[A sly, seductive little fox who gets tossed aside once she's used] * [A serious, aloof workaholic emperor becomes a foolish ruler]
In the eighth year of the Jian'an reign, the Great Celebration's selection of consorts began.
Born with an alluring charm that could steal souls, Xue Mian's peerless beauty earned her a place in the palace as a Court Lady.
When Eunuch Yu personally arrived at her residence to announce the decree, Xue Mian became the target of everyone's envy and hostility.
In Emperor Xiao Yan's eyes, Mianmian was delicate and innocent, unconcerned with worldly affairs. She understood him, accepted him, and admired him.
She was a talented woman, and so bewitchingly beautiful. Her soft call of "Yan Lang" melted him to the bone, leaving the emperor unable to resist her.
But only Xue Mian knew that the more seductive she was, the more calculating she could be.
Over five years, she went from enduring everything to fighting back, rising from Court Lady to Noble Consort and then Empress.
Everyone thought the emperor's favor was a passing fancy, that he had simply been captivated by Xue Mian's beauty.
They never expected her to be cherished for the rest of her life.
The other consorts ground their teeth in resentment. The emperor wanted no one but her, while Xue Mian always kept a clear head.
She knew what she wanted and what she needed to do.
When framed and thrown into prison, she proved her innocence and turned the tables.
Afterward, she nestled in Emperor Xiao Yan's arms and wept like a pear blossom in the rain. "Yan Lang, I'm scared."
When Xiao Yan doted on her alone, she kept him at arm's length, deftly maintaining just the right balance.
From then on, she held the upper hand, and the mighty emperor willingly served her tea and water, obeying her every word.
Unattached and untroubled, her heart remains clear: half a blade's edge, half tenderness.
The emperor's heart is hard to read, the ruler is heartless, and the harem is treacherous, yet she ultimately reigns above all six palaces.
Theme: Be a clear-minded, independent woman
