The Emperor and a Fool

Set in an alternate Great Zhou. Just read for fun~ Scheming emperor x absent-minded female chancellor Everyone knows that Emperor Li Song of Zhaoning is a “child emperor.” The Empress Dowager holds all the real power. This “child emperor” neglects his duties and spends his days amusing himself. The Empress Dowager is quite at ease. The Song family has served the country loyally for generations, embodying the integrity of scholars, and owes a debt of gratitude to the late emperor. They cannot bear to see the Li dynasty lose its throne. Though Song Yan is a woman, she carved out a place for herself in a court full of men. At eighteen, she was appointed Secretary of the Secretariat, a fifth-rank official, and at twenty, she was promoted to Chancellor of the Secretariat. When the emperor summoned her alone, she actually threw down her official hat and berated this “child emperor.” Words like “ruin the nation” and “tyrant” were among the gravest taboos, punishable by the execution of her entire clan. Li Song crossed one leg over the other and smiled instead of getting angry. “Don't worry, my dear. The realm is still in my hands.” Only years later did Song Yan learn how deeply this “child emperor” had been hiding his true nature. Even the Empress Dowager, shrewd and calculating as she was, had been deceived. He personally wrote the words that would preserve her place in the history books. Praise overflowed: a woman who rose to become chancellor, loyal and courageous, unmatched throughout the ages. Most importantly, she had found her way into his heart. Theme: Redemption