From Death-Row Bride to Empress

She is the daughter of a disgraced minister, imprisoned on death row and shoved into a bridal sedan to marry a paralyzed general in a wedding meant to bring him good fortune.

Everyone says she’s a pawn who won’t survive three months.

She saves the army from a plague with a silver needle and devises a strategy to defeat the enemy with a military treatise.

The general says, “You’re more capable than I thought.”

The court says, “If this woman isn’t eliminated, she’ll become a grave threat.”

Later, she storms the capital, executes corrupt officials, and ascends the throne as the people bow before her.

Her reign is named Zhaohua, and history remembers her as the Empress Zhaohua.

As for him, he willingly gives up his military power to become her one and only imperial consort.

They sent me to the general’s residence to bring him good fortune, saying I was just a pawn.

Only later did I understand: the game was too small. I wanted the whole world, and the man who would willingly leave the game behind for me.