Dancing Phoenix over the Great Ming

Empress Dowager Li lived through five reigns: Jiajing, Longqing, Wanli, Taichang, and Tianqi.

She rose from a wealthy merchant's daughter to a concubine in the prince's household, then to imperial consort, empress dowager, and finally the de facto ruler.

She loved and hated, wielded power over the realm, and protected those closest to her.

Told from a woman's perspective, this novel unveils the most authentic side of the late Ming dynasty and systematically explains why the Great Ming could not be saved. (The timeline is slightly inaccurate.)