Xiang Yuning was reborn.
In her previous life, to protect her mother, she entered the palace and served as the tyrant's Virtuous Consort for three years, pleasing neither the emperor nor her family.
Only when the tyrant was poisoned by a plate of pastries bearing her palace seal did she learn that her mother had long since died of illness, the family letters were all forged, and she had become a scapegoat her family discarded once they were done with her.
She swallowed a cup of poisoned wine. When she opened her eyes again, she was back at the palace selection.
Whoever wants to be the Virtuous Consort can have the job. She's not doing it!
She would use the foreknowledge locked in her memories as a bargaining chip and strike a deal with the tyrant: she would help him reclaim imperial power, and he would save her mother and help her exact revenge.
But as the story of a foolish tyrant and an enchantress who bewitched her ruler went on, fiction somehow became reality.
On the throne in the main hall, Zhu Yixu held her on his lap, took her hand, and casually pointed to the rows of heads bowed below the steps.
"My beloved consort, take a look. Which one has the roundest head? I'll pluck it off for you to kick around like a ball."
The entire court of civil and military officials held their tongues in terror.
She had played the wicked consort so well that even after the emperor reclaimed his power and her revenge was complete, Xiang Yuning couldn't retire in triumph. She was forced into a phoenix robe.
"Ningning, I've given you half my empire. Isn't that enough to make you stay?"
Xiang Yuning wanted to say no. She didn't care for it at all. Unfortunately, Zhu Yixu had her by the nape, kissing her until she could barely breathe, so she had no time to answer.
Fine. If he insisted on making her stay,
then he couldn't blame her for reaching out to seize the one position she actually wanted.
Theme: Live for yourself. That's what life is all about.
