The Ailing Princess Consort Keeps Overstepping Her Bounds

[A ruthless-on-the-outside, benevolent-within imperial preceptor x a benevolent-on-the-outside, ruthless-within emperor]

In her previous life, Yun Yu was a top-tier Qianyuan general and was named crown princess.

She had aspirations to support the dragon throne and reach the highest heights, yet could only watch as a vast empire fell into the hands of a few worthless, treacherous ministers.

On the day the kingdom fell, the new emperor fled south. Yun Yu faced an army of thousands alone, sword in hand, and ultimately died for her country.

When she opened her eyes again, it was the night before she was to be named crown princess. Her family had earned so many military honors that there were no more titles to bestow, so the old emperor granted her one wish.

Yun Yu declined all manner of wealth and glory, instead fixing her gaze on the frail, seemingly helpless princess in the corner.

Later, amid the struggle for the throne, Yun Yu launched a surprise attack with her troops, burned the late emperor's final edict, and placed the young princess on the dragon throne herself.

The pedantic old ministers flew into a rage. "How can a female Kunze become emperor?"

Yun Yu replied, "I have two hundred thousand elite troops."

A pedantic old minister smashed his head against a pillar in the throne hall. "How can we defy the laws of our ancestors?"

Yun Yu replied, "I have two hundred thousand elite troops."

The pedantic old minister tried to continue his tirade. Yun Yu calmly raised her sword. "And your entire family, old and young, livestock included, numbers one hundred and thirty-two."

She did not want to be merely a general, just as her loyal mother had been murdered.

Nor did she want to be merely an imperial preceptor, working tirelessly all her life only to hand everything over to someone else.

She wanted to control her own fate and the fate of the realm. She wanted to become a regent with true power over the entire court!

What she did not know was that the ailing princess she protected in her arms was looking up at her with an increasingly strange, inscrutable expression.

The young empress had a clever, intricate mind and unmatched intelligence. She had long since hollowed out the court, leaving only a hall full of puppets and a few actors. Yet she still put on a pitiful act, taking every opportunity to nestle in Yun Yu's arms.

"The realm has lost its way. I beg you, Teacher, help me... restore our land!"

Later, when a love-inducing Gu poison took hold, one person was urgently needed to cure it.

The usually proud young empress, who was afraid of pain, took the initiative to welcome her onto the imperial bed, her delicate hands winding around Yun Yu's neck.

That night, thunder rumbled across the sky. Tears and love flowed together over winding peaks, gathering into a little river.

Yun Yu heard the person in her arms sobbing fitfully, calling her name over and over.

The next day, in the Jade Pool.

The sore young empress wore a sly smile as she let the guilt-ridden Yun Yu kiss the back of her hand and make a heartfelt vow.

Of course she knew Yun Yu hadn't done it on purpose.

After all, she was the one who had administered the Gu poison.

Theme: Secure a livelihood for the people, and bring peace to the world for generations to come.