Shi Chuizi was raised as a boy after her parents deceived everyone and hid the truth. She overcame every obstacle, and at twenty, she placed third in the palace examinations.
Ambitious and unwilling to pledge allegiance to either side, she was persecuted by the faction of the Grand Preceptor and thrown into prison, where she seemed doomed.
Shi Chuizi steeled herself and escaped.
A great drought was underway, and the land was littered with starving corpses. She fled all the way back to her hometown, only to learn that four of her six older sisters had starved to death. With the whole family on the brink of ruin, she rose up in rebellion in a fit of rage.
Her rebellion was a great success. Five years later, Shi Chuizi had become a regional power, with all the food and people she could want.
The court could no longer sit by and had to offer her amnesty and peace talks.
Shi Chuizi made one demand: she wanted to become empress!
Only then did the court realize that this local tyrant was actually a woman.
When the Grand Preceptor heard the demand, he nearly toppled over with rage. He lost all composure and cursed Shi Chuizi as a shameless old woman!
His granddaughter had long been chosen as the empress. They only had to pick a date for the wedding. And now this shameless old woman wanted to steal her place! She was twenty-five, nearly old enough to be a grandmother in a few years, and she hadn't even taken a good look at herself. How dare she set her sights on a fifteen-year-old boy? And this boy was the emperor, the emperor of the land! What a shameless woman, what a shameless woman! How could anyone be so thick-skinned?
The other ministers, who were at odds with the Grand Preceptor, thought quite differently. Having an empress like this didn't seem like such a bad idea. One should choose a virtuous wife, after all. Besides, it would bring Shi Chuizi under the court's control and undermine the Grand Preceptor, killing two birds with one stone. They did feel a little sorry for the young emperor, though. No matter, they could pick a few consorts for their emperor, each one young and beautiful.
Shi Chuizi wasn't someone who let herself be taken advantage of. She hadn't led a rebellion for nothing, and she couldn't abandon her followers. She had to share power over the realm with them in a way that was legitimate. And since she was a woman, she might as well make use of that identity and take advantage of the opportunity.
How old had the little emperor been the first time she saw him? Hmm, ten, she thought. He'd had such rosy lips and pearly teeth. He was quite adorable.
Now the little emperor was fifteen. Hmm, he must have grown into a handsome young man, right? Heh, he was just the right age to marry. Shi Chuizi was pleased with herself. As they say, power grows from the barrel of a gun, and a strong hammer makes good iron. With her strength, she'd not only won the realm, she'd get herself a handsome young husband too. Heh.
Of course, she and the little emperor would be equals. If the guy dared to take a consort, she'd have the right to take a husband too. Hmm, in that case, it wouldn't be a problem if the little emperor wanted consorts.
Just then, the young emperor, being pressured by his ministers to take an empress, suddenly shivered.
Ever since he had ascended the throne at four, life had been miserable for an emperor. More than a decade had passed in frustration.
Now he was being forced to marry an old woman and a she-devil. The young emperor was miserable and stifled. He wore a cold expression every day, his brows furrowed and never relaxing.
That was until he saw Shi Chuizi refute the once-arrogant ministers so thoroughly that they were left speechless, and scold them so eloquently they were like her grandsons...
The young emperor, sitting in the seat of honor, suddenly had a light in his eyes.
He straightened his back at once.
Theme: I turned my fortunes around thanks to my empress
