The Villainous Supporting Lady Holds Sway Over the Court

Jiang Xuehan discovers that she is a character in an ancient romance novel full of love rivals, where readers place bets on who will end up with the heroine.

According to the story, four powerful men will love the heroine to the point of madness. They will live and die for her, fight over power and wealth, topple the empire, and beat each other to a pulp before settling things once and for all.

When Jiang Xuehan realizes this, she is kneeling beside the imperial bed. The old emperor clutches her hand, tears in his eyes. "I have little time left. I entrust this magnificent realm to you, my dear minister!"

That's right. Jiang Xuehan isn't the heroine. She's the villainous male supporting character, a trusted minister charged with safeguarding the throne for the next ruler, a stumbling block to the romance between the leads. She is ultimately trampled to death by rebel troops, and her head is left hanging from a flagpole for three months.

Jiang Xuehan, just entrusted with the empire: "..."

Minister Jiang decides to spare them, and herself.

The Black Armor General gives up his military power and returns to the capital for the heroine, so Jiang Xuehan takes charge of two hundred thousand troops on the frontier in his place.

The new emperor neglects the court and loses interest in state affairs for the heroine, so Jiang Xuehan establishes a cabinet, ensuring he can go fifty years without attending court.

The chancellor and the prince plot a rebellion for the heroine, so Jiang Xuehan curbs their power and gives them a combined education in both literary and military arts.

Jiang Xuehan: I've sacrificed so much for your love.

Then the heroine throws herself into her arms.

The heroine: "Minister Jiang, I've realized that the man I love most is actually you!"

Jiang Xuehan, who has somehow become the most powerful person at court: "...Actually, I'm not a man."

The heroine: "???"

The general/emperor/chancellor/prince: "???"

Jiang Xuehan, powerful minister and ultimate boss: "It's fine. You can keep doing as you please. I'll take care of governing the country."

Shen Jideng transmigrates from an archaeological dig to the Great Xuan Dynasty.

He knows Jiang Xuehan's past and future, knows her greatest secret, and knows that she will eventually die a gruesome death beneath the hooves of rebel troops...

Shen Jideng, a fan of Jiang Xuehan for ten years, knocks on the Jiang residence's door, full of worry.

Jiang Xuehan opens the door.

Shen Jideng earnestly advises her: "My lord, you must guard against fire, thieves, and traitors. Stay away from those blind, black-hearted bastards, and stop working yourself to the bone for them!"

Jiang Xuehan: "...?"

Minister Jiang is the most swoon-worthy character in the whole novel, powerful at court and beyond reproach in status. The other five characters combined can't beat her.

The original heroine is not villainized. She truly loves Minister Jiang.

Couple: A local minister who disguises herself as a man and a modern archaeologist who transmigrates into the past.

Theme: When the people have faith, the nation has hope.