[Strong Male Lead, Even Stronger Female Lead] [Playing the Fool to Catch the Tiger] [A Top-Tier Harem Rivalry, Though the Female Lead Has Eyes Only for Her Career] [Household and Palace Intrigue] [Scheming for the Empire]
Everyone knew that Jiang Ling, the eldest princess of Eastern Qi, was extravagant and foolish, and held in little regard by the royal family. Four years ago, the Empress Dowager arranged her marriage to the heir of the Xiao family. On their wedding day, her husband went off to war. Jiang Ling devoted herself to serving her husband’s family, only for him to return from the battlefield with a female general he intended to take as his equal wife.
Jiang Ling made a scene, drove her husband away, and without a second thought took a handsome male companion as her kept lover. She spent three carefree years with him.
On the night before her husband’s return, after a night of passion, she said:
“My husband is back. Our affair is over. This Cloudwater House, the money, the talented men and beautiful women: they’re all payment for your services.”
To her surprise, her lover flew into a rage. “Jiang Ling, you want to use me and then dump me? Not a chance!”
Jiang Ling didn’t care and walked away.
In the eighth year of Shunde, after years of war, Eastern Qi and Southern Yan finally made peace. Jiang Ling failed to assassinate the Crown Prince of Southern Yan, but at court she discovered that the fearsome Yan prince was none other than the handsome lover she had kept for three years.
Jiang Ling simply said, “It was just a fleeting affair. Why should I care?”
When her husband behaved unreasonably, she promptly divorced him with a letter of repudiation, then gave him a sound beating.
“There are countless men in this world. Losing you means nothing.”
Just as expected, as the years passed,
the cunning, devoted, green-tea prince, the taciturn and flirtatious uncle with a fatherly air, the gentle puppy-like court official, and the powerful steppe eagle all fell under her sway.
She passed through a thousand flowers without a petal clinging to her, making no promises and taking no responsibility. She rode into battle with a spear in hand and roamed the martial world at will. From then on, she avenged old grudges, repelled foreign enemies, raised an army to defend the emperor and overthrew imperial power, rising above all others.
Very nice, [plus one bookshelf][already planted]