On the third day after marrying in place of her cousin to bring good fortune, the “sickly” Prince Duan suddenly dies. Before Shen Qingci can even lift her veil, she is accused of murder and thrown into the death cell.
In her darkest hour, she awakens two things: the ability to hear everyone’s thoughts, and a cold-blooded System that calls itself “Tianqi.”
But she soon discovers that the golden finger never comes free: every time she eavesdrops on someone’s thoughts, she loses a memory; every move she calculates in a game of strategy costs her a year of life.
From death-row prisoner to regent, and from regent to empress, she uses her mind-reading ability to turn the tide, topple powerful ministers, depose princes, and pacify feudal lords. But by the time she takes the throne, she can no longer remember her mother’s face or her father’s final words. She can’t even tell whether the thoughts churning in her mind are her enemies’ schemes or her own desires.
After seven years of political machinations, she wins the realm but nearly loses herself.
Then one day, the System tells her: Every memory you lost was the price of a seal you placed on them yourself in your previous life.
Now she must choose: remain an all-knowing, utterly alone ruler, or give up mind-reading and learn how to be a “person” all over again.
When everyone at court is waiting to see her make a fool of herself, she wins the realm back in the most unsophisticated way.
Because at last she understands: Seeing through people is no great skill. Getting them to willingly tell you the truth is.
