Lighthearted palace intrigue + a healing confidante + faking her death to escape + finding true love
After the former emperor dies suddenly, Xie Yunzhao helps her cousin stabilize the realm and ascends to the throne as empress. Once imperial power is secure, she has no interest in acting the part of empress. Instead, she spends all day plotting to fake her death and escape the palace.
At first: "Cousin, the palace is so boring. Come fight me." So the palace hears that the emperor finally visited Fengyi Palace, only to leave in a rage after smashing a cup. The next day, countless gifts are sent to Fengyi Palace. Gu Qianyuan: "Who said I sent those? She went and hauled them over herself!"
Later: After three years of mourning, the selection of consorts begins. The empress finds fault with people every day, cementing her reputation for jealousy, all in the hope of being confined to her quarters so she can sneak away and travel.
Later still: She realizes Gu Qianyuan has fallen for Shen Qingxin and visits her every day. What wonderful news! From then on, the empress says every day that she doesn't want to live anymore.
Later still: "Cousin, your favorite consort is a bit dim and doesn't even know how to compete for your favor. I've decided not to leave. If I do, your consort will be eaten alive...!" (Shen Qingxin: "Your Majesty, the empress is so adorable. You can't keep confining her to her quarters every day.") (Gu Qianyuan: "What's going on with these two? Am I the only one who's not related to them? Maybe I should just let her 'die'...")
At last: The empress dies three days after her twentieth birthday. Three years later, the heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan returns with a young lady whose features are exactly like those of the late empress, except for a tiny red plum blossom beneath her left eyebrow.
