Hu Shanxiang

In the Forbidden City, the lowly Ninth-Rank Lady Official Hu Shanxiang has a big dream: to rise through the ranks one day and become a Fifth-Rank Palace Matron, the highest-ranking female steward in the imperial harem, and reach the pinnacle of success.

But one particular person insists on standing in the way of her promotion, wanting her to become the mistress of the Forbidden City instead...

This is the story of a spirited Shandong girl from Jining who grows from a commoner to a palace maid, a female official, the Crown Prince's consort, the Crown Prince's principal wife, and finally the empress, finding herself and making a dazzling transformation along the way.

A must-read before starting, part 1: This book has eight parts. The first seven are sweet, thrilling, and goofy, with a 90% sugar content. But in the second half of part eight, after the imperial marriage begins, love takes heavy blows from reality, with a 90% angst content. The first seven parts' happiness gets cut down bit by bit. This book is a cannonball wrapped in seven layers of candy, so readers who can't handle angst should think carefully before diving in!

Zhou is laying all her cards on the table and telling you the ending. Whether you stay or go is up to you. The views on love and marriage expressed in this book are that if you love someone, love them bravely and enjoy love at its most beautiful. But a beautiful love doesn't necessarily mean a happy marriage. If you're unhappy or uncomfortable in a marriage, you can end it. Cut your losses in time, make a clean break, and don't cling to each other. Go your separate ways instead of becoming a couple who torment each other.

The same goes for reading. If you don't like a book, drop it. Don't force yourself. I hope you all find books you love.

A must-read before starting, part 2: If anything in this story conflicts with official history, please treat official history as correct. This is a romance novel, not a historical novel, and shouldn't be used as a reference. Some details have been modified for creative purposes. This work does not represent anyone's position.

Apology announcement:

I am very sorry. Due to my negligence, I used claims from unofficial historical accounts in the story. I have also been in seclusion recently, writing, and only just learned about recent incidents involving South Korea's malicious appropriation of Hanfu and mooncakes, as well as its efforts to have them recognized as heritage.

As a Chinese person, I feel awe and pride in our five thousand years of splendid culture.

For this reason, I wanted to write a novel set in a real historical dynasty rather than an alternate world.

However, my knowledge is limited, and I made mistakes and failed to consider things carefully while selecting historical sources. This was my fault. I have revised and deleted the relevant content in the story. Refresh your cache to see the changes.

I sincerely apologize again.

My next novel, Female Master, is now open for pre-orders. Please add it to your collection.

A master is the most dangerous role in the cultivation world.

Either your disciple kills you, or they force you to love them.

Feng Li, a master of the Danxue Sect: "We're different. I want to make my disciple mine."

"A Qiu, just give in to your master."

"A Qiu, you run and I'll chase you. Neither of us can escape!"

"A Qiu, don't scream. I've put up a barrier here, so even if you scream yourself hoarse..."

A Qiu: "Master, you forgot to take your medicine again."

A Qiu has heard that her master used to be a goddess-like figure in the cultivation world, beautiful and powerful, with countless admirers going mad for her and banging their heads against walls.

Legend has it that during a battle between immortals and demons, Feng Li reached into the Demon Lord's chest with her bare hand and crushed his heart. The demons retreated, and Feng Li became a legend after a single battle. But she was also gravely wounded, losing all seven emotions and six desires except for her appetite. With her three emptinesses complete, she became obsessed with food and saw no good or evil, only what tasted good and what didn't. She went from a goddess to a complete lunatic.

Feng Li vanished from the cultivation world and spent her days eating in the human realm, having such a good time that she forgot her sect. The greater her power, the less responsible she became, leaving the Danxue Sect to decline without a care.

To restore the sect, A Qiu never gave up trying to treat her master and finally crafted a Heart-Replenishing Pill to restore her master's seven emotions and five desires.

But the first thing Feng Li regained was greed. Her first thought was to make her disciple hers... She went from a lunatic goddess to a disciple-spoiling maniac, relentlessly flirting with A Qiu.

At first, A Qiu refused.

Later, in the Mirror of Reincarnation, A Qiu saw herself reach into her own chest with her bare hand and, smiling, offer her heart to her master. "You want my heart? Take it. It's been yours all along."

A Qiu: The Demon Lord was me all along!

Later, A Qiu suffers a cultivation deviation, falls to the demonic path, and becomes the Demon Lord once more. Feng Li goes after her disciple, sword in hand, entering the demon realm and killing demons all the way to the demon palace. A Qiu sits atop the sacred hall. "Master, have you come to kill me or sleep with me?"

Feng Li: "You wicked disciple, of course I'll sleep with you first and kill you afterward!"

The demons: "Oh my god, this... this is the legendary beacon of righteousness, the great Feng Li? How is she crazier than those of us on the demonic path?"

A Qiu lashes out with her whip: "Silence! How dare you talk about my master!"

Updates begin September 1.

Theme: The growth and awakening of a woman in the imperial palace