Also known as The Two Beauties
[Free to read in full, completed, please leave a five-star review] [The heroine is not perfect]
A self-made warlord emperor × an ambitious fake noblewoman
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Jia Shu came from a poor background. Because she was a commoner, people often looked down on her, despite her beautiful appearance.
She had understood long ago that working hard was no match for being born into a good family.
In the final years of the dynasty, wars broke out everywhere. Jia Shu became separated from her family and, by a twist of fate, ended up in the Zheng family of Xingyang, one of the most powerful families in the realm.
By coincidence, the Zheng family's eldest daughter had the same single-character given name: Shu.
From then on, Jia Shu became the maid of the Zheng family's eldest daughter. Zheng Shu had been doted on by her father and brothers, and she was a pampered noblewoman who spoke without a care for anyone's feelings. Proud of her identity as a Zheng daughter, she reveled in her sense of superiority.
The more harshly Zheng Shu spoke, the more Jia Shu endured it. Whatever Zheng Shu knew, Jia Shu learned too.
Zheng Shu thought Jia Shu was merely repeating her words, never realizing that Jia Shu had been planning to take her place from the very beginning...
It wasn't until an accident left Zheng Shu missing after falling into the water that Jia Shu finally raised her head.
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Zhang Yan, founding emperor of Great Qi, was hailed by the world as a peerless warlord. Born among the common people, he repeatedly failed the imperial examinations and suffered the contempt of the aristocratic clans. He swore to bathe Chang'an in blood and avenge the humiliation he had endured.
The day he stormed into Chang'an, he took the great clans' genealogies and killed them one by one. The imperial treasury was reduced to ashes, and the bones of officials littered the ground.
When he pointed his blade at the Zheng family, he thought of an even more humiliating way to punish them. Hearing that the Zheng family's eldest daughter was beautiful, he forced the family to offer her to him.
The head of the Zheng family wept as he secretly switched one daughter for another, sending "Zheng Shu" to marry Zhang Yan.
At first, Zhang Yan thought the Zheng daughter was so beautiful she might bring ruin to men, and should be eliminated.
Later, he decided she was composed and proper, a fine helpmeet, and should be kept.
In the end, after seeing how deftly she manipulated the situation... he made her empress.
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Everyone said the empress was a master of social finesse, blessed with a brilliant mind and great prestige. Some even said outright that she meant to follow in the footsteps of "Empresses Lu and Wu."
That was the first time Zhang Yan had felt murderous toward his virtuous and capable empress...
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Only when she reached the limits of power did Jia Shu understand her teacher's words: "Do not let the human destroy the Heavenly; do not let the deliberate destroy the fated; do not sacrifice your life for a name."
From Zhuangzi, Outer Chapters: Autumn Floods
1. The setting is inspired by the late Tang, with other details invented.
2026.1.22
Theme: Are kings and nobles born to rule?
Thank you to my wife for releasing the remaining chapters so that I can read this story heartily. 🤩 I am amazed by my wife's writing style, and I am amazed by Jia Shu and Zhang Yan's unexpected change of fate. I really like this story, it really gives me spiritual strength! Jia Shu and Zhang Yan, they really lived up to themselves in their respective life situations. The princes, generals and ministers would rather have a kind of nature and like their rough and tenacious weed-like vitality. Jia Shu would love the soldiers and send clothes and umbrellas to the mother and daughter in the rain. Xiao Shu's kindness has always been there, and she has grown into a person who can protect others from the wind and rain. Although the power struggle is cruel, after Jia Shu and Zhang Yan achieved class crossing, they did not live like the aristocratic superiors they hated. This is the most valuable thing about them. Even if Zhang Yan can't tolerate Jia Shu in his heart, he will still choose to let Jia Shu act as the agent of the government. He recognizes Jia Shu's talent and knows that Jia Shu will help him eradicate the feudal society and govern the country well. This is probably the only time in this life that this couple is of the same mind. There is no love, but maybe at some moments they were lucky that the other person was someone they could travel with. Jia Shu and Zhang Yan are both young and brave idealists. I always admire brave idealists more. It is precisely because of the existence and persistence of these people that they are pushing the world to get better little by little. At the end, when I saw Jia Shu returning to her childhood home and meeting and talking to her childhood self, I couldn't help crying and was so impressed by the ending. I can't help but think of a saying: Maybe, in some difficult moments in life, your future self is pushing you. Use the effect as the cause, guide your actions with your heart, and never forget it, and there will be an echo. Mrs. Crazy Confession, I am really touched that I can read this story 😭 This story really gives me strength! Let me be more determined on the path I am walking on now! I wish my wife and us both can live the life we want to be. It is really a happy thing to make friends through literature [continued]
OMG, Concubine Yuan will soon become the emperor and end this bullshit life soon [touching head]
""I am willing to be loyal to Duke Zhen forever..." This is a big bug for the author~ Is it because "Duo" shows mercy?
It is a wonderful and good story. The vitality of the protagonist gives me the courage to pursue my great ideals. Thank you to the author!
I really want to know how Bai's daughter Anu is doing. Will she grow up safely?
""Queen, that day you committed poison to kill Yan..." This is a big bug for the author~ It won't happen quickly. My hands are like this 😣
I'm very curious how Zhang Yan knew that the heroine was not Zhen Shu. Could it be that he had met the heroine before [Glasses]
Cool! Sooner or later, Zhen Shan will have to pay back the consequences of pampering his daughter [rolling eyes] This old man Zhang Yan is happy again. If you publicize the fact that the heroine has a serious illness, I can't steal your throne [rolling eyes]
"Zhen Shu treats Li Yuan as expected..." This is a big bug for the author~ As expected
"Long live Songhu, the people's hearts are united,..." This is a big bug for the author~ high