The First Beauty

[The protagonist doesn't appear until Chapter 3!] A newly appointed top scholar with no job wins the imperial examinations, but offends the powerful. To protect herself, she boards the Prince of Shou's heir's ship, embarking on a life of plotting and scheming: she makes the plans, he gives the orders, and he lays traps while she carries them out. The heir promises her, “If you are willing to serve me, once I achieve my great ambition, there will certainly be a place for you at my side.” She diligently serves as his adviser, but her master begins flirting with her at every turn, seemingly without thinking. Xu Chengning tells herself that the heir has his sights set on the throne, and she can't turn him into a man who loves men. So she stomps out the little deer jumping wildly in her heart. Later, she is pressed onto the empress's throne. “Why all of a sudden...” “It wasn't sudden. This place has always been reserved for you.” What she thought was coincidence was all part of his plan. From then on, by day she is a peerless strategist at the writing desk, and by night she is a beauty on the bed.