The Gold-Swallowing Little Empress

Liu Mianmian was born prematurely and had a weak constitution. She needed to take a rare medicinal pill year-round just to stay alive.

The constant expense was more than an ordinary family could afford.

So, for his daughter's sake, Liu's father rose from local prefect to chancellor of the dynasty, yet they still struggled to make ends meet.

One day, someone said, "The richest person in the land is His Majesty. Chancellor Liu, why not send your daughter to him to raise?"

The person was only joking, speaking offhandedly, but Chancellor Liu took him seriously.

His daughter could only be supported by His Majesty, the one man in all the world who could afford it.

To find his daughter a long-term "meal ticket," Chancellor Liu submitted his resignation and, with tears streaming down his face, said he would no longer serve as chancellor. He was going into business.

The newly enthroned emperor narrowed his eyes and said quietly, "Chancellor, are you in some kind of trouble? Tell me, and I'll help you."

And so Liu Mianmian entered the palace.

Liu Mianmian was only six when she entered the palace, a little bundle of baby fat. Ling Yan had ascended the throne as a young man, and with the harem empty, having Liu Mianmian running around did make things livelier.

It was just the emperor's private treasury...

At first: "No matter. I can afford to raise her."

Later: "I can afford to raise her, but I feel like I'm getting a bad deal."

-

Ten years after Liu Mianmian entered the palace, the emperor, who had never once set foot in the harem, suddenly came to her chambers.

When Ling Yan arrived, Liu Mianmian was eating one of her pills, each worth a fortune.

Ling Yan asked her, "Does it taste good?"

Liu Mianmian nodded obediently and held one up to Ling Yan's lips. "Your Majesty, try one."

Ling Yan said, "No need."

He bent down and kissed the young girl on the lips, the fragrance of medicine filling the air.

"This way, I can taste it too."

And later on... ≥﹏≤

-

The newly enthroned emperor used to never summon consorts or visit the harem.

Later, he held his little empress in his arms every day.

The court officials suggested filling the harem, saying it was laughable for the ruler of a great nation to have only one empress.

The man held his little wife in his arms and ignored every word they said.

Even as the ruler of the world, he needed only to support her.

-

Ever since she was born, Liu Mianmian had cost a hundred taels of gold each month. Each pill cost one tael, and she needed three a day.

Chancellor Liu had always thought he'd risen rapidly through the ranks thanks to his hard work for his daughter.

But after he sent his daughter into the palace, why did everything he did suddenly go less smoothly than before?

Meanwhile, the emperor, who was losing money to his daughter, prospered at every turn, as if he had a cheat code. He was nearly on the verge of unifying all the kingdoms.

Only then did Chancellor Liu realize that his daughter wasn't a gold-devouring beast. She was a little bringer of good fortune!

2025/1/10

Theme: To be decided