The Palace Maid's Rise to the Top

Synopsis: When Rong Linxi was eight, the emperor ordered the execution of her entire family. Since she had been frail and sickly from birth, she had been sent to live at a temple before being entered into the family register, and so she was lucky enough to escape death. Years later, she took the name Song Chuling and entered the palace as a low-ranking maid. Kindhearted, innocent, diligent, and hardworking, she seemed to others like a little palace maid who only wanted to save money and retire in comfort once she was allowed to leave the palace. But she never expected that... The usually icy-cold Assistant Director Lian of the Directorate of Palace Affairs would grin foolishly at the sachet she gave him. The gentle prince, who kept to himself and lived with a disability, would be willing to raise an army and rebel for her. The arrogant, domineering, and willful Fourth Prince would become as docile as a kitten in her presence. She rose from palace maid to an attendant serving before the emperor, and eventually became Empress of Great Wei. Everyone thought this sweet-faced, silly little girl had made it through sheer luck. Only Song Chuling knew how perilous every move in her careful plans had been. One misstep would have meant utter ruin... #ABlackLotus'sGuideToSelfCultivation #TheRiseOfASchemingPalaceMaid #MasterOfTimeManagement Reader's Guide: 1. One-on-one romance, not a harem. 2. Everything the heroine does after entering the palace is for revenge. She won't lose her head over love. She isn't interested in love, but she's full of schemes. She pursues success in her career, friendships, and a relationship with the male lead. 3. None of the characters are perfect. The actions of both heroes and villains serve the plot, so please don't attribute them to the author personally. 4. This story is set in a fictional world, an especially fictional one. Please don't try to match it to real people or events. Recently completed: No One Escapes Synopsis: [Forced Possession] [Unrelated] [Sister and Brother] [Female Lead Is Not a Virgin, Male Lead Is] A flood struck on New Year's Day in the early years of Jianping, tearing countless families apart. Six-year-old Yan Ning lost his parents. Thin as a rail and at death's door, he was picked up off the street by Yan An, who begged Granny to take him in as well. Granny took pity on him and agreed. From then on, the three depended on one another. They weren't family by blood, but they were closer than family. Years later, Yan Ning left for the capital to take the imperial examinations. Before he departed, he promised, "If I pass, I'll make sure Granny and Sister live in luxury and never suffer again." The two saw him off through tears. But when Yan Ning returned after passing the examinations, he learned that Yan An had already married... She had told him he was family, the most important person in her life, and promised she would never leave him. But in the end, she was still going to leave him. Watching his elder sister hold hands with that man, Yan Ning's bright eyes gradually darkened. Sister, you were the one who lied to me first. So don't blame me for stopping at nothing. Theme: People must take responsibility for their actions.