From county lady to princess
From princess to Grand Princess Who Assists the State
From Grand Princess Who Assists the State to empress
The female lead is reborn, truly ruthless and merciless, killing without batting an eye.
About the men in the female lead's life: As a child, she broke things off with her fiance; in her youth, her husband died in battle; in middle age, she had several close male confidants; after ascending the throne, she has a whole harem of male companions.
[If you don't understand, let me explain: readers who require a chaste heroine, please move along.]
[She will not cheat while married.]
[Thank you, she will not enter the palace. Really, she will not enter the palace.]