A Fallen Princess's Guide to Nation-Building

Liu Lingyue transmigrated into a book, becoming a princess of a fallen kingdom who was destined for a tragic end.

The original princess was the emperor's most beloved daughter. He had high hopes for her and was even willing to defy all convention to pass the empire and the throne to her.

But all she wanted was to marry the male lead. She gave up power and the throne, wanting only to support her husband, raise their children, and cook for him.

The emperor couldn't withstand her crying, throwing tantrums, and threatening to hang herself, so he granted her marriage to the male lead.

Eight years later, the emperor died, the court fell into turmoil, and the Northern Di took the opportunity to invade in force.

The male lead turned villainous, took the princess hostage, and threw open the city gates to welcome the Northern Di into the capital. He then offered the princess to them and divided the realm along the river, setting up rival states in the north and south.

Unable to bear the humiliation, the princess hid a golden hairpin in her sleeve, went into the tent, and assassinated the Northern Di's Left Wise King. Then she took her own life for her country.

When Liu Lingyue transmigrated, the original princess was in the middle of crying, throwing a tantrum, and threatening to hang herself to force the emperor to arrange her marriage to that scumbag.

She was already at the hanging stage. A white silk cord was in place, and her neck was in the noose.

The emperor, who had just rushed over, was scared out of his wits. He kept saying, "My child, this isn't something to joke about! Come down! Your father will arrange your marriage to that boy!"

Liu Lingyue held the white silk cord, her gaze distant.

"Father, I have a dream."

I dream of a day when the farmland of Xia is filled with rice that yields a thousand catties per mu, and trains rumble past the fields. The city's factories produce tens of millions of goods every day, and merchant ships stream through the busy harbor. The sound of children reading aloud comes from the schools. Everyone has a home and a livelihood, and their faces are full of happiness and contentment. Then I will proudly point to any place and say: Look, this is our empire.

The Annals of Emperor Shizong of Xia

Next up: Usurping the Throne Begins in the Cold Palace

The first thing Yi Xuanmo did after taking control of the government was send Wen Yunsheng, his empress, to the cold palace.

Wen Yunsheng couldn't understand it. "What did I do to offend him?"

The discarded consorts in the cold palace chattered among themselves. "He must have a new favorite and decided his original empress was in the way."

Wen Yunsheng took their advice to heart, then asked, "I was deposed for no reason, and I won't stand for it. How should I get back at that dog emperor?"

The discarded consorts offered their advice. "First, make yourself fall completely out of love with him."

Wen Yunsheng erased seven years of married life from her mind.

"Then, ask to leave the palace."

Wen Yunsheng wrote her own edict of deposition.

"Once you're out, find yourself a fine man with a name worth boasting about."

Wen Yunsheng thought through all the men she knew.

"Years later, you'll have a wonderful life with that man, a thousand, ten thousand times better than when you were empress. Then return in triumph and make the dog emperor heartbroken and full of regret."

Wen Yunsheng suddenly understood. "Thank you, sisters. I've got it."

The discarded consorts nodded in satisfaction. "Then we'll wait for your good news."

Many years later, the new emperor ascended the throne and held a banquet at Weiyang Palace. The discarded consorts from the cold palace were also granted the honor of attending.

When they saw Wen Yunsheng dressed in imperial robes, their minds went blank.

Wen Yunsheng pointed to the prime minister, the general, and the strategists at the banquet. "Look, these are my fine men."

Then she pointed to her imperial robes. "I returned in triumph, and my life is ten thousand times better than it was when I was empress."

Finally, she pointed across the room at the memorial tablet of the former emperor. "If the former emperor Yi can perceive the world of the living from the netherworld, I'm sure he's heartbroken and full of regret right now."

She concluded, "Everything I've achieved is thanks to you, sisters, and your advice."

The discarded consorts: ...

What on earth did you learn in the cold palace, Your Majesty?!

Theme: Even in desperate circumstances, strive to rise above them