(Empress, political intrigue, harem, strong female lead)
A male version of Empresses in the Palace + a female version of The Yongzheng Dynasty
At the age of ten, Gu Zhaoning became the most exalted puppet on the imperial throne.
Before her stood three powerful regents: the smiling yet treacherous Grand Tutor Yu Ruhui, who saw her as an ignorant child; the Grand Marshal Pei Chong, who commanded his own army and treated her like a plaything in his palm; and Chancellor Xiao Jinnian, who controlled the court and regarded her as a puppet on strings.
Behind her sat the Grand Empress Dowager, ruling from behind the curtain and weaving a net of family affection and rules to keep her firmly trapped within the palace.
Everyone believed that the young empress would be a repeat of her mother Gu Mingzhu’s failure, destined to be devoured by them.
They had no idea that the blood of the late emperor, a lone wolf, ran through Gu Zhaoning’s veins. From her mother’s blood-soaked life, she learned one truth: power never betrays those who hold on to it.
The Grand Tutor wants to remain the “Emperor’s Teacher” forever? She’ll destroy his good name first and make the whole world despise him.
The Grand Marshal uses his military might to run rampant? She’ll make every soldier under his command turn against him.
The Chancellor wants to be king in all but name? She’ll overturn his game with her own hands and make him lose everything!
