[Yunyuan, a cold, deep, two-faced empress × Du Weisheng, a mild-mannered, cunning, two-faced scholar] [Historical romance + acclaimed fiction + love and hate + mutual salvation + court intrigue + empress + tragic, beautiful characters + political scheming + female supremacy] Yunyuan, the empress, seized power by murdering her father and claiming the throne by killing her brother. She appoints only those close to her, keeps a debauched court, and maintains hundreds or thousands of male favorites. Du Weisheng, courtesy name Shuo, was from Jiangyin. He was the top-ranking jinshi of the new dynasty, entered the Hanlin Academy, became a scholar, and was appointed an imperial adviser, responsible for writing and advising at court. He kept the empress company in the Hall of Worthies by day and climbed into the Son of Heaven's bed by night. People scorned him, calling him a court jester. She had once seen the most dazzling fireworks in the world, and once possessed the greatest throne in the world. Amid the cheers of all the people beneath heaven, she had once kissed the most beautiful lover in the world.
