Yuan Ruoqiu transmigrates into a restrictive novel set in a feudal dynasty, where she's the heroine.
"The Zhou has lost its deer, and all under heaven are chasing it."
The Zhou Kingdom is at a critical moment, but its fate has nothing to do with her, the heroine. In fact, in the original story, this setup is only there so she can... explore the map!
What a joke. Who wants a plot where sex is the main course?
After sleeping with the Zhou Kingdom's Four Great Talents, a young general, and an infatuated prince, the enemy country makes a demand, and the Zhou Kingdom sends her, the most beautiful woman under heaven, without the slightest hesitation.
Then come all kinds of father-son, brotherly, and sworn-enemy play. After sleeping with them, she moves on to the leaders of various rebellions, passing from one person's bed to another.
And in the end, it's still a happy ending! A happy ending? A terrifying happy ending, where a group of people "stay together for love" and share her.
Who asked her what she wanted? Was any of this her choice?
Yuan Ruoqiu was planning to run away at once. Even death seemed more hopeful than living like this.
But, unexpectedly, something seems to have changed.
In the original story, her "cousin," Yuan Gu Hong, the head of the Yuan clan, was supposed to lust after her beauty. The first man to break into her room and rape her was let in by this cousin. He then caught them in the act and had sex with her himself.
But now...
Yuan Ruoqiu opens her eyes and sees the familiar smile of "herself" in the mirror...
"Cousin" is actually me?
Through a strange twist of fate, she has also opened the account for the body of "cousin" Yuan Gu Hong, becoming the head of the Yuan clan.
Yuan Ruoqiu takes to her new role as clan head with gusto. Anyone lurking in the shadows or climbing over her wall at night gets sent to the palace at her expense!
Castrate them! Castrate every last one!
The old emperor is incompetent, and money can buy you an official post, let alone a position as a eunuch.
As for whether their families object...
The Yuan clan has held top positions for generations and can pull strings anywhere. Yuan Gu Hong gives a cold snort. Those families would be falling over themselves to offer compensation.
In a chaotic age, it's still better to be a man, Yuan Ruoqiu thinks with deep feeling as she experiences the ups and downs of life through "two accounts."
But her peaceful days don't last long. The twisted men she sent to the palace start playing a eunuch's rise to power, taking control of the court!
Time to run. This time, she really has to run.
Before she can set off, the enemy state of Northern Wei launches a massive invasion, capturing cities and territory and threatening to march straight on the capital.
Yuan Ruoqiu isn't surprised when she hears the demand for the most beautiful woman under heaven.
The only surprise is that the old emperor has died, the newly enthroned young emperor agrees, and the ministers agree, but the eunuchs controlling the court refuse.
The eunuchs: Dream on! Did you hear me? Dream on! We haven't even started forcing you to love us yet!
Now the country is truly beset by troubles from within and without.
Yuan Ruoqiu steels herself. She has no intention of following the restrictive novel's plot. She packs up the Yuan clan's possessions and starts a rebellion.
There are no heroes in this age, so even nobodies can make a name for themselves. Why shouldn't she take her chances?
[The female identity will ascend the throne] [The male identity may become the emperor's consort]
--- Lingering effects of the restrictive novel ---
[1] Strange "dogs" will always show up, crying and begging to pledge themselves to her.
[2] Keep the two identities close together, in case a pervert starts following the female identity, or the male identity gets assassinated by a household dog or a stray.
[3] Don't be too nice to the dogs. Some of them may get confused about who's in charge and try to claim the status of family.
Theme: Gold will always shine