Who Will Journey a Thousand Miles at the Emperor's Side?

Ambitious female overlord heroine x scheming, lovesick male lead (an unscrupulous empress and her "empress")

Fang Chujian had only lived once, yet she had experienced two entirely different lives.

Before the age of eight, she was a fierce little beggar who scrapped for a living at the City God Temple. A single snowstorm could have killed her.

After turning eight, she became a trainee groomed to help a prince seize power. With a few charming words, she amassed money and influence in her hands.

She had thought she would sail smoothly all the way to becoming a chancellor, marrying a nobleman's son, and reaching the pinnacle of her life.

Then three problems came crashing down in front of Fang Chujian:

First: Women could not hold office, so she could neither enter the court nor become chancellor.

Second: The prince was useless, and apart from her, he had no one capable by his side.

Third: The Grand Astrologer claimed she was his destined one and insisted on throwing himself at her.

After thinking for a long while beneath the night sky, Fang Chujian lowered her head and chuckled. "Let's do it. It can't be worse than before."

Women could not hold office?

No problem. She would win over ministers one by one and join forces with the Grand Princess to establish the women's imperial examinations, giving women across the realm a chance to serve in government.

The prince had no interest in contending for power and only cared about having fun?

That was even easier. Fang Chujian had always dreamed of holding power. Helping this guy take the throne would be no harder than becoming empress herself.

...As for this inexplicable betrothal,

Fang Chujian took a good look at the Grand Astrologer and gave an approving nod to herself. He was far too handsome. A great hero like her deserved a beauty like him.

It would make a lovely story, too.

...It was just that the Grand Astrologer was far too jealous, and not at all like a virtuous consort.

Fang Chujian's "prince" spent years following her around and occasionally helping out.

One sunny afternoon, he suddenly realized: He was apparently supposed to become emperor!

Third Prince: Me? I really can't do it!

Fang Chujian: What? Who said you were becoming emperor? Why didn't anyone tell me? Oh, right, I'm ascending the throne next month. Are you coming?

Third Prince: ...Yes, Your Majesty. Long live the emperor!

Fang Chujian: Come on, we're all so familiar now. Your Highness, you don't need to bow to me from now on.

Third Prince: Wait a minute! Lord Fang, isn't this a rebellion?

Fang Chujian: Your father refused to pass the throne to me, so I had to resort to this.

Reader's guide

1. The heroine was a wandering hero when she was young, so the early story has some martial-world elements. Later, it focuses mainly on political intrigue and the heroine leading troops.

2. Not a matriarchal setting. The heroine is the first empress.

3. Both leads are powerful, perhaps? But the story mainly focuses on the heroine's growth.

4. The male lead is devoted to the heroine. If he didn't love her, he'd die, literally.

Theme: What makes a king or a general? Are they born to it?