[Tentatively updating at noon]
On the eighth day of the ninth month in the third year of Changning, Su Zanxue entered the palace to attend a banquet, where she happened to meet the emperor.
That same month, she was formally welcomed into the palace as a Noble Concubine.
For years afterward, the emperor's favor never waned,
and she rose all the way to the throne of Noble Consort.
Everyone said a woman who relied on her beauty to win favor could never hold onto it for long, and hoped to see her fall from her lofty position.
But the faces in the palace came and went, and no one ever managed to surpass her.
No one knew how the Noble Consort had first caught the emperor's eye, or how she had kept his exclusive favor for years.
In the struggle for his attention, the other consorts eagerly copied her.
Su Zanxue watched this scene without showing a hint of emotion, though inwardly she sneered.
At the beginning, she had merely been a target the emperor set up for them.
In her youth, Su Zanxue was renowned in the capital for her talent and beauty, and was the object of affection for many sons of noble families.
When Xiao Huaizhuo was still a prince, he had crossed paths with her a few times,
and back then, he too had fallen for her.
The stirrings of youthful love were like the blazing sun, scorching the heart
and impossible to forget.
So even after becoming emperor, when he met Su Zanxue again, he was momentarily lost in thought.
[The first draft of this blurb was written on 2024.8.14; the male lead's point of view was added on 2025.10.11]
Content warnings:
1. Palace intrigue. Neither lead is sexually inexperienced. To be precise, the heroine is experienced both physically and emotionally, while the hero is physically experienced but emotionally inexperienced. Read with caution if this isn't for you.
2. Set in a fictional world with no real-life counterpart. Please don't overanalyze.
Upcoming story: The Empress Lives on His Favor
On the eighth day of the ninth month in the third year of Yuanzhao, the whole nation held a selection to recruit eligible young women for the imperial harem.
At that time, an imperial decree was delivered to the Duke of Rong's residence, naming his legitimate eldest daughter, Song Mingyi, as the woman to enter the palace.
But everyone knew she had just returned to the capital after divorcing her husband.
The Duke of Rong's family was a noble house of long standing, wielding great power and boasting generations of distinguished service. For a time, their achievements had even overshadowed the throne.
Everyone thought the new emperor meant to intimidate and rein in the Song family.
But no one knew that Song Mingyi and the current emperor, Lu Yancheng, had once been lovers.
Later, she abandoned him.
Lu Yancheng had once truly loved Song Mingyi, and later, he had truly resented and hated her.
During the years they were apart, he deliberately avoided seeking out any news about her.
He thought time could make him forget everything, including her.
Until he heard again that she had divorced and returned to the capital.
Only then did Lu Yancheng realize he had been deceiving himself all along.
So Song Mingyi ought to return to his side and properly atone for the mistake she had made back then.
Ranks of the imperial consorts in this story:
Exalted rank: Empress
First rank: Noble Consort (1 position)
Senior first rank: Virtuous Consort, Good Consort, Pure Consort, Benevolent Consort (1 position each)
Second rank: Consort (4 positions)
Senior second rank: Lady of Bright Deportment, Lady of Bright Countenance, Lady of Bright Beauty, Lady of Cultivated Deportment, Lady of Cultivated Countenance, Lady of Cultivated Beauty, Lady of Abundant Deportment, Lady of Abundant Countenance, Lady of Abundant Beauty (Lady of Bright Deportment ranks highest, 1 position each)
Third rank: Noble Concubine (4 positions)
Head of a palace
Senior third rank: Lady of Grace
Fourth rank: Concubine
Senior fourth rank: Lady of Noble Bearing
Fifth rank: Lady of Gentle Deportment
Senior fifth rank: Lady of Minor Deportment
Sixth rank: Noble Lady
Senior sixth rank: Beauty
Seventh rank: Lady of Precious Grace
Senior seventh rank: Selected Attendant
Eighth rank: Lady of Gathering Beauty
Senior eighth rank: Lady of Imperial Beauty
Ninth rank: Lady of Attendant Service (initial rank for palace maids)
Unranked: Lady of Grace (collective term for women selected to enter the palace)
Thesis: Strive hard and stay positive.
I think the heroine still remembers her ex-husband, right?
Does Chun So-won's brother like the heroine?
"The spirit tends to be dull," which is a big bug for the author~
Tone?
Author, is Chun So-won an enemy or a friend to the heroine? Isn't Qu Guiyi afraid of exhausting the hero's affection for the Qu family by causing trouble in the harem and offending the concubines? I hope the author will read this comment. I am waiting for the author's reply. Thank you.
You also have feelings for your ex-husband, right?
"The figure is tall and graceful, and the eyebrows are long on the temples", which is a big problem for the author~
Slender figure
Dear author, how many words do you plan to write in this book? Is the Su family where the heroine lives aristocratic? Does the heroine's father have an official position? What is the highest status among the eight new concubines written in this chapter? Will the heroine be the exclusive favorite as soon as she enters the palace, or will she be favored first and become the exclusive favorite? Is the male protagonist a powerful emperor? Is the relationship between the Queen Mother and the male protagonist's mother and son good? The male protagonist still has no children, so will the first child of the male protagonist be the daughter of the female protagonist? I hope the author will read this comment. I am waiting for the author's reply. Thank you.
The emperor's words are not shocking and he will die without mercy
The Empress Grows Arrogant on the Strength of the Emperor's Favor
Seeking the Throne
When the Empress Time Travels into Romance Novels (Quick Time Travel)
Concubine Rong Is Always Favored
Your Majesty, She Is the Only One to Be Favored
The Little Palace Maid Is Very Ambitious
The Empress Consort Rises Step by Step
The Empress Consort Rules the Harem
The emperor's flattery has hit the mark
I think the heroine still remembers her ex-husband, right?
Does Chun So-won's brother like the heroine?
"The spirit tends to be dull," which is a big bug for the author~ Tone?
Author, is Chun So-won an enemy or a friend to the heroine? Isn't Qu Guiyi afraid of exhausting the hero's affection for the Qu family by causing trouble in the harem and offending the concubines? I hope the author will read this comment. I am waiting for the author's reply. Thank you.
You also have feelings for your ex-husband, right?
"The figure is tall and graceful, and the eyebrows are long on the temples", which is a big problem for the author~ Slender figure
Dear author, how many words do you plan to write in this book? Is the Su family where the heroine lives aristocratic? Does the heroine's father have an official position? What is the highest status among the eight new concubines written in this chapter? Will the heroine be the exclusive favorite as soon as she enters the palace, or will she be favored first and become the exclusive favorite? Is the male protagonist a powerful emperor? Is the relationship between the Queen Mother and the male protagonist's mother and son good? The male protagonist still has no children, so will the first child of the male protagonist be the daughter of the female protagonist? I hope the author will read this comment. I am waiting for the author's reply. Thank you.
The emperor's words are not shocking and he will die without mercy