Starting Out in Death Row, I Awaken the Empress's Fate

Fang Yi was born into the Liu Dynasty eighteen years ago, but has achieved nothing.

She has no savings and no power, and works as a lowly runner at the local yamen, barely scraping by.

Then a prisoner transport mission goes wrong, and she is thrown into the death cell.

Every prisoner there is a woman: divorced and cast aside, sold into servitude, wrongly convicted, or buried alive.

The more Fang Yi listens, the more furious she becomes.

In this world, even a woman's right to live depends on the whims of others.

On the night before her execution, she dreams of an immortal who divines that she is destined to become an empress. He gives her a backscratcher, saying it can scratch the heavens, the earth, and people's hearts.

Fang Yi scratches open the iron locks of the death cell.

And scratches a crack in the world itself.

She frees all the female prisoners and raises an army of women.

She also recruits a strategist, a person who understands the world situation and always has a plan to break through a deadlock.

She risks her life to rescue Prince Xuanlin, earning the finest military trainer in return. She persuades the Grand Princess, earning a full purse.

The imperial court allies with three kingdoms, bringing a million troops to their doorstep.

Everyone thinks the women's army is doomed.

Fang Yi raises her spyglass and gazes at the countless figures, smiling.

"The more of them there are, the easier they'll be to beat."

Later, she ascends the throne, but her harem is empty.

The sons of noble families line up, hoping to enter the palace.

Liu Yunchi grows frantic. "Your Majesty, have you forgotten everything we went through?"

The emperor lowers her eyes. "My beloved subject, your military achievements are immense. Wouldn't it be a waste to bring you into the harem?"

"I willingly relinquish every one of my duties!"

"You won't regret it?"

"I won't!"

The emperor's expression softens. She strips him of every rank and honor, takes him into the harem, and makes him her principal consort.

Reading Guide

1. A historical transmigration story with a strong female lead. The heroine has an overpowered golden finger, and the story takes plenty of creative liberties.

2. The supporting couple includes a small amount of yuri content.

3. No other content warnings for now.

Theme: A spark in the heart can pierce the darkness