A Harem Novel in a Matriarchal World

Su Momo woke up, and the voice from her dream rang out again. [Host, enjoy your vacation~]

A strange panel also appeared in her mind. [Peerless Beauty Aura Restoration: 0%]

This was a world where women held power. Unfortunately, the original owner was poor, living with her frail father and rough-hewn foster brother.

She had grown up without a mother, and the original owner was timid and dull. Even though her foster father had gone to great lengths to get her a servant's job at a wealthy family's estate in the county town, she was still bullied relentlessly.

There was too much trouble in this small household. First, a kitchen maid scalded her face and disfigured her, then came endless difficulties and blame-shifting.

Mockery like “a brother too ugly to find a husband,” “a motherless child,” and “a wife who married into the family” pressed down on the original owner like one mountain after another, making her more and more withdrawn.

Finally, on a rainy night, she chose to jump into the river. In her place came Su Momo, who had been picking through trash just a second before.

Though she had no idea how she had traveled from the interstellar world to this one, simply having a healthy body was already incredibly fortunate. Su Momo, who valued her life, promptly fled the dangerous estate.

When she got home, she pulled out her 100 wen in wages, slapped it on the table, and declared firmly:

“Dad, I want to study!”

*

Later, Su Momo discovered that there were far too many obstacles on the path to the imperial examinations. For example, the better her grades, the faster her aura recovered. She grew more and more beautiful, and her classmates' eyes grew stranger and stranger.

But that was all right. The indomitable spirit in her soul made her fearless.

From the minor triple laureate to the grand triple laureate, passing the palace exam as the top scorer, parading through the streets on horseback, and being appointed to an official post far from the capital, Su Momo firmly believed that studying changed one's fate.

Her frail father's health gradually improved, and her ugly foster brother looked likely to find a good wife soon... Even the woman she supposedly called her birth mother came looking for her.

But...

The young master of the prefect's family kept throwing himself at her. A charming older gentleman was willing to give her the entire Langyue Tower. A stunningly beautiful star performer offered to disrobe for her, and the gentle, refined young master from the capital, held up as a paragon of virtue, sent her a painting to express his feelings... Even her quiet, insecure foster brother swore he would never marry and would stay with his family for life.

After a few seconds of silence, recalling the grand spectacle of suitors waiting below the examination results and all the handkerchiefs being tossed her way, Su Momo had just returned to the imperial capital when she resolutely chose to take another post far away.

Sorry, I, Su Momo, will never live off a lover ;)

*

The life of Emperor Zhaolin was nothing short of legendary.

At six, she survived an assassination attempt and was forced to wander from place to place, eventually raised by a widowed man in the countryside. She had been a servant in a humble household, gathered herbs in the mountains, and even made a living with her calligraphy and paintings, becoming a great master in her own right.

She started with a terrible hand, but turned defeat into victory with her talent. The imperial examinations finally let her brilliance shine.

After ascending the throne, her ministers were willing to share her bed, and every unmarried man hoped to marry into the imperial palace. Countless people were captivated by Emperor Zhaolin's beauty and talent.

During her more than 70 years on the throne, she lowered taxes, developed agriculture, encouraged commerce, and turned the tide in times of crisis. She also expanded the empire's territory and reclaimed the State of Lu, leading the Lan Dynasty into a new golden age.

With her, the Lan Dynasty became even more magnificent.

Or rather, her very existence was the brightest light of that era.

#Sorry, I don't want to rely on my looks#

#Use my talent to escape the fate of marrying into a family#

#The rise of a powerful minister and female emperor#

1. The heroine gradually becomes a peerless beauty, adored by everyone in this satisfying power fantasy. She takes husbands and concubines, and her consorts give birth to three children.

2. A slow burn, with a career-focused imperial examination and officialdom plot, domestic family life, and an ensemble cast. She will probably casually save some men trapped in deep, secluded households.

3. There will be domestic scheming among men, and supporting characters will get plenty of page time. The characters aren't perfect, except Momo. Momo is the coolest, most beautiful, and strongest.

4. The worldbuilding is entirely my own. Men and women average 175 cm tall. There's a 70% chance the setting is a gender-swapped version of an ancient world where men hold power. If that bothers you, proceed with caution. Please don't project modern women onto this setting.

5. This is not a story about a strong female lead. My writing, political intrigue, and historical accuracy are all poor. No nitpicking, please. If you're happy, I'm happy!

6. This is a quick transmigration parallel world with women in power. You can read it without having read the previous book.

Theme: Love yourself first, and then be loved