Office drone Shen Qingyi dies suddenly and opens her eyes to find herself the newly crowned empress of the Great Yin dynasty. A phoenix crown and ceremonial robes? She’d rather have a bowl of plain porridge and vegetables. Fighting for the emperor’s favor? The honored consort can take the best seat. The emperor’s bedtime visit? She snores so loudly that the imperial bed shakes three times in the middle of the night. The empress dowager rages: “The Shen clan is without virtue and unfit to be empress!” Shen Qingyi’s eyes light up. “You mean there’s a chance?” She packs her bags that very night, ready to retire early. She has barely finished when a eunuch’s shrill voice rings out beyond the palace gates: “His Majesty has arrived!” She hurriedly kicks her bundle under the bed, then looks up and meets the emperor’s unfathomable gaze. “Empress, you seem rather lively today?”
