The Kingdom of True Fragrance

I'll start this once I've finished Old Cold Legs. When A Huan ascended the throne at thirteen and became the Sheng Dynasty's first empress, half the old ministers in court stiffened their necks and remonstrated to their deaths: "When a hen crows at dawn, the nation is doomed!" Five years later, the people of Great Sheng were still living in peace and comfort, and their lives were getting better by the day. Seeing this, the ministers changed their tune and whispered among themselves: "Women have always been good at maintaining the status quo. His Majesty listens to good counsel and has done well enough. But she's still no match for the late emperor. Sigh, a woman can't undertake something as momentous as expanding the borders. It would be enough if she could preserve twenty years of peace for Great Sheng." Six months later, Her Majesty declared war on the Northern Di, who had been repeatedly raiding the border. The veteran ministers tossed and turned night after night, wiping away their tears. "Her Majesty has the realm at heart. That is truly a blessing for our dynasty. But our kingdom has enjoyed peace for too long, and our military ranks are short on seasoned talent. Who can shoulder the burden of a northern campaign? Her Majesty is being reckless!" Her Majesty smiled faintly and plucked 120 men from her personal guard. Every one of them was strong and vigorous. The one at their head was especially impressive: he had read the military classics of a hundred schools, knew when to be lenient and when to be strict with his subordinates, and was a born general. Two years later, after bringing the Northern Di into Great Sheng's territory, the ministers were thoroughly convinced. Their only regret was this: "Her Majesty is a master of both civil and military affairs. Great Sheng is surely blessed by Heaven. Yet Her Majesty still has no imperial consort, nor any children. How tragic that our vast and flourishing realm has no heir!" Her Majesty smiled faintly, took the hand of the great general who had just returned to the capital, and led a pair of children out from behind a dragon pillar. The Dynasty of Eating Your Words: Face-slapping every day. * This is a story about: "I picked you out of a whole herd of country bumpkins, so you'd better work your tail off and grow into the finest-looking deer of the lot, then come crawling back to marry me." I'm no judge of talent, and I don't have a gift for recognizing heroes. But the person I pick has to become a hero. Reader's guide: 1. A versatile empress who seems foolishly clever, evolving from a sweet, naive girl into a scheming queen x a general who seems clever but is actually a fool, trained by the empress from a dumb dog into a loyal old wolf. 2. A fictional historical drama, a long story, with a heroine who grows over time. Family, romance, friendship, court intrigue, military affairs, and politics are all mixed together. Slow burn, not a wish-fulfillment story, happy ending. 3. Inspired by historical facts, but with no real-life character counterparts. Most of the story is the author's imagination.