In the treacherous inner palace, an emperor’s favor is the most useless thing, while power in your own hands is what keeps you alive.
Shen Weilu entered the palace at the very bottom of the harem. She had no one to rely on, no beauty, no influence, and was at everyone’s mercy.
She never pinned her hopes on winning the emperor’s favor, never feigned friendship with anyone, and never let sentiment make her hesitate.
A dispute over allowances could shatter all pretenses. A struggle over an unborn child could stake a life. Even the closest confidants might betray her, while the fight for higher rank was a battle to the death.
Crushing defeats were commonplace; even a brief respite was a luxury. Every promotion came at a terrible cost, and every foothold was won by escaping a certain death.
From Palace Attendant to First-Class Female Attendant, Noble Lady, Concubine, Consort, Noble Consort, and finally Empress Dowager, she advanced one careful step at a time, each step fraught with danger and bloodshed.
She endured every cold stare, saw through every heart, let go of every attachment, and fought every mortal enemy.
Not for love, not for glory, but to control her own fate in the chaotic inner palace and claim the throne as empress, crowned at last with the phoenix coronet.
