A year later, the emperor of the Chen Nation died of illness. The little crown prince, who was only a year old, ascended the throne. As the empress, Shen Luqing successfully advanced to the become the empress dowager.
Because the new emperor was too young to govern himself, Shen Luqing listened to politics as the empress dowager.
During the first morning court assembly, the young new emperor was wearing a dragon robe and sitting on a dragon chair that was too wide for him. He did not know anything yet and had to move from time to time. The palace servants standing at the side had no choice but to lower their voices to coax him, hoping that he would sit obediently and not move.
Behind the dragon throne hung a gauze curtain. Behind the gauze curtain was the empress dowager's seat.
Shen Luqing sat upright in a wide chair. Her gaze pierced through the thin gauze curtain and watched as the civil and military officials knelt down and bowed.
