The Treacherous Minister Became Empress

In the spring of the tenth year of Jingyuan, Su Qingji traveled from Youzhou to the capital to sit the imperial examinations. At the palace exam, she delighted the young emperor so much that he named her top scholar on the spot. Thus began her career as a corrupt courtier.

Three years, then another three. She rose swiftly through the ranks to become Left Deputy Director. At court, the civil and military officials mumbled and dared not speak. Afterward, though, they whispered: Su Qingji is stunningly beautiful and delicate, devious and sycophantic, always flattering the emperor. If she gets promoted again, she'll probably end up in the imperial bed!

Su Qingji, deadpan: How do you know the emperor really sent an edict inviting me into his bed...?

Su Qingji played leaf cards for three days and three nights, and still couldn't figure out how her being a woman had come to light.

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Jiang Yan ascended the throne at six. At sixteen, she went on hunger strike, tried to hang herself, and smashed up her sleeping quarters, doing everything she could to attend the palace exam in person. At a glance, she picked out the top scholar. Without any surprises, this would be the sharpest tool in her hands for the next ten years.

Three years, then another three. Then the unexpected happened.

Jiang Yan stared speechlessly at the person kneeling before her to beg forgiveness. "...You're a woman?"

Hearing this, she hurriedly pulled her clothes back over herself. "You didn't know?"

Jiang Yan: "...Now I do."

A heroine willing to be the emperor's blade versus the emperor secretly coveting her own subject.

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Theme: The road may be long and hard, but take one step at a time and you will get there.