Sending His Wife to the Clouds

Xu Zhitang was one of only two granddaughters in the Duke of Wei's household, and was born into privilege.

Her elderly grandfather adored her, and she grew up carefree under her family's protection.

She thought her life would always go smoothly, without a worry in the world.

But her elder sister, who had married into the Eastern Palace, suddenly died of an illness.

To raise the child her sister left behind, Xu Zhitang became crown princess at fifteen and empress at sixteen.

She received neither love nor affection, and watched day after day as the emperor enjoyed romantic moments with his other consorts.

Meanwhile, Xu Zhitang spent ten years alone in Kunning Palace, living like a widow despite having a husband.

On the night of the palace coup, the emperor used Xu Zhitang to shield himself from a sword, and she died at the hands of the rebels.

The rebels were executed, and the emperor continued to sit securely on his throne. He issued an edict stripping Xu Zhitang of her title as empress and naming Noble Consort Hu as the new empress.

It was because Noble Consort Hu was the emperor's childhood sweetheart and beloved cousin, whom he had loved for years.

After Xu Zhitang died, her remains were hastily buried in the wilderness.

For three years, she was a lonely ghost whom no one came to honor. The only offering she received was a stick of soul-returning incense that Grand Secretary Zhang Qian placed at her grave. It allowed her to be reborn in her youth...

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After being reborn, Xu Zhitang wanted only to destroy the scumbag husband from her previous life, who had married her in name only.

The scumbag was still crown prince, so her first step was to stop him from ascending the throne.

She did everything she could to win over Zhang Qian, the treacherous minister who would one day wield power over the court. Though he was currently no more than a poor candidate who had passed the provincial exams, he would one day rise to the highest office. He even dared to execute the emperor.

"Your Highness, anyone who defies you may be killed."

"Zhang Qian, whose subject are you?"

"Your Highness's subject."

Theme: Rise to the very top.