Zhuang Ran was an ordinary office drone. One day, she transmigrated and became a low-ranking palace maid. She had planned to keep her head down until she could leave the palace, but then a System appeared and forced her to become empress.
Zhuang Ran: Who’s becoming empress? Me?
System: If you don’t become empress, you die!
Zhuang Ran didn’t want to die, and she didn’t want to be trampled on, either.
In this palace that devours people, everyone is scheming eight hundred moves ahead. Knowing she can’t outplay the noble daughters of powerful families, Zhuang Ran has a golden finger. Rather than thinking about how to win the emperor’s favor, she focuses on surviving to the end. She sets up ten layers of protection for herself and still doesn’t think it’s enough.
The System cries out, “That’s not how you’re supposed to use the items I gave you!”
Emperor: Does my beloved consort have some kind of illness? Why does she always think someone is trying to harm her?
Zhuang Ran: I’m fragile, helpless, and pitiful. Am I not allowed to protect myself?
Emperor: I’m a master of martial arts, equally at home in the court and the kitchen, and skilled in all eighteen forms of martial arts. I’m both learned and capable, with amazing talents. Could you spare a thought for me, the one who’s truly weak, helpless, and pitiful?
The System kept waiting for Zhuang Ran to mess up so they could all die together.
It never expected her to actually become empress.
System: Well, I guess that works. [A weathered expression.]
Content warning: The heroine values her life very highly, and she will seize every chance to stay alive. Any threat to her will be eliminated.
This is very important!!!
The male lead is not chaste. He relies on his brains early on, but later he starts relying on his wife.
