Chen Ying is the least favored concubine-born daughter of the Duke's household, as insignificant as a blade of grass and bullied by everyone.
Her legitimate elder sister, Chen Yue Ru, on the other hand, is the future Crown Princess, betrothed by the Empress Dowager, and a renowned beauty of the capital, known to outsiders for her gentleness and grace.
At a family banquet, her elder sister tried to ruin her virtue, but a twist of fate made Chen Ying the Crown Prince's woman instead.
The legitimate and the concubine-born sisters married into the same household. The younger sister's charm won the ruler's heart, while the elder sister spent every night alone in an empty room.
Unwilling to be neglected, the elder sister swore to suppress Chen Ying at every turn and grind her to dust.
The concubines were jealous of Chen Ying's favor, too, and resorted to every vicious trick.
Step by step, Chen Ying treaded carefully, rising from concubine to consort to empress, climbing from the very bottom to the pinnacle of power.
Everyone who had bullied and humiliated her was ultimately sent to hell by her own hand.
By the time she had made it this far, she had long since stopped hoping for anyone's sincere affection.
But when she stood beside the emperor, his eyes reddened as he asked in a trembling voice:
Was I truly nothing but a tool to you?
