I Run a Business in the Cold Palace, and the Emperor Suspects Me of Rebellion

After being made a discarded consort and banished to the Cold Palace, Shen Lingyi never planned to compete for the emperor's favor, much less claw her way back to power.

She only wants to eat her fill, save enough silver, and leave the imperial palace as soon as she can.

But an abandoned passage behind the Cold Palace leads her to discover the palace's real business: palace maids need things, eunuchs need connections, and consorts want fresh goods from outside the palace, but no one can bring these needs together.

So errands, group orders, personal shopping, consignment sales... An inconspicuous little business gradually grows into a trading network spanning the entire imperial harem.

Shen Lingyi thinks all she's doing is making money.

That is, until the emperor reads a secret report and sees that she has ledgers, staff, permanent bases, and a whole group of people willing to follow her orders.

The emperor falls silent for a long while.

“Are you sure she's just doing business?”

Or... is she preparing to rebel?