The Deposed Empress Stirs the World, and the Prince Willingly Becomes Her Pawn

Su Jin, a top political figure of the twenty-second century, wakes to find herself the disgraced empress, banished to the Cold Palace. The daughter of a condemned official and loathed by the ruler, her fate is sealed by a cup of poisoned wine.

She drinks it calmly, then smiles at Pei Yan, the regent who has come to oversee her execution. “Your Highness, you want a share of this realm too, don't you?”

Pei Yan wields power over the court and is ruthless, the dynasty's true uncrowned king. He watches coldly, curious to see how she will struggle.

But Su Jin rises from the Cold Palace and turns the tides of power. The emperor wants to use her for a political marriage? She turns around and persuades the enemy prince to become her lover.

The favored consort frames her for adultery? She counters with secret reports from the border, wiping out the entire favored consort's maternal clan.

When the foolish emperor tries to amuse his favorite consort by boiling his own son alive, she holds the crown prince and looks coldly at the assembled court officials. “Today, whoever dares lay a finger on my child will see their entire family fail to live until tomorrow!”

She manipulates hearts and plays with power, turning the rotting dynasty into her chessboard, one step at a time.

But when she holds all the power, the regent who has always watched from the sidelines draws her into his arms, his voice hoarse. “You've flirted with everyone under heaven. Isn't it time you gave me a title?”

Su Jin lightly touches his Adam's apple and smiles radiantly. “Your Highness, have you really thought through what it means to become my chess piece?”