The Golden Palace in Turmoil

In her previous life, Lan Xi was a model empress.

She had used her entire clan's power to support an ambitious prince's bid for the throne, and devoted her life to managing his household. Once every bit of her value had been squeezed from her, the emperor embraced his delicate, soft-hearted true love, had her thrown into the Cold Palace, and wiped out the Lan clan, executing the family and confiscating their property.

Even her death was fit for an empress.

In the heavy snows of December, her mutilated remains were thrown into a mass grave, where wild dogs devoured them.

Reborn, she took the sharp sword hidden beneath her pillow into her own hands.

As the eldest legitimate daughter of the venerable Lan clan, the most refined beauty in the land, and a woman who could easily attain wealth and power, why should she stake her love and life on a man?

With sword in hand, she stormed the Golden Hall, cutting down the scoundrel and then his vile mistress.

She would seize the throne, ascend the Phoenix Terrace, protect the Lan clan, and secure its glory.

What was the point of being an empress who ruled the realm?

She would become the Empress Dowager who lived for ten thousand years, a model for all women, and a woman of virtue whose name would be remembered through the ages. She would build a glorious age of peace and prosperity.

As for the men who kept throwing themselves at her...

Don't get in my way.

As for that bunch who kept coming over...