Radiant Golden Bough

[Powerful, seductive empress x jealous puppy-like chief minister + both leads are romantically inexperienced + female ensemble with couples + sweet romance with a touch of angst]

In short: A group of optimistic young people rebel against the orthodox royal family’s tyranny, refuse to tear one another down, accept their imperfect selves, ignore malicious judgments, and break free from the trap of constantly trying to prove themselves!

She is the only empress in the history of the Haiyue Kingdom.

To avenge the Grand Tutor who taught her when she was young, she chooses to make enemies of the century-old noble clans.

One day, a top-scoring candidate in a red official robe catches her in the act of murder inside her bedchamber.

From then on, the two reach an understanding. They work in tandem at court, punish corrupt noble clans, and implement new policies.

But beneath the outward appearance of peace and prosperity, an unseen hand suddenly closes around her lifeline.

When the truth finally comes to light, the sins of the past come back like a boomerang, striking her right where it hurts.

Faced with a mismatch between her origins and her bloodline, and forced to weigh love against ambition, what will they choose?

The seeds of change have already been sown. They need only wait for future generations to awaken and rewrite history...