High-IQ palace intrigue.
The story of Noble Consort Wenxi of the Kangxi Emperor, a strong woman who rose to power.
This book does not alter history. Historians are welcome to scrutinize it.
You open your eyes to find your stepmother bullying you? No problem. Before the palace selection, I'll serve you a meal and send you off to a corner to enjoy it.
You enter the palace and someone tries to harm you? No problem. Pick one of the three standard execution packages on your one-day tour of the Cold Palace.
You have barely won the emperor's favor when a trusted aide betrays you? No problem. You deserve the water-dripping torture package invented by King Zhou.
You become a consort and your sisters turn against you? No problem. I'll personally proclaim you empress, dress you in a phoenix robe and crown with my own hands, then send you on a one-day tour of the Western Paradise.
The emperor, after doting on you for years, takes a fancy to someone else? No problem. I'll help you abort the new favorite's pregnancy right in front of you, then hang her from the city wall to dry for three days.
History says I should be dead by now?
Not happening. I'll live, and someone else will die in my place.
I have to outlive that scumbag and spend at least a few days as empress dowager, don't I?
