A Beauty with a Heart of Iron

Yao Guang was once the legitimate daughter of the Governor of Yunzhou, born to privilege, yet burdened with a family vendetta she could never speak of to outsiders.

To avenge her mother and uncle, and to bring down her biological father and stepmother, she set her sights on Qin Hengyang, a down-and-out prince. They became betrothed and formed an alliance, facing the turbulent times and the war-torn realm together.

They agreed to pursue their goals without falling in love. Once everything was settled, they would split the realm between them and go their separate ways.

After ten years of storms and bloodshed, the realm was finally unified under Jin. Qin Hengyang ascended the throne as he had always hoped, and named Yao Guang empress, yet he never again mentioned their old agreement.

First, he coaxed Yao Guang into becoming pregnant. Then, using underhanded methods, he cut off her support, turning his blade on every man around her whom he considered a threat and eliminating them without mercy.

After all the bloodshed, Yao Guang finally understood: this bastard intended to break their agreement and imprison her forever within the palace walls.

If that was how he wanted it, then she was sorry, but Yu Yao Guang had been capable of raising him to the throne, and she was just as capable of bringing him down.

A sinister, ruthless, extremely jealous founding emperor (not a good person) vs. an even more ruthless, bold, and beautiful woman

Reader's guide: At first, the male lead is stronger and dominates the female lead. In the middle, she turns the tables, and the two turn their blades on each other. Later, he gives up resisting and pursues his wife through a sea of flames.

One-on-one, both are each other's first.

Theme: There are plenty of fish in the sea