His Delicate, Alluring Ways [Matriarchy]

(My computer had an accident and I lost my outline. I'm still trying to get the plot back in order... I've also been incredibly busy lately and am not in a good state of mind, so updates will be paused for a while. See you later.) Su Xianhui was born into a humble family and had no hope of being selected in the imperial recruitment. Fortunately, by imperial favor and on the strength of his family's service, he was exceptionally admitted to the inner palace in the first year of Jingwu, to serve by the emperor's side. Gentle, virtuous, and quiet, he served his sovereign with scrupulous care. Everyone knew that although he held a high position, the emperor did not favor him. None knew that he had always carried a sincere heart, drawing close to her with gentle determination and hoping she would spare him a glance, just as she had eight years ago in the snowy wastes of the northern frontier: snow falling in every direction, flames blazing across the sky, blades flashing, cries echoing all around. A fierce horse came thundering through the snow, the clash of weapons rang out, and the rebels who had ravaged the northern frontier were routed before him. In the blink of an eye, bodies littered the ground. On her warhorse, she looked down at him coldly as he sat sprawled on the ground, blood blooming across the snow like red plum blossoms. … Xuan Qing, the reigning sovereign, murdered her mother and elder sister, exterminated her father's clan, and quelled the northern frontier rebellion. She ascended the throne amid a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, saving the Zhao dynasty from collapse. She later campaigned far and wide, expanding the empire's borders. Some called her a divinely powerful emperor, a once-in-a-century ruler; others said she was obsessed with killing, trampling bones and drinking blood, a tyrant through and through. The people praised her for ending the rule of a corrupt emperor, yet feared her disregard for kinship and her cruel, ruthless methods. But they loved her all the more as the supreme ruler of the world, wielding absolute power. They vied to send their sons into the palace to flatter her and win her favor, begging for her imperial grace. The delicate young men raised in secluded households trembled when they first entered the palace's ninefold gates and saw her. More than a few burst into tears. Leaning against her lofty, frigid throne, she lowered her eyes and glimpsed a patch of moonlight. Beautiful and gentle. Cold and ruthless × gentle and kind Reader advisory: content warnings! 1. Gender-bender. All couples in the story feature a female top. The female lead takes the dominant role in every respect. 2. The female lead is a little unhinged. 3. The female lead is just like the emperor. She is the embodiment of imperial might, with life and death at her whim. The harem can only try to guess her intentions. 4. The female lead has a full harem, not a token one, and this is not a one-on-one romance. There are many favored consorts early on; she only begins to favor the male lead later. The sweetness comes in the second half. Her relationship with him is the main romantic storyline. 5. Female-oriented romance, male pregnancy, and harem rivalry among men. 6. A fully developed matriarchal world setting, with a serious court-drama style. 7. There is a female-female couple. 8. A mix of many kinks, with extensive original worldbuilding. Not for readers who insist on historical accuracy. Theme: Sincere love is always moving. Good and evil, and right and wrong, in the arena of power.