The Favorite Consort Only Wants to Rule the Court

The moment the new emperor ascended the throne in Chengqian Hall, Yu Zhi was standing before a mirror, shaping her brows.

She had been personally chosen by the late emperor to be the crown prince's future princess consort. Unfortunately, the prince was a fool who couldn't see the bigger picture. As soon as the late emperor died, he thought he was strong enough to challenge the great clans and insisted that his childhood sweetheart take the throne in Kunning Palace.

Before Yu Zhi's final visit to the Eastern Palace to speak with the crown prince, her father helped her into the carriage and told her calmly, "If you can reach an agreement, do so. If not, just depose him."

It was snowing when she left the Eastern Palace. Fourth Prince Zhou Chengze was waiting outside and held an umbrella over her himself.

Just as Yu Zhi was about to climb into the carriage, he suddenly bent down and crouched, wiping the snow and mud from her embroidered boots with his sleeve.

Yu Zhi smiled at him and thought, Why not choose him?

Whether he was incompetent or had a hidden ailment, it didn't matter. She didn't want him as a person.

All she wanted was the powerful position in Kunning Palace.

*Zhou Chengze had kept a low profile for years. Now that he had ascended the throne, his attention naturally turned to the great clans that had helped him become emperor.

The best way to undermine the clans' power was to sit back and watch them fight each other. He had been pretending for so many years; he didn't mind hiding his ambition and playing the puppet for a few more.

So he welcomed a multitude of beautiful women into the palace and left the empress's position vacant, pitting the great clans against one another.

Yu Zhi was the first person he planned to raise up only to bring down.

He gave her boundless favor and prestige, all to make the Yu family a target for everyone.

But perhaps he had indulged her for too long. In the end, he was the one who couldn't let go.

The empty empress's throne was originally meant to set the great clans against each other. Later, it was kept vacant only to coax Yu Zhi into sparing him a little more attention.

If not for the empress's throne, she probably wouldn't have spared him a single thought.

#Forget building an empire, come rule over me#

*Zhou Chengze maintained his "hidden ailment" by taking medicine. Every time he was to spend the night with Consort Yu, he first drank a dose to suppress his vigorous desires.

Later, he took two doses, then three, until he could take no more.

After that, every glance she gave him became a punishment.

Reader's guide:

1. Both leads are virgins and villains, and both are ambitious schemers who keep testing each other.

2. The male lead's hidden ailment is maintained by the medicine he takes. The harem is purely a breeding ground for intrigue.

3. Set in a fictional world. The romance is the main focus, and the plot serves the romance.

Theme: Being in love is enough.