[A world of misery, villains all around / double lunatics + double heroines + no moral restraints + power over the court + tragic ending. Don’t be fooled by the title or the opening.]

In this world, there is no right or wrong—only people doing what must be done from their own position.

She once felt her heart stir, but it was only that—a fleeting feeling.

One plotted for a lifetime, yet died with hatred, her great vengeance unfulfilled.

The other lived unloved, forever stripped of freedom, trapped within the imperial city.

A deeply scheming, deranged Grand Tutor vs a black-bellied, peerless, deranged princess.

Qi Zhao Qian was a princess who could not see the light of day, raised in the cold palace since childhood, with no one caring whether she lived or died.

Within the imperial city, the bricks and tiles were cold—and so were human hearts.

Being bullied, cursed, and beaten was routine.

Often, her elder sister would step on her, grinding her into the dirt like worthless mud.

Until one day, a slender, elegant hand gripped her chin and leaned close to whisper by her ear:

“You are more suited to that throne than she is.”

In that moment, Qi Zhao Qian’s gaze fell upon the imperial throne—and upon the world itself.

A single imperial edict pulled her into the vortex. She understood what Yun Yu Bo’s words meant: that she was more obedient than the eldest princess, more suitable to be called a puppet, and far easier to control.

But she forgot—she was no caged bird. How could she resign herself to being a puppet for life, a powerless chess piece forever?

(Everyone said the eldest princess was destined to ascend the throne. But on that day, in wind and driving rain, all the court officials knelt in submission as Qi Zhao Qian walked into the great hall, step by step, carrying her elder sister’s head in her hand, and sat upon the dragon throne…)

“If my dear sister can sit on this throne, why can’t I?”

Zhao Su arrived here in the 35th year of Emperor Jiajing.

His first wish was only to have a satisfactory meal.

This is a story of a boy who goes from being a poverty-stricken son of a concubine to becoming the Grand Secretary of the Great Ming.

This is also a tragic story of hard work, to train the little bratty child to become the promising young emperor, but in the end he was overwhelmed by the brat.

This is the best time period, Jiajing Emperor, Zhang Juzheng, Xu Jie, Yan Song, stars gathering, fighting openly.

This is also the worst time period, the Emperor is obsessed with achieving immortality, the court officials are forming factions, the court is a dog eat dog arena, the country is also facing internal and external conflict. The North has the Tartar, the Southeast has the Wukou, as well as heavy taxes. The common people cannot stand the hardship, the entire Ming dynasty is on the brink of collapse.

What can his existence change?

Jiang Ci and Li Chenglin had only met a few times, yet on the day Jiang Ci was sentenced to death, the always composed and dignified Princess Royal lost her cool for the first time. She risked the crime of treason by leading troops to storm the imperial prison, and in front of countless witnesses, she called Jiang Ci by her childhood name and pulled her into her embrace.

Only then did Jiang Ci realize: she had a face that Li Chenglin could never forget.

After being reborn, Jiang Ci proceeded with caution, deliberately drawing close to Li Chenglin.

She intended to use this face to confuse her, deceive her, seduce her. As long as she could achieve her goal, she didn’t care about being just a substitute.

She incited her to rebel and seize the throne—but when Li Chenglin insisted on making her Empress, Jiang Ci faked her death in an attempt to escape.

What she didn’t expect was that Li Chenglin would descend into madness, refusing to bury her, hugging her “corpse” to sleep every night, and whispering in her ear with near insanity:

> “A’Ci, since you’ve provoked me, don’t even think of escaping. Even in death, you will forever belong to me.”

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Reader Notes:

★ Alternate universe with mixed genres and personal worldbuilding. Please don’t take it as historically accurate.

★ The female lead is not actually a substitute—the misunderstanding is hers at the beginning.

★ The cover is a purchased design template, not exclusive artwork.

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Tags:

Power vs. power

Court and nobility

Chosen one

Woman disguised as a man

Serious drama

Main Character POV: Jiang Ci

Main Interaction: Li Chenglin

One-line Summary: This subject welcomes Her Royal Highness to ascend the throne.

Theme: Be a self that cannot be defined by others.

Surrender! You can still live an independent life. I will never interfere in the internal affairs of a vassal state! Greece: Sounds great. We can't defeat them anyway, so surrender. The protagonist, receiving the reward notification, gives a satisfied hand...

Lin Xuan never expected to wake up in the game world he created—especially not as a doomed survivor of the fallen dynasty, marked for death in just a few years by the rebellion of the five Kings. Determined to rewrite his fate, Lin Xuan hatches a desperate escape plan.

His unlikely partner in this scheme? Zhao Yuehan, an unassuming official from the Ministry of Commerce. However, there’s a twist: Zhao Yuehan is not only disguised as a man but also alarmingly calm in the face of Lin Xuan’s constant cries of impending doom.

“Brother Zhao, the Empress Dowager will die soon. Let’s run away together!”

“Brother Zhao, the five Kings are about to rebel. Let’s run away together!”

“Brother Zhao, the Empress herself will die soon. Let’s—run away together!”

However, Zhao Yuehan seems far more interested in Lin Xuan’s surprisingly accurate knowledge of national affairs, forcing him to answer questions he’d rather dodge. Little does he know that Zhao Yuehan’s true identity is far more explosive than he could ever imagine.

When the legendary Empress Ji Handan—alive, powerful, and very much not dead—suddenly confronts Lin Xuan, she drops a bombshell:

“I’m the Empress you claimed would die soon, and you even suggested I run away with you! Care to explain that, Lin Xuan?”

Now caught between the looming rebellion, Zhao Yuehan’s sharp intellect, and the Empress’s undeniable authority, Lin Xuan must navigate a web of political intrigue, hidden identities, and his wildly unpredictable destiny.

Mu Yu accidentally traveled through time and space and became a little beggar who had just starved to death in a chaotic world where people were suffering. This was arguably the worst start in the history of time travel.

Fortunately, I still have the artifact Mustard Seed Space in my hand, with water and fields, so I can survive for a while and not starve to death.

From then on, she began her life of farming and struggling in troubled times.

She devoted herself to farming, but unexpectedly she fought her way up from a beggar to the lord of Huangsha City...

Rong Zheng heard that she had transmigrated into a book — an old-fashioned tragic romance novel where the Crown Princess pursues her white moonlight Crown Prince. The male lead abuses the female lead, her family, and her friends. Despite all this, the Crown Princess, covered in wounds, ends up winning over the Crown Prince, and they end up together.

But Rong Zheng’s arrival seems to have changed things. She firmly believes that by playing the opposite role, her life will take a different path.

In Taohua County, when the old eunuch asks her to act as a fake Crown Prince, she chooses instead to become the real Crown Prince.

When the Empress Dowager forces her to break off the engagement upon returning to the palace, she proposes to the female lead.

The Emperor at the main hall and the Empress Dowager of Ciming Palace want to make her a mere pawn? She chooses to turn the tables.

Even the princes covet her woman? Want to snatch the Crown Prince’s position? Not worthy!

Various traitors and rebels want to harm her father-in-law, but she’s already set traps waiting for them.

Those who try to force her will be left nowhere to hide. When enemies try to assassinate her, the legendary Qianqiu Yan sword sweeps across thousands of troops — one man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot break through.

She fiercely protects her: "I’m here. Who dares to touch her!"

Until the day the plot concludes, Rong Zheng recalls the unbeatable achievements she once reached.

“I am ultimately above all.”

“No one dares command me.”

Qianqiu Yan turns over on the dragon throne, weak and delicate: “My back aches.”

Rong Zheng immediately rushes to massage her wife: “I’m here.”

Fake Crown Prince: a weak but cunning husband devoted to his wife

Real Female Lead Crown Princess: gentle with overwhelming combat power

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Upcoming Releases:

(Mistakenly following the villainous female supporting character’s script)

(New serial: The Concubine Wife)

(I Have Ended the Turbulent Era)

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PS: The female lead husband is of royal blood. This is not a usurpation — the usurper is the current emperor.

Trigger warning: Alternate history, no overthinking.

Announcement for VIP readers: Released on December 26 with three chapters on the same day. The author warmly welcomes all angels to visit.

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Theme: Survive in times of crisis, break through the puppet’s shell, and live a brand new self.

Seven years ago, a heavy snowfall in Chang’an marked the arrival of the Eastern Palace’s first mistress — a crown princess from the southern kingdom. The eight-year-old crown prince timidly held her hand as they completed this absurd and laughable royal marriage.

Seven years later, beneath a sky full of blooming flowers in the southern kingdom, Nanke takes one step after another toward the Eastern Palace, continuing the unfinished promise of that paper-thin marriage contra

The East River Alliance is the world’s biggest clan. Its chief, Mei Changsu, arrived at the royal capital Jinling under the alias of Su Zhe. He brought with him storms of disturbances and fogs of mysteries.

A noble young master with dual identities, a Crown Prince and Prince Yu battling for the crown, the empire’s greatest warrior with the Royal Guards in his grasp, a beautiful princess who commands over the border’s cavalry…

Amongst these distinguished and powerful people, how did the inconspicuous Su Zhe become the heart of everything?

Could the hand behind the scenes of the whirlwind be the remnants of a previous storm?

Is he the young general who pursues enemies in snowy nights, or the shadowy tactician with a sickly body who won’t see old age?

He returns to the old place and reunites with old friends. He plots and schemes. What is he trying to achieve?

This is a story of dark conspiracies and brotherly bonds. Before this story reaches its end, perhaps you can change its course…

Before Min Dai married into the palace, the fourth master held on to his money bag tightly, as he was a miser!

After Min Dai married into the palace, the fourth master touched his empty money bag and asked his wife if she could leave some for him?

A scheming woman wants to marry into the palace?

Min Dai: Come on, come on, I don’t mind spending all his salary on your dowry!

The unscrupulous prince sent a beautiful singer! Min Dai: This look is worth a lot of money, sell it!

The maids in the backyard...

Fu Jin, I will comb your favorite bun!

Fu Jin, I will make your favorite snacks!

Fu Jin, are your shoulders sore? I can pinch them!

We will serve you! Please don’t sell them!

The fourth master: I thought he could enjoy the blessing of having many wives, but it turns out that we are all here to serve his wife.

Oh, oh, oh... Who is the head of the family?