Ugly: The Foolish Empress

[Author’s Note] She always thought he married her to join forces and rule the realm, purely for mutual gain. Only later, when he left his six palaces empty for her and treated her like an emperor within the palace, did she realize he truly wanted to share the realm with her.

[Synopsis] He is the deposed crown prince of Feng, a man of unmatched talent and tact, whose very existence threatens the fate of the dynasty.

She is the cunning female strategist of Yun, notorious throughout the land!

He married her because she wanted him to!

The common people pitied him. How could the handsome crown prince of Feng marry such an ugly woman? Little did they know that beneath her bronze mask was a face of breathtaking beauty.

The battlefield generals lamented for her. How could a man fail to cherish a woman so peerless and brilliant?

“One day, I’ll die at your hands.”

He takes another wife, a pure and innocent concubine. She willingly gives up her place as the principal wife and personally conducts the wedding, to everyone’s envy. What is yours will be yours. What isn’t yours is no use forcing.

He misunderstands her, fears her, suspects her, and hurts her! She doesn’t care.

He says, “You’re the most heartless woman I’ve ever known!”

She says, “You’re the most devious man I’ve ever known!”

She says, “I am the Vermilion Bird, born with the destiny of a phoenix. Whoever stands by my side must be a dragon soaring through the nine heavens.”

Everyone laughs. How could a deposed crown prince ever soar through the skies? They don’t know that the two people who hide their true selves most deeply in this world are him and her...

Blood stains the battlefield, while white bones lie forlorn in the water.

He asks, “Was it really worth killing your childhood friend and bathing the world in blood for revenge?”

She smiles. “Worth it or not? Master, even if you ask me now, I have no answer. Perhaps one day, you’ll understand.”

[Conversation between the heroine and the hero]

Hero: You let our old friend go, even though he came to visit us?

Heroine: It was too bloody. I didn’t want to kill anyone!

Hero: How many people have you killed already?

Heroine: Master, I’m a woman. I can manage a little embroidery, but if you really ask me to kill someone, I’ll be scared!

Hero: A-Dai, I really want to strangle you!

Heroine: Go ahead and strangle me! I’ll go to the underworld first and clear the way for you, my husband. Once you’ve had plenty of descendants in the mortal world, you can come find me!

[Conversation between the heroine and the regent]

In life, you belong to me; in death, you’ll be my ghost! One day, I will destroy Feng and take you for myself!

I’ll remember that! After I die, I’ll have my body burned to ashes and give you a little, then!