Princes and Ministers All Have Their Eyes on Me

In the fifth year of Lin'an, Emperor Xian passed away.

The young Crown Prince ascended the throne, while the princes, all in their prime, watched him like hawks.

Amid the crisis, the young Empress Dowager ignored the Crown Prince's pleas for her to stay and volunteered to retreat to Wanfo Temple in the southern suburbs to fast and pray.

Beneath her bamboo hat was a gentle, delicate face. Her lovely eyes shone brightly, no longer dulled by the decay of years. She was like a pale, withered landscape suddenly brought to life with breathtaking color.

But barely two years after she had found peace, a dignified, composed man came to see her.

She furrowed her brows. "Why has the First Prince come?"

The First Prince bowed. "The grand Wanfo ceremony is about to begin. I hope Mother will return to the palace."

The Empress Dowager placed the last hairpin in her hair and rose from the mirror. The First Prince clearly saw the kiss mark on her neck, and his gaze darkened.

The woman's presence was still as gentle as water, just as it had been ten years ago. Only her expression held a coolness that made a person want to crush her, then stain her with a faint flush, beads of sweat, and tears.

P.S. I'll keep expanding the blurb. Basically, it's a melodramatic story about the Empress Dowager being desired by all sorts of men.

One-on-one romance. The male lead is the female lead's sworn enemy and the brother of the late emperor's favorite concubine. He's a self-restrained, proper, aloof beauty who cares only for power. Enemies become lovers.

1. The late emperor was poisoned by the female lead because he treated her badly.

The female lead is in her twenties, not a virgin, and has a child, the Crown Prince, who's over ten and can walk on his own. Before the emperor died, she was gentle and virtuous. After his death, she became the sort who wants to keep several handsome young men. At heart, she's selfish and self-serving. Her child won't get in her way, so don't judge her by your usual standards. Just enjoy the ride.

2. All the princes have an obsessive attachment to the female lead, the Empress Dowager. Some have a bit of a mother complex, and some turn into dark, twisted psychopaths.

3. Besides the princes, plenty of officials also like her. The female lead was everyone's unattainable dream when she was young. Some of the officials are married, so read at your own discretion.

Theme: sensuality.