[Pure Historical Setting + Empress Dowager + Imperial Uncle + Regent + Everyone’s Favorite + Obsessive Love]
After the late emperor died of illness, the new emperor ascended the throne as a child, with the regent overseeing the government. As a consort, Li Zhiyao had never even seen the emperor. Thanks to ancestors who must have been smoking in their graves, she became the biggest winner in the imperial harem.
But her birth family wielded too much power, and before Li Zhiyao had even settled into her position as empress dowager, she had to figure out how to protect the entire Li clan from the decisive regent. To dispel any suspicion that she intended to rule from behind the curtain, Li Zhiyao thought it over and decided that pretending to be sick and doing nothing was the safest way to keep out of trouble.
“Empress Dowager, the regent wants you to oversee the emperor’s consort-selection ceremony. Many people hope to meet you and put in a good word for their daughters.”
“I’ve caught a chill and shouldn’t be seen. Let the regent decide everything.”
The next day, the regent called in sick too, and the selection was postponed again and again. The ministers were frantic, but in the end, nothing came of it.
“Empress Dowager, there’s been a severe drought in the northwest. The regent hopes you’ll call on the harem to cut expenses and help the generals fighting the drought on the front lines.”
“I don’t know the first thing about money, and I’ve had a terrible headache lately. I can’t attend to anything else. Let the regent decide everything.”
The next day, the drought relief general cleaned out the regent’s treasury. Everyone in the residence was left with nothing but thin porridge and vegetables to eat each day. The regent was so furious he took to his bed for several days, and the ministers, afraid of being implicated, had no choice but to cut their expenses too.
“Empress Dowager, the regent…”
“Tell him to get lost. I’m frail and have no interest in state affairs or family matters!”
