Forced to Become Emperor, I Became Everyone's Favorite

Yun Lian, the only princess of the Great Liang Dynasty.

All she wanted was to slack off until her elder brother took the throne, then live the easy life as a princess, keeping male companions and doing nothing.

Who could have guessed that her father would fall ill and die, and her brother would go missing on a military campaign?

As the only child the late emperor left behind, she was forced to become crown princess.

Yun Lian: ??

Is it too late to run away?

The officials who usually couldn't stand her all fell to their knees, begging her to ascend the throne and become emperor.

She gritted her teeth and took charge of the court, treading on thin ice every day, laboring herself to the bone until she was utterly exhausted and coughing up blood at the slightest breeze.

Then her childhood friend, the Grand Tutor, abandoned his usual gentleness and ordered her to govern diligently and care for the people. From then on, he stopped helping her review the memorials.

The aloof, powerful minister clashed with her in court, crushing his rivals and monopolizing power.

The proud and disdainful prince of a different surname was sent by her scheme to his fief, where he carved out a domain for himself, then returned with a vow to replace her and wipe away his humiliation.

The fierce, uncouth general used the imperial guards to imprison her in the inner palace, taking whatever he wanted from her night after night.

And after the enemy state's hostage prince, who had showered her with sweet talk, escaped back to his homeland, he tore up their treaty and marched on the capital, determined to seize her as his concubine.

Yun Lian, exhausted to the point of collapse: I'm done. Whoever wants this realm can have it.

When the palace gates fell, she drank fake wine and took her own life.

When she awoke, she silently crawled out of the dark imperial tomb, ready to get as far away as possible.

Five pairs of embroidered boots, each a different style, slowly came into view.

She looked up to see five men with red-rimmed eyes, all keeping watch over her tomb.

Their gazes were a jumble of grief and joy. In unison, they said: