In her previous life, she was the “jealous and arrogant” deposed empress recorded in the history books. Her gilded palace became a cage, and her bones were buried in Changmen Palace.
Her lonely spirit was imprisoned within the palace walls for a thousand years, watching dynasties rise and fall and women’s fortunes shift. At last, she understood: Empress Lu wielded power, Dou Yifang shaped the empire, while she, Chen Ajiao, had top-tier bloodlines yet let love and empty fame mislead her, squandering a winning hand beyond all measure! Her boundless regret consumed her lingering soul.
When she opened her eyes again, she had been reborn as a newborn in the arms of Grand Princess Guantao!
Inside her tiny body was a soul tempered by a thousand years of hatred. Memories of her past life, knowledge of the future, Empress Dowager Dou’s political cunning, and Empress Lu’s ruthless resolve all churned in her mind. But she could not speak, and her body was as helpless as a fledgling!
In this life, she would not be a caged songbird!
When the toddler Liu Zhi, later Liu Che, once again promised to “build a golden house to keep you in,” she stretched out a chubby finger and tapped his forehead:
“Granted.”
Her childish voice rang out like a strike on metal, stunning everyone in the hall!
The Discourses on Salt and Iron would be her wedding gift. Wei Zifu would be a piece she placed on the board herself! The witchcraft scandal? She would turn the tables and frame her enemies! The Xiongnu besieged the city? Her cavalry would charge into battle!
From the inner chambers to the empress’s quarters, from the harem to the imperial court, she advanced step by step, turning the tide at every turn. Empress Dowager Dou was both her backing and her whetstone! She would forge the chains of her “golden house” into a blade around the emperor’s throat. She would make the phoenix throne the starting point from which she commanded the realm!
Liu Che: “Empress... you would save me, too?”
Chen Ajiao, her armor stained with blood and her spear pointed at the Chanyu: “I’m saving the Son of Heaven of the Han. Not you!”
This writing is profound and ingenious, hiding ingenuity in every detail, and truly achieves the goal of "seeing the true story in the details". Although there are occasional mistakes in titles, the shortcomings do not cover up the good points. The full text uses Gillian as the narrative eye to narrate the character and warmth of the Han Dynasty - Gillian's intelligence and clarity, Liu Che's youthful spirit, the royal family's gilded splendor, and even the ups and downs of the little people, are all vividly presented before your eyes. It is truly a rare masterpiece. (The details of this book are so poignant. Even the fate of the little characters makes me worried. I really can't help but wonder, when will the next chapter be updated?) @Ah