Moonlight (Female-Dominant World)

The chaos of war had only just settled, and my mother had ascended the throne as emperor. Yet because my father was born of low station, I, the crown princess, became a target for my imperial sisters' schemes. My elder sister Qingping put me in even greater danger.

To carve out a chance at survival, I won over court officials and honed myself. Every day, I treaded carefully, all for the sake of climbing to the summit!

And when I finally get there, the ray of moonlight that once illuminated my difficult journey will belong in my hands as well

Reason for entering: The protagonist starts at a disadvantage, with her position hanging by a thread, but finds a way to break through adversity and ultimately gets what she wants.

Female emperor x regent prince, female-dominated world, male pregnancy. Please mind the tags.

In the first month of the Xiangtai era, several palace attendants hurried from the imperial kitchen toward Zhengde Hall, carrying food boxes. The food inside had been carefully kept warm, but on this freezing winter night, by the time they reached the hall, even the outside of the boxes was as cold as icicles under the eaves.

Zhengde Hall blazed with light. This was where the emperor reviewed memorials. The current occupant of the throne was diligent in governing. In the years since reclaiming power, she had wasted not a single day and often even skipped dinner, asking only for tea and snacks.

The attendant at the head of the group had spent many years in the palace. As soon as she reached the hall's entrance, she sensed something was amiss. She pulled aside the person on duty at the door and asked quietly, "So you're on duty tonight, miss. I wonder if His Majesty is..."

The rest went without saying. The other attendant understood at once and quietly replied, "His Majesty was already angry after court today. I heard she had a quarrel with 'that person.' Who'd have thought the sun would rise in the west? The empress came to plead for him tonight. He's been kneeling inside for almost an hour, but His Majesty still won't show mercy."

As the two whispered, a crash rang out. Something had shattered inside the hall.

The group carrying the food boxes didn't know whether to go in or turn back. The attendant in front cautiously peered inside and saw a slender, graceful figure dressed in imperial robes standing amid the gilded splendor. No more than five paces away, the man kneeling on the floor was Empress Liu.

"I beg Your Majesty to go to Prince Zhao's residence..."

"Liu Zichuan!"

Liu Zichuan's expression was resolute. He stared straight at me, showing no intention of backing down.

I rarely lost my temper like this. Not because I was mild by nature. Quite the opposite: I was born hot-tempered and quick to anger, a difficult child from the very start. But over these past twenty years, everything I had been through had taught me restraint.

Today, though, I couldn't hold back. The golden bricks in Zhengde Hall were strewn with cups and vessels I had smashed to pieces. If the man kneeling before me were anyone other than the empress, the teacup in my hand would have been smashed against his forehead by now.

"Your Majesty!" He knew I wouldn't dare throw it, and grew bolder. Suddenly, he bowed deeply, prostrating himself on the ground, yet still repeating the same plea he had made countless times tonight. "Your Majesty, Prince Zhao accompanied the late emperor in conquering the nine provinces and unifying the realm. He then helped Your Majesty secure the throne and expand the territory. He has rendered immense service. Now he is carrying the imperial heir as well. Though he misspoke in a moment of anger, I beg Your Majesty to consider your own flesh and blood..."

"Smash!" At last, I could bear it no longer and hurled the teacup to the floor.

"Liu Zichuan." I forced myself to take several deep breaths before I could speak. Seeing the look of fearless resignation on Liu Zichuan's face, I was so furious I laughed scornfully. "What a compassionate empress you are. Back when I wanted to take Prince Zhao to bed, who was it that stopped me at every turn and threatened to die? When Prince Zhao became pregnant, who used their own hands to prepare a concoction that made him miscarry? I spared you because your Liu clan had rendered service, and let you play the villain. Yet here you are, choosing this exact moment to make trouble for me! Tell me, what sort of plea are you making?"

The huge candles in Zhengde Hall sputtered, and wax dripped onto the golden bricks, slowly hardening into stains.

I had no desire to hear Liu Zichuan's answer. I swept out of the hall. The attendants who usually served me hurried forward and draped a dragon-embroidered cloak over my shoulders. It was late, and the weather was so cold that water froze on contact. My breath misted in the air. But a fire burned fiercely inside me, so I didn't feel cold. I strode along the green bricks, and soon a thin sheen of sweat covered my back. It felt good.

"Your Majesty, are you still going to Consort Li's chambers tonight?"

I stopped abruptly, only then realizing I had been heading toward Biquan Hall without thinking. I lifted my head and looked up at the night sky. It was a beautiful night, the cold moonlight clear and limpid. To be honest, I wasn't in the mood for intimacy, nor did I want to confide my troubles to anyone.

"Forget it." Bathed in the cold moonlight, my heart slowly cooled. "Consort Li must be asleep by now. There's no need to disturb her."

It was late. Should I just go back and sleep? I considered it for a moment, then felt dissatisfied. A thought began to surface. I hesitated, but in the end, I seized it.

"Wait. Prepare the carriage. I'll go to Prince Zhao's residence myself and bring back the moonlight in my heart."

Theme: Through personal effort, a female character stages a comeback, realizes her self-worth, and finds love