1.
The eldest daughter of the Ming family, Ming Zhao, is immensely noble, a young lady raised amid every luxury.
At home, she and her sisters live in harmony. In the palace, the emperor dotes on her. After the late emperor dies, she naturally becomes empress dowager.
In the smooth-sailing first half of her life, she crushes rebels, wins over powerful ministers, and rules alongside the late emperor, raising the Ming family's fortunes with every step.
There is only one thorny matter: she and the late emperor have no children.
After the late emperor dies, the ministers start calculating which child from the imperial clan to adopt as heir.
Empress Dowager Ming: No need. I'll be the emperor myself.
2.
Yin Miao was born a prince. If Prince Ning hadn't usurped the throne, he would have been the rightful emperor, not a servant following the eldest daughter of the Ming family.
After the palace coup, he is cast out onto the streets, where he lives among beggars. Lord Ming takes pity on him and brings him home.
Everyone thinks he is the lord's illegitimate son. They are all polite to him in public, but scheme against him behind the scenes.
Ming Zhao is extraordinary in both beauty and spirit.
Thinking Yin Miao has suffered a lonely childhood, she doesn't bring up the past. Instead, she teaches him to read and write, compose poetry and prose, and tell right from wrong.
In everyone else's eyes, Yin Miao is a stubborn mule. In Ming Zhao's, he is a promising pupil.
Later, Ming Zhao enters the palace and becomes empress.
That graceful figure, however, remains in Yin Miao's heart, never forgotten through the years.
Later still, the former emperor dies and the empress dowager takes the reins of government. Her mastery of statecraft, balancing kindness with authority, makes the dynasty prosperous and wins the submission of all its people.
In the first year of her rule, Yin Miao passes the imperial examination at the top of the list.
3.
The newly appointed top scholar is handsome, but he opposes the empress dowager at every turn. Despite being summoned several times, he refuses to appear.
The empress dowager is intrigued. His stubbornness feels strangely familiar.
Another year passes, and the court goes on a hunt at the imperial retreat.
Before the assembled officials, a graceful man in blue helps the empress dowager out of her carriage.
Someone tells Yin Miao, "He's the empress dowager's latest favorite. She'll certainly summon him to her chambers tonight."
Yin Miao watches the man and grits out his thanks.
After the banquet and songs, the empress dowager returns to her quarters and parts the layers of curtains.
The newly appointed top scholar, who had long ignored her summons, stands before her in purple robes, with sword-straight brows and bright eyes, radiant as a celestial being.
Only when he leans toward her and their memories overlap does Empress Dowager Ming remember that, in their green years, the two of them seemed to have shared a history.
1. Ming Zhao × Yin Miao, female lead experienced × male lead inexperienced, happy ending
2. The female lead will not relinquish power. She will secure the throne step by step.
3. They oppose each other because they stand on different sides. Neither is right or wrong.
4. The names may change.
Theme: Love.
