Becoming Empress

Yun Ningqiu was born into a powerful family. She and the Crown Prince grew up together, and they were in love.

She thought she would marry him, but an imperial edict summoned her to the palace, where she became Consort Ning to Emperor Jing.

At first, Emperor Jing treated her tenderly, coming up with ways to make her happy and showering her with favor. He even made her Noble Consort, to everyone’s envy.

But she soon discovered that his possessiveness was terrifying. He wouldn’t let her interact with anyone else and allowed her to stay only by his side, like a little beast he kept as a pet.

Later, his moods became unpredictable. Just a few words exchanged with the Crown Prince were enough to anger him. Yun Ningqiu was confined for a month, and the Crown Prince was beaten thirty times with a rod.

On the day she learned she was pregnant, Yun Ningqiu decided that she had to do something for the sake of her and her child’s future.

In the twenty-sixth year of Jiayuan, Emperor Jing died suddenly of a serious illness. At just twenty-three, Yun Ningqiu became the Empress Dowager, the most powerful woman in all of Great Liang.

In the thirtieth year of Jiayuan, the seven-year-old young emperor ascended the throne, and Empress Dowager Yun ruled from behind the curtain.

* The female lead has no romantic relationship with a woman. She has another love interest while serving as Empress Dowager, but it doesn’t work out. The Crown Prince is ultimately the male lead.

* The female lead begins as Consort Ning, is later made Noble Consort, becomes Empress after giving birth, and eventually becomes Empress Dowager.

* The Crown Prince was emperor for several years, a part omitted from the blurb. Later, he fakes his death and returns to the female lead under a new identity. They only officially get together after ending their family relationship.

* Romance-focused, with little political intrigue.

Theme: Know when to cut your losses, and love yourself.