The Black Lotus's Guide to Climbing the Ranks

[The full novel is complete. Check out my completed historical romance, How Long Does It Take to Go from Hating Her to Loving Her, and my historical transmigration revenge story, Accidentally Marrying My Brother-in-Law. Please add them to your collections.]

Su Xiao transmigrated into an old-fashioned, melodramatic novel.

And not just any character: she became the weak, incompetent side character who shared her name and died miserably.

Before the original Su Xiao married, she and the fifth prince had feelings for each other. But her eldest sister constantly interfered, even arranging for an outsider to sneak into her bedroom and ruin her reputation, making her the laughingstock of the entire Liang dynasty.

Heartbroken, she resolved to end things with the fifth prince.

Liang was a small borderland kingdom without power or influence. Her father, the Grand Secretary, hoped to win the favor of Prince Huai of the Yu dynasty. That way, he could rise to prominence, and should a rebellion break out, he would have someone to rely on.

After five years of effort, the Grand Secretary finally managed to marry the original Su Xiao off to the prince as his princess consort.

After she entered the prince’s household, Prince Huai gradually learned that the original Su Xiao had been violated. Already a dissolute playboy, he stopped pretending and began taking concubines every month.

The concubine was so brazen that she had the original Su Xiao tied up, gagged, and thrown into a secret room in the study, forcing her to listen to the two of them making love night after night.

A little over a month later, the original Su Xiao fell ill from sorrow and died, consumed by grief.

After her death, Prince Huai launched a rebellion and successfully usurped the throne, becoming emperor. The concubine who had tormented her naturally took the throne as empress.

Modern-day Su Xiao: ...

If you won’t be the heroine of a satisfying power fantasy, then I will!

She likes the fifth prince? Fine, get married right away.

Her eldest sister gives her a hard time? Great, slap her.

Her father, the Grand Secretary, fails to act like a father? Slap him too. Who cares if he’s an elder?

*

2.

She did all those things, but none of them went well...

She ended up in the secret room in the study and experienced the concubine’s arrogance firsthand.

She was trapped over and over, but she didn’t let herself fall apart. She endured it all.

But the worst part was that she trusted the wrong person...

Li Xiuyuan knew her heart had never belonged to the Yu dynasty. He wanted to hold her, so he raised her to the highest heights, only to cruelly cast her down.

And at that time, Su Xiao was carrying Li Xiuyuan’s child...

When she miscarried after being framed, Su Xiao looked back and saw one person after another close to her die tragically. Gaunt and haggard, she finally came to her senses.

Su Xiao lowered herself, pretending to be a docile, agreeable white lotus. She made no fuss, quietly working her way into Li Xiuyuan’s heart.

Who could have guessed that she only had to offer him a smile for Li Xiuyuan to pour out everything and give her his whole heart without reservation?

Unfortunately, she didn’t dare accept a heart so dark.

P.S. (Read the following points!)

1. The setting is entirely fictional. Please don’t use it as a reference or scrutinize it for accuracy.

2. Ensemble cast with many characters. The early story focuses on household conflict; the later story features palace intrigue and political machinations.

3. Su Xiao wants to shine on her own. Even if romance is involved, her status matters more to her.

4. No golden finger or System. This is purely the heroine’s personal growth.

5. The villain is the second male lead, not the male lead. They are two different people. Check the author’s notes and the main story for details.

[Reason for entering the contest: After being trapped, suffering the concubine’s arrogance, miscarrying and being abandoned, and narrowly escaping death time and again, Su Xiao finally saw Li Xiuyuan’s true nature.

She fought back from the brink, disguised herself, and carefully planned her moves. Step by step, she cleared out the petty villains and killed her enemies. Through relentless effort, she finally took control of her own life, regained her freedom, turned her fortunes around, and rose to become the Empress.]

Theme: Even when trapped in a mire, rise up and fight back. Be brave and save yourself.