The Great Qing Meets the Zhenguan Couple

(This story contains original character details. You can read the author's note at the end of Chapter 1 first.)

What would happen to history if the Zhenguan-era imperial couple transmigrated as Emperor Kangxi and Empress Xiaochengren of the Qing dynasty? Would they still have closed the country off and called themselves the Celestial Empire?

Er Feng: “What? Our allies would rather make peace with me than hand me over to their own servants!”

Guanyin Bi: “Let me show you how an empress can take part in state affairs and still earn praise from the ministers at court.”

Er Feng: “Close the country off? Just watch me beat them until they close their borders!”

Guanyin Bi: “Foot binding? Chastity arches? The Three Obediences and Four Virtues? Just watch me abolish them all.”

Content warnings: 1. The harem doesn't include the historical Consorts De and Yi. I've created my own harem for this story. 2. Harem ranks follow the Tang dynasty system. 3. Harem conflicts appear only in the first few chapters; there won't be any later on. 4. The story will mention Dream of the Red Chamber later. That's all for now.

(My writing skills are limited, so I may not be able to capture even a fraction of Emperor Taizong and Empress Wende's splendor. Feel free to offer suggestions, but please don't scold me!)