The Fallen Queen Becomes a Rebel

This work is expected to go premium on November 11, with a 10,000-word update that day.

Lu Nanxing, an empress who lost her kingdom, transmigrates to the final years of the previous dynasty and becomes the adopted daughter of a rebel leader, the notorious "Lu Night-Fiend."

As a female rebel in a chaotic age, she quickly takes stock of her survival skills:

Having seen the concubines fight for favor, she can sow class divisions among the rough-and-tumble rebels.

Having outwitted court officials, she can spot talent at a glance and recruit it.

Having learned to play the victim from eunuchs, she can make her subordinates grateful to her.

Having done business with foreigners, she sees silver everywhere in the world.

The rebels ask, "Boss, how do you know so much?"

Lu Nanxing: "I also know the founding emperor's younger brother will usurp the throne, his nephew will skip court for twenty years, and his grandson will call a eunuch 'Father'..."

The founding emperor: "What? Say that again."

Armed with all these skills, when the new emperor ascends the throne, Lu Nanxing decisively turns down his offer to make her empress. What a fool she'd be to repeat her past mistakes!

Bonus scene:

One day, a man with the nerve of a city wall shows up at the Lu residence.

You'd never guess he'd once personally led eighty armored cavalrymen to crush an enemy force of twenty thousand.

After his arrival, he drove out all her advisers in a single night, and didn't even spare the rooster.

Every night, he pulls her into a room to study. They've just reached The Analects.

When they get to the line, "If a man hears the Way in the morning, he may die content in the evening," he says, "I get that one. If someone gets in my way this morning, I'll make sure he's dead by nightfall..."

Lu Nanxing plants a foot on his well-defined chest, only for him to grab her ankle. Blushing, she spits out, "A certain someone is handsome and a brilliant warrior, but has no learning to speak of, and keeps stirring my heart!"

Theme: Changing women's social status and realizing their value