Jade Walls and Imperial Steps

[Primarily palace intrigue + light political scheming + no fixed heroine + fast-paced]

[Reading order: Minxing Rugu - The Faint Light of Yun and Xi - Jade Walls and Palace Steps]

After the turmoil of the three reigns of Emperor Min, Emperor Yongxi, and Emperor Guangxi, the Great Yu Dynasty entered the era of an empress. She was Emperor Guangxi's only legitimate eldest daughter. Having weathered the storms of a troubled age, she created a rare era of peace and prosperity. But years of exhausting herself and pouring her heart and soul into governing left her with a chronic illness. She abdicated in favor of her only son, who became Emperor Zhaotong. Influenced by his mother, Emperor Zhaotong remained diligent in governing and devoted to his people. But the crown prince he appointed was debauched and cruel. Since he was the son of his first wife, Emperor Zhaotong delayed deposing him. The crown prince, however, was ambitious and tried to seize the throne by force. The empress returned in time to save the day, preventing the foundations of the dynasty from being shaken. After much agonizing, Emperor Zhaotong finally deposed the crown prince and appointed Prince Jing as his heir. But the crown prince's attempted coup had so enraged Emperor Zhaotong that he took to his bed and never recovered.

The story begins here...

[The story quietly fills in a few old plot holes, and characters from previous books will appear.]