For the glory of her family, Chu Nanqing spent six years laying the groundwork, hoping to become a prince's consort.
But all her efforts came to nothing. The man who had sworn he loved her wanted her to settle for the position of a secondary consort.
With the Chu family on the verge of ruin, Chu Nanqing gritted her teeth and set her sights on the mighty emperor.
After spending a night with him, she was so excited she could not sleep. She calculated that, for her grandfather's sake, she should at least be made a consort. She would never dare hope for the empress's throne, but she could surely claim one of the Four Consort positions. If she bore a prince as well, the Chu family's glory would be secured. As for the palace intrigues, schemes were something she had in abundance!
Yet half a year passed. The emperor did not grant her a consort's rank, or even the title of Noble Lady. He simply left her waiting.
As the days dragged on, Chu Nanqing grew more and more distressed. She presented herself before the emperor again, weeping prettily as she poured out her longing for him.
The emperor gently stroked her cheek and took her to bed once more, but there was still no word of the title she wanted.
Having repeatedly fallen into the hands of both father and son, Chu Nanqing accepted her bad luck and prepared to set her sights elsewhere.
Just as she began sending flirtatious glances toward a newly risen court official from a humble family, the emperor caught her in the act.
When she served the emperor again, Chu Nanqing finally understood how merciful he had been before. She cried out in distress.
To her surprise, by the next day, the decree naming her empress had been announced throughout the realm.
Chu Nanqing was troubled. This old man was impossible to read. He never played by the rules, and he was hard to handle.
The emperor thought: She used my son first, then dared to scheme against me and provoke me! Every bit of it was calculation, without a shred of sincerity! And she still thinks she deserves a title?
A heroine who does everything for her family's glory x a hero who longs for genuine affection
Chu Nanqing x Li Huan
Warnings:
1. The hero is 36 and the heroine is 18. There is a large age gap.
2. The heroine is a virgin, but the hero is not!!! Do not read if this bothers you!!!
3. The story focuses on romance, with very little palace intrigue.
Theme: Sincerity matters most.
