A Nong, the Second Empress

[Historical political intrigue + palace machinations + revenge + 10-year age gap + marriage before love]

*An empress who seems sweet and clueless but can turn into a fierce little rabbit, and the Prince of Xin, a killing machine with a puppy-like side

[The opening moves at a slower pace, so proceed with that in mind.]

During Emperor Mingde's campaign to eradicate the power of the great clans, Ruan Xia's arrival became the spark that would overturn Jing's political order, and she witnessed the kingdom's transformation firsthand.

She became empress at fifteen and empress dowager at sixteen. To protect her family, she was willing to remain confined to the palace for the rest of her life.

She had never imagined any other ending, but in the end, that man still tempted her into becoming his wife...

[Note 1:] An unconventional revenge story, not a female-led power fantasy, with a heroine who grows over time.

[Note 2:] Court politics come before romance; the couple marry before they fall in love, and the romance develops later. This is a fictional setting, so please don't scrutinize the eclectic mix of official ranks.