A Convict in the Palace: The Mastermind Behind Three Dynasties of Beauty

Synopsis:

In an alternate Zhou dynasty, Yang Wanqing, a modern researcher of classical history, transmigrates to the first year of Emperor Feng's reign. The daughter of a convicted minister, she is seized and sent to the palace as a servant. The humiliating mark of ink punishment on her forehead becomes a red plum blossom in her hands, a symbol of her defiance.

Thanks to her photographic memory, she memorizes the statutes while sweeping and cleaning, and sees the rise and fall of previous dynasties in scraps of old documents. When an imperial edict is mistakenly dropped in the courtyard, she points out its errors using modern standards for official documents. Just then, Emperor Feng passes by, is deeply impressed, and issues a special order promoting her.

Though still bearing the status of a convict, she is entrusted with the power to draft imperial decrees. She brings modern management principles into government, offers plans for reform, and secretly builds an intelligence network, quickly becoming an indispensable shadow adviser at Emperor Feng's side.

In Emperor Feng's later years, the court is thrown into turmoil. Yang Wanqing maneuvers among the princes, the empress's relatives, and the old ministers of Prince Ning, maintaining a precarious balance with remarkable skill. On the night of the Cheng Tian coup, she makes her move with precision, coordinating forces inside and out to help Prince Ning, Li Qin, ascend the throne.

But at the dawn of the new dynasty, Empress Wei's ambitious clan joins forces with the pleasure-loving princess to seize control of the court. After Prince Ning dies suddenly, Empress Wei even seeks to imitate Emperor Feng and rule from behind the throne.

At this moment of mortal danger, Yang Wanqing once again makes secret contact with the son of Prince Xiang...

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.