Zhaoning Jingming

Gu Zhaoning had a miserable life in her previous one.

The legitimate daughter of the Duke Who Guards the Nation's household, she was raised as the apple of her father's and brothers' eyes. Believing in a love that would last a lifetime, she did everything she could to help her childhood sweetheart, Xuan Yuan Chen, ascend the throne.

In return, she was left to languish in the Cold Palace, and her family was destroyed.

He had once promised, “You are the only one for me in this life,” but turned around and chose concubines in a selection. When she begged him to save her father and brothers, he imprisoned her in Kunning Palace.

Later, she learned that all his coldness had been an act. In his game of chess, she had become the most painful pawn to sacrifice.

Her hopes extinguished, she set the palace ablaze.

When she opened her eyes again, she had been reborn three months after her coronation as empress.

The selection had not yet begun, her father and brothers were still alive, and there was still time to change everything.

This time, Gu Zhaoning would no longer be a fool. She would stop fighting for sincere love and promises. Instead, she would protect her father and brothers, secure her family's standing, bear an heir, and give birth to a legitimate son so she could become empress dowager.

Xuan Yuan Chen's tenderness? She didn't want it. The selection? He could take as many concubines as he liked.

But he canceled the selection, dismissed his entire harem, handed military power to the Gu family, and stood watch outside her palace every night.

Then, after he was gravely wounded in an assassination attempt, he awoke and held her with red-rimmed eyes. “Zhaoning, I remember everything.”

Only then did she learn that the emperor in this life had been reborn too.

“I was wrong in my past life. I offer you my empire as a bride price. All I ask is you.”

Gu Zhaoning sneered. “I don't want an emperor's sincerity.”

But he insisted on giving it to her, no matter the cost.

Both leads reborn | Obsessive emperor chases his wife too late | Heroine forsakes love and pursues her ambitions | Reconciliation after heartbreak, happy ending