I grew up without a father or mother, left to fend for myself on the streets and raised on the kindness of strangers.
To marry into a prominent family, I investigated every poor scholar in all the surrounding villages, picked out those with a little talent, and showered them with care and attention.
I told them, "When you place first in the imperial examinations, don't forget to come back and marry me."
They all solemnly promised, "When I rise to success one day, I'll come back and marry you."
Each thought he was my one and only childhood sweetheart, and that I was the girl waiting faithfully for him. Little did they know they were just fish in the net I cast far and wide.
Unfortunately, few of the fish I released into the sea ever came back.
Zhang passed the civil service exams three years ago and married the prime minister's daughter. Liu became a military graduate two years ago and married a general's daughter. Zhou came third in the palace examination last year. He still hasn't married, but sent word that the time isn't right yet and I should wait a little longer.
In the end, only Gu came back to marry me as promised.
But to my surprise, two bridal sedans arrived on the wedding day.
A good bird chooses a tree to nest in, so naturally I chose the one with the higher rank. But on our wedding night, my husband was poisoned to death.
I couldn't bear to give up the wealth and splendor right before me, so I took a dangerous gamble, disguised myself as a man, and went to the capital to become an official under my husband's name.
When I finally attended court, I took a careful look and thought, "Well, I'll be! The entire court is full of my childhood sweethearts."
I rose higher and higher in office. In the end, I went all in, conspired with the neighboring kingdom's princess sent here for a political marriage, murdered the foolish emperor, and took the throne myself.
Sitting on the imperial throne and looking down at my childhood sweethearts kneeling before me, I couldn't help thinking: Sure enough, the only way to feel secure about wealth and splendor is to hold it in your own hands.
Reading guide:
1. Short story, happy ending, the growth of a dependent flower
2. The heroine seems like a delicate little flower, but is really a man-eating flower. She disguises herself as a man and ultimately becomes emperor.
3. The male lead seems like a stunning beauty, but is actually a gloomy, obsessive madman. He disguises himself as a woman and ultimately becomes empress.
Theme: Relying on yourself is better than relying on others
