The Villainous Empress's Bedside Minister

Yan Zhanchun transmigrated into a book.

The good news: She was a princess, and the heroine.

The bad news: She was a princess of the former dynasty, and the book she'd transmigrated into was a melodramatic substitute romance.

Yan Zhanchun had no interest in putting up with mistreatment and guiding the male lead and all the supporting characters to realize that she wasn't the girl they loved, only to eventually take that girl's place. All she wanted was to stay alive in this chaotic world.

The problem was that a princess of a fallen kingdom, powerless and without loyal officials or capable generals to support her, had no chance of surviving without relying on one faction or another.

What was worse, the melodramatic story had given all the leaders of the various factions the same beloved woman. Whichever faction she sought refuge with, she was destined to be treated as a substitute.

--

On the first day after transmigrating into the book, Yan Zhanchun picked out a grave.

On the second day, Yan Zhanchun had a sudden inspiration and decided to seek refuge with the beloved woman herself. Surely the real thing wouldn't treat her as a substitute.

As it turned out, she had made the right choice. The story's beloved woman really was wonderful.

Song Jijin had not yet turned into the final villain because Yan Zhanchun had taken her place beside her family and friends. She was a superb martial artist with impeccable character. Since their faces resembled each other somewhat, she was especially indulgent and affectionate toward Yan Zhanchun. The only unfortunate thing was that, in this chaotic era of warring factions, Song Jijin was limited by being a woman. She could dream of becoming a princess, but had no desire to claim the throne for herself.

Later in the story, Song Jijin would become the enemy of the entire realm. If she failed to take the highest seat, she might even be condemned to death.

Yan Zhanchun couldn't bear to let Song Jijin die. In the end, she decided to choose a wise ruler from among Song Jijin's brothers, so they could invest in him early and bring Song Jijin along.

On the first day of searching for a wise ruler, Song Jijin pointed her silver phoenix spear at her eldest brother.

On the second day, Song Jijin accidentally injured her second brother.

Song Jijin, who had repeatedly injured her blood relatives by accident, seemed to be in a terrible mood. Yan Zhanchun decided to put the search for a worthy ruler on hold and comfort her first. Unexpectedly, Song Jijin avoided her. After thinking it over, Yan Zhanchun decided to climb into her room at night. Surely Song Jijin wouldn't have the heart to throw her out.

Yan Zhanchun wasn't wrong about how indulgent Song Jijin was toward her. She just couldn't figure out why climbing into her room turned into climbing into her bed.

Only when Song Jijin's tears rolled down the side of her neck, and a soft whisper sounded by her ear, did Yan Zhanchun understand.

"A-Zhan wants power. You can get it faster by attaching yourself to me."

Reader's guide:

1. A fallen princess as the top, a rebel leader as the bottom. A struggle for supremacy in a chaotic era.

2026/2/22

Theme: Saving the world is everyone's responsibility.