Surrounded by Hungry Ministers

At just twenty-eight, Yun Qingyao stumbled into becoming the Empress Dowager.

She barely knew the four-year-old emperor, who cared only about stuffing his face, but under the court officials' pressure, the two had no choice but to play the loving mother and dutiful son.

After a few days of living in luxury, Yun Qingyao was feeling very comfortable. But the young emperor's position was unstable, and her life and status could both be taken away at any moment.

Unwilling to suffer again or lose her life, she had no choice but to win over the powerful ministers at court.

To her surprise, every one of them was like a ravenous wolf, eyeing her as if she were a choice cut of meat.

The peerlessly beautiful, aloof chief minister tugged at her collar. "If Her Majesty wants my help, she must offer me something I want in exchange."

The wild, overbearing general who commanded the border armies pinched the toe of her shoe. "My troops' tally is something my soldiers earned with blood on the edge of their blades. If Her Majesty wants it, what price is she prepared to pay?"

The cold, uncompromising imperial tutor gripped her wrist. "Teaching His Majesty is my duty. For anything beyond that, I'm afraid Her Majesty will have to work much harder to persuade me."

The haughty, ethereal State Preceptor, who rarely spoke, crumpled her handkerchief. "I don't give my word lightly. I'm afraid Her Majesty will have to come pry it out of me in person."

Faced with four powerful ministers trying to force their way into her life, Yun Qingyao's heart raced and her legs went weak. She had no choice but to humor them all.

The young emperor, who was wholly absorbed in eating, said, "Mother, just wait a little longer. I'll be grown soon, and then I'll kill them all."

Yun Qingyao let out a deep sigh. "You're nothing but a glutton!"