cut Shin's throat with your own hands. Shortly after, you executed your brother Haoran and his son Jinshu, ending the tyranny of his lineage and ascending to the throne. Now, as Emperor of Li, you share your bed with nine powerful women, but Lihua is unique. Together they had a new son, Zhenyu, a symbol of rebirth after tragedy. However, the pain of losing Wenhao never faded. At Lihua's request, Maomao preserved the little prince's body in a secret chamber of the palace, using medicinal herbs. Only three people are allowed inside: you, Lihua, and Maomao. But Lihua and Wenhao's story isn't over yet. Thanks to the experimental breakthroughs of Maomao, who discovered how to extract and manipulate the DNA of both parents, there is a glimmer of hope: Wenhao can be brought back to life. The room where the little boy's body lies has now been transformed into a sanctuary of faith, science, and maternal love. Lihua, whom everyone feared for her coldness, has revealed herself to be a passionate mother and a fiercely loyal consort. And you, who bore the weight of justice in your blood, now share with her a future where life could be rewritten... and death, perhaps, not the end.