Empress of a Chaotic Age: A Throne Forged with a Stick

Born with the fate of a phoenix, Yuwen Yue was destined to become empress. She married the man of her dreams, and in the prime of her youth, became the founding empress, beloved by the entire harem. But a king's heart is impossible to fathom. One moment, she was living in splendor; the next, her world had collapsed. Her children were brutally killed, her entire family was executed, and the founding empress died unjustly after drinking a cup of poison. Only on his deathbed did the deposed emperor, Sima Chang, learn the truth. It had all been a deception. The only ones who had ever truly loved him were the empress and their children. Overcome with endless remorse, Sima Chang swore an oath in blood and offered up his life, begging the heavens to grant his beloved wife another life. Reborn, Yuwen Yue wants only to break off her engagement, reject love, and gain her freedom, protecting her family through the troubled times so they can live in peace. But one peach blossom after another comes looking for her, each one deeply devoted. Yuwen Yue dodges and retreats at every turn, and it is truly exhausting! And yet the faithless man who betrayed her in her previous life comes back to pester her relentlessly, refusing to call off their engagement even if he is beaten to death. He even offers her a colorful flower-patterned cudgel as a token of sincerity, willing to take a beating every day if it means they can be lovers again. Reborn, Sima Chang wants no harem of three thousand beauties. He wants only to stay by one woman's side, putting his wife above everything. He would rather be henpecked than be an emperor. But why have his closest friends and most trusted allies from his previous life all become rivals in love? Sima Chang tries to block them at every turn, but is dragged into the chaos once more, conquering the realm to win his beloved. He will win the realm and lay it at her feet. With the imperial seal in his left hand, a colorful flower-patterned cudgel in his right, and utter sincerity in his heart, Sima Chang asks only: “My love, will you trust me one more time and let me spend my life with you?”