The Data Queen’s Interuniversal Notes: The Rise of Consort Jing

A modern-day finance director wakes up as Jing Fei, the least noticeable consort in the Great Sheng Dynasty.

The original owner has nothing but the status of a seventh-rank civil official's daughter. After her father impeached a powerful minister, she was banished to the Cold Palace. Her monthly stipend is cut by thirty percent, and she even has to buy her rouge and powder on credit.

But when she pulls a miniature abacus from her sleeve, everything begins to change.

She uses Excel-style thinking to create the "Imperial Harem Income and Expenses Ledger," applies DuPont analysis to expose a corrupt palace matron, and even presents the emperor with a "Consorts' Performance Trend Chart." "Your Majesty, look at this curve. Consort Shu spends ten times as much on rouge each month as I do, yet she can't even submit a decent report on managing palace affairs."

From the Cold Palace to the empress's throne, her rise through the ranks is a textbook example of "data-driven palace intrigue":