[Dream of the Red Chamber] Rising to Power and Getting Rich

[Coming Soon: Yu Que, please follow!]

Blurb One:

When Yu Que was fifteen, she witnessed the terrifying power of authority.

Fueled by jealousy and power, someone falsely accused her promising elder brother and crippled his legs, leaving his talents with no chance to shine.

Fueled by greed and power, the authorities refused to treat the Yu family case fairly, and her parents ran from place to place pleading for help, only to find every door closed.

Terrified of power, her fiancé's family, who had once treated Yu Que with warmth and affection, broke off the engagement in the middle of the night.

Kowtowing to power, the neighbors who had once fawned over her father and brother turned on them and kicked them while they were down.

The Yu family was driven into the countryside, and even their last place to live was about to be taken from them. Her aunt, supposedly out of kindness, tried to arrange a match for her: "In all of Taoli Town, no one is more powerful than Master Li. Become his concubine, and your parents and brothers will be assured of food and clothing."

Power, power, power. Even a small town could not escape the crushing weight of authority.

Then she would go where all the power in the land gathered and claim her share.

Just as the emperor was selecting matchmakers, Yu Que pawned her last jade hairpin, took the silver, and knocked on the door where the palace eunuchs were recruiting.

When Yu Que was twenty-eight, she tasted the wonder of power.

By then she was Empress Dowager Yu, above all others, presiding over court and politics in unmatched splendor.

With power, Yu Que rooted out one by one the people who had framed her family.

With power, she overruled all opposition and established a School of Engineering, opening a path to advancement through craftsmanship for her brother, who could not sit the imperial examinations.

With power, she deposed her weak and incapable eldest son and supported her second daughter as the next emperor, and no one dared object.

A person has two choices in life: become a sacrifice to power, or become its master. Yu Que was never a lamb on the altar. She was a phoenix, turning heaven and earth upside down.

Blurb Two:

[Empress Dowager Yu, a native of the cities of Qingzhou. She bore two sons and a daughter. At first she was a Talented Lady, later ennobled as Consort Zhuang. In the fifth year of Yongxing, the emperor's depression grew frequent, and he neglected the affairs of state. At that time, Consort Zhuang began to take part in political matters. In the tenth year, she was made empress. No matter how great or small the affair, the empress decided it, and all the power under heaven returned to the inner palace*. In the eleventh year, her eldest son was made crown prince. Three years later, the emperor died, and the crown prince ascended the throne. The emperor was young, and whenever he held court, the empress sat behind a curtain to govern. She even had a throne added, and made decisions at court while the emperor could only defer to her*., History of Jin]

[Empress Yu governed according to her whims, with no consistency in her likes and dislikes. She held power for decades, relied heavily on powerful eunuchs, and indulged in absurdities. She founded the School of Engineering and threw the court into disorder, and installed a female emperor, endangering the state. She was a sinner of Jin., Notes on Jin History]

[Empress Yu was resolute, with exceptional talent and intelligence. ... Establishing a School of Engineering for her brother led the people of the land to chase after clever contrivances: this was her failing. The School of Engineering recruited talented people in droves, benefiting the country and its people: this was her achievement. She deposed her eldest son and installed her second daughter, setting a precedent for a princess to inherit the throne: this was her failing. The female emperor's reign was mighty and far-reaching, bringing peace to the people and harmony to the land: this was her achievement. ... During Empress Yu's time, the government ran smoothly, the people lived in harmony, and the realm was peaceful. She was an outstanding ruler among women., New History of Jin]

[Gossip Girl] The three men behind Empress Dowager Yu: gentle first love Lord Wei, Emperor Huai of Jin, who shared power with her, and loyal lackey Lord Min. Which one is your favorite?

[Novel Blurb]:

Lin Jun was an orphan who worked hard to become an industry mogul. Before he could finish enjoying the fruits of his success, he transmigrated to ancient times.

No big deal. Everyone transmigrates sooner or later.

Lin Jun had plenty of basic knowledge about transmigrating: fertilizer, cement, glass factories, military industry, machinery, and high-yield crops.

He was simply starting over. A socialist workaholic like him wasn't afraid of a challenge.

Lin Jun buried himself in his studies, writing without pause. His goal: first, earn himself a jinshi degree.

Then, while traveling to study, he heard that there was a young man in the capital who had been born holding a jade, named Baoyu.

A question for everyone: what is it like to transmigrate into the world of Dream of the Red Chamber? What did you get out of it?

Thanks for the invite. I'm in Dream of the Red Chamber and just left the Jia household. The eggplant dish is delicious, and the young ladies are lovely.

As Daiyu's cousin and a government official, there isn't much I can do, aside from changing Daiyu's early death, raising the people's standard of living, and setting up a few free-trade zones. The usual basics for someone who transmigrates.

These days I make 1,000,000 a month, live comfortably, and don't hold anyone back.

The less serious version:

You have to know who to keep company with. It's important. Take Lin Jun, who made immense contributions during the Wen Dynasty's "Prosperous Age of Jiaye." His family and friends were all renowned figures:

Lin Daiyu, a poet and scientist of the Qixiu School; Jia Tanchun and Jia Baoyu, founders of the internationally renowned cosmetics brand "Daughterly Beauty"; Jia Xichun, an exceptional painter... Everyone has to learn to improve their circle. Your circle determines your horizons.

Keeping Company with the Best

Reader's Guide:

1. Original male and female leads.

2. Alternate setting, with many original interpretations.

Theme: We should always do what we can.