Zhao Yuan dreams that she marries three consorts in her dream, and each one ends up keeping a mistress outside their home behind her back. Whenever she discovers one, she kicks him out. Her own ending is no better: when the new emperor ascends the throne, she is sent to the frontier under the pretense of "protecting the country and securing the realm," but in reality, she is being exiled.
Zhao Yuan thinks: Given her fondness for handsome men and lack of interest in power, the events in the dream could really happen.
Although her mother died young, her father dotes on her so much that she is The Outcast, second only to one and above countless others.
So she looks at the throne and thinks: "I can have more. Why shouldn't I take the throne?"
Emperor Wuzhao is delighted to see Zhao Yuan set her sights on becoming crown prince and then empress.
It's a good thing his daughter has ambition!
Emperor Wuzhao is only afraid she has none. Once he dies, no matter how many measures he leaves in place to protect her, Yuan Yuan's life won't be as free and happy as it was while he was on the throne.
With every new emperor comes a new court.
Why not soar to the heavens?
* The heroine is ruthless and truly ambitious. She really wants to become empress, and her values do not represent the author's.
* The heroine is probably the sort of person who thinks everyone is out to harm her, so she strikes first.
* There is a deep father-daughter bond between the emperor and the heroine.
Theme: In this life, the only thing one must never let down is one's career.