The Chancellor’s Condemned Slave

Lan Qining never imagined that one day she would kneel before him and beg for his help. She resolutely abandoned the childhood sweetheart she'd grown up with in the countryside and, to save her own life, obeyed her family's demands and married the Duke of Jie, a high-ranking official at court, as his second wife. But the throne changed hands amid a storm of upheaval. The late emperor died suddenly without an heir, and his half-brother ascended the throne. Their family had backed the wrong side, and inevitably fell into decline. Meanwhile, five years earlier, he had won the top spot in the imperial examinations and achieved first place in all three rounds. The emperor appointed him a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. Over the years, he had risen to Minister of Personnel and Grand Secretary of the Zhongji Hall, then to Grand Preceptor and tutor to the Crown Prince. He was granted the title of Grand Tutor and a count's stipend, becoming chief minister, the emperor's new favorite and a close confidant of the royal family. She begged him to save her stepson, but the man mocked her. “A man should have the woman in his life kneel at his feet in reverence before all the world, not grovel in the dust, begging others for help.” “A Ning, this is the fine husband you chose?”