Mu Qingyang placed first in all three imperial examinations, but instead of entering the Hanlin Academy, she became a county magistrate. She vowed to be a pillar of Great Zhou, whether in or out of office, and to put down roots in a poor county. Three years would be more than enough.
When she was promoted and summoned back to the capital, the people lined the streets to see her off through the drizzling rain. Jiang Jiming had never seen anything like it. He had come to deliver an imperial edict, but for the first time, he wondered whether a woman like her would remain upright and just once she entered court.
Mu Qingyang refused the crown prince's offer to join his faction and would not seek the favor of the Princess Royal's household. A principled official, she carved out a place for herself among the highest ranks of the court. But to everyone's astonishment, the decisive Prince of Dong'an had become Lord Mu's constant shadow.
"Why does the Prince of Dong'an always follow me?"
"His Majesty told me to learn from Lord Mu."
"And what does that have to do with sharing a bed?"
The person clutching the covers silently inched back, then put on a flattering smile. "That works too."
Mu Qingyang rose to great power as a woman, yet even the current emperor was biased against her. Forced to swear she would never marry and would devote her life to the people, she became a source of joy to some and worry to others.
"What are we going to do?"
Three seconds later: "Then I'll just have to marry Zhenzhen!"
Watching their prince so readily go along with things, Shuangyi said nothing and simply kept her distance.
*** A strategist who devotes herself to her career × a decisive, devoted puppy
A powerbroker at court and the one in control in love, Mu Qingyang will never bow her head in this life. She bows only for the people, and stands tall to lift women up.
Jiang Jiming commands armies of thousands, yet is perfectly happy to take orders from her. He reins in his urge to conquer, daring only to bow and pledge his allegiance.
Theme: Putting women first, serving the people with justice, and women helping women
