The Empress Is a Powerful Minister

[Upcoming novels: My Son's Mother, Who Died Young; The Crown Princess's Place Is Waiting for Someone. Please add them to your reading list.] Lin Qinghuai's life began at fourteen. That year, she became her dead twin brother. She was made heir, sat the imperial examinations, inherited a marquisate, hid her weakness, and slowly became a blade in the emperor's hand, killing the powerful aristocrats and elevating the poor, until she held power over the entire court. As she retired from public life, a cup of poisoned wine from the emperor sent her back to the time when her family was still alive. Lin Qinghuai: ...Then I'll live it up as a marquis's daughter for once. Situ Yu ascended the throne at eighteen. The officials refused to submit, and the various factions were ready to make their move. Fortunately, Lin Qinghuai stood by his side, through thick and thin. For eighteen years, he secretly loved, admired, and doted on him, yet could only watch him marry one wife after another and enjoy the company of countless beauties. At their farewell banquet in the palace, who could have guessed that this man would dare to assassinate the emperor, sending him back to his days as a prince? Situ Yu: ...Then I'll be his sovereign and subject all over again. Later... The once-powerful minister becomes a beautiful woman and returns to court as a woman, appearing everywhere with her old flame from her previous life, the upright and principled Left Chancellor. The Minister of Revenue, who had impeached her countless times and hated her so much he wanted to eat her flesh and drink her blood, also becomes one of her admirers. Situ Yu can only see her during the morning court session, so as soon as it ends, he summons her to the imperial study, closes the door, and murmurs, "When will you give me a title, Empress?" Lin Qinghuai: ... 1. The setting is wildly fictional. Whatever you think is right, is right. Upcoming novel: My Son's Mother, Who Died Young. Please add it to your reading list. Blurb: The fashion queen Jiang Yueran was determined to stay single for life. Then she woke up as the sickly, obsessive mother of the male lead. The original owner was the long-lost daughter of the richest family in the country, but she had a monstrous mother-in-law, a freeloading husband who cheated on her, and a life consumed by depression. Jiang Yueran, handed a doormat's script, felt a vein throb in her forehead. To hell with true love! She took back the company, froze that bastard's credit cards, reclaimed the properties and luxury cars, and after a series of moves, discovered she was in a story about a woman fleeing while pregnant. Jiang Yueran, inexplicably turned into a pregnant runaway heroine: ??? Upcoming novel: The Crown Princess's Place Is Waiting for Someone. Please add it to your reading list. Blurb: Xie Nanzhou dies suddenly from overwork and wakes up in a feel-good novel about a heroine who is reborn and rises to success. She has become the story's number-one cannon fodder: the sickly crown prince of the Great Yi Dynasty, born with a heart condition. When she arrives, the three companions the emperor has chosen for her have just entered the Eastern Palace. The young men have red lips and pearly teeth, smiles as bright as the moon and a breeze, and stand tall like jade trees among orchids. Unluckily, one is the male lead, who will kill her and usurp the throne; one is the devoted second male lead, who poisoned her father; and one is the villain, who will deceive her, seduce her, and expose her identity. Emperor: "Pick one to be your crown princess?" Xie Nanzhou: ...Children are the only ones who have to choose. Ever heard of hiring through open competition? Male lead/second male lead/villain: ??? Later... The male lead is sent to his fief with a broken leg and no sight, the second male lead is exiled three thousand li away, and the villain is sacrificed to the war banners. So much for hiring through open competition?! Xie Nanzhou: ...Only children believe in fairness. Ever heard of parachuting someone in? The mighty cavalry general, polishing his sword in the distance, nods with satisfaction. "The crown prince is wise." Male lead/second male lead/villain: !!! Theme: Live for yourself. Be strong and love yourself.