[Jianghu]
The cook was pretty, so Shen Yu took an extra look at her. That very night, the cook became Shen Yu's personal servant. Seeing the vicious ghost tattoo on the cook's back, Shen Yu told her to sleep beside her bed.
Shen Yu was a renowned female ship captain on the seas, and everyone wanted to partner with her and get a share of the profits. Because of a cook, she gave that opportunity to Bailiga's fleet.
One night, half a year later, Bailiga surrounded Shen Yu with his men and tried to kill her, hoping to take complete control of the entire fleet.
Inside the cabin, engulfed in flames, Shen Yu pulled the dagger from her chest and spoke beside the cook's ear:
“Liu'er, I rescued your godmother and left her at the post station. I put a hundred taels of gold under her bed. I know you're a strong swimmer. Stay alive.”
[Inner Palace]
Fu Xiaoliu never imagined that the Fu family would come looking for her again. Her twin sister, who had become empress, had indulged in pleasure with the emperor until she brought about her own death.
The Fu family couldn't bear to give up such immense wealth and power, so they found Fu Xiaoliu and made her impersonate Empress Fu.
What they never expected was that the matter would come to the attention of Wang Fucha, the head of the Eastern Depot, who used it to threaten her at every turn.
“Your Majesty, meet me in the Cold Palace at a quarter past midnight.”
“I hear Your Majesty's dancing is unmatched in Yanjing. Might I have the pleasure of seeing it?”
After the emperor died and the crown prince ascended the throne, Fu became the empress dowager. The Fu family grew greedy and suddenly raised troops in rebellion, but the Shen family cornered them in the Eastern Palace.
The court officials turned against Empress Dowager Fu. The head of the Eastern Depot, Wang Fucha, claimed that he had colluded with the Fu family and let them into the palace.
Wang Fucha took Fu Xiaoliu's hand, plunged a dagger into his own chest, and shouted:
“By Heaven's mandate, the Empress Dowager has slain those who rebelled and threw the court into chaos. I, too, regret what I did. I thank the Empress Dowager for granting me death.”
[The Court]
Empress Dowager Fu ruled from behind the curtain. The Shen family had rendered meritorious service protecting the throne, so Shen Yun, the Shen family's only daughter, was appointed chancellor.
They say that when the Empress Dowager first met Chancellor Shen, she berated her outright, showing no bearing befitting a nation's mother. Yet Chancellor Shen replied with just one line: “Long time no see.”
1. The story uses flashbacks and begins with the [Inner Palace] arc.
2. Female ship captain X cook, head of the Eastern Depot X empress, chancellor X empress dowager: all are Shen Yun and Fu Xiaoliu.
3. Shen Yun is scheming, morally ambiguous, and neither wholly good nor evil throughout. Fu Xiaoliu gradually turns to the dark side.
4. The blurb is a little messy, but investing in this story is definitely worth it~
Theme: When Heaven is about to entrust someone with a great responsibility, it first tests their resolve and spirit through hardship.
