The people of Dayu all know that the most outstanding member of the Dayu royal family in this generation is not the emperor, nor any prince or grandson, but the eldest princess, Nie Yuhuang.

She was the only child of the Empress Yuan and the eldest daughter of the current emperor, born into a position of great privilege as a princess.

Nie Yuhuang was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, mastering everything she learned quickly. What's even more commendable is that she showed no signs of being spoiled or pampered.

When she was four years old, Empress Yuan died.

The old emperor married a second empress, but he did not neglect his eldest daughter. He often cared about her daily life and would hold her on his lap while reviewing memorials.

The little princess loved playing with weapons, so the old emperor hired the best martial arts instructors for her and personally taught her horseback riding and archery.

The Empress soon gave birth to Prince Nie Ming. After that, the concubines in the harem suffered miscarriages one after another, and even those who were lucky enough to give birth to princes soon died.

More than a decade has passed, and the entire harem only has six princesses. The empress injured her body during childbirth and has no more children.

The old emperor's health deteriorated, and he gradually stopped visiting the harem.

Therefore, the only prince, Nie Ming, naturally became the crown prince.

When Nie Yuhuang was seventeen, the Wumeng Kingdom launched a large-scale invasion.

The old emperor was bedridden, the court was prosperous in literature but weak in military affairs, and the Wumeng army defeated him one after another, four border cities fell, and the people were massacred.

In the face of danger, seventeen-year-old Nie Yuhuang personally donned armor and led the Dayu soldiers to repel the enemy, reclaim lost territory, and behead the Khan of Wumeng.

He became famous overnight.

The princess in her red robes and silver armor, along with her blood-soaked red-tasseled spear, struck fear into the hearts of enemy soldiers and were revered as a deity by the people on the border.

After returning to the palace, the old emperor rewarded Nie Yuhuang handsomely, and the ministers also treated her with great respect, saying that it would be great if Princess Yuhuang were a prince.

The old emperor's illness worsened, and he often looked at her and sighed, lost in thought.

When she was eighteen, the old emperor betrothed her to Xu Shize, the newly appointed top scholar in the imperial examination.

Xu Shize was a talented and charming man, and he was gentle and considerate towards Nie Yuhuang. Everyone said that they were a perfect match, a match made in heaven.

Nie Yuhuang gradually fell in love with her husband.

The old emperor had been ill, and Nie Yuhuang attended to him every day, serving him his meals and medicine, and personally testing the temperature of the medicine before administering it.

The old emperor always looked at her with affection: "Huang'er, you are your father's proudest child."

Nie Yuhuang said, "Then Father, please get well soon. After my child is born, you will teach him to ride a horse and shoot arrows."

The old emperor paused for a moment, then said, "Very well, Huang'er's child will surely be just as outstanding as you."

A month later, the old emperor was on his deathbed. The empress, the crown prince, several trusted ministers, and Nie Yuhuang all knelt before the emperor's bed.

"Huang'er, your father is failing. Our Great Yu is counting on you. Your younger brother is still young. He can't control the court officials, nor can he keep the ambitious vassal kings in check, and there's also... and the covetous Wumeng Kingdom."

"By imperial decree, Princess Nie Yuhuang, who is both learned and skilled in martial arts, loyal to the emperor and patriotic, is hereby granted the title of Princess Zhenguo, to hold the Tiger Tally and to act as regent until the new emperor assumes full power."

Then she lowered her head, her eyes cold and full of resentment.

With tears in her eyes, Nie Yuhuang accepted the imperial decree: "Father, rest assured, Yuhuang will definitely protect Dayu and my younger brother."

The old emperor turned to look at the empress and said coldly, "The empress and I are deeply in love. When I pass away, the empress will be buried with me."

The Empress Dowager cried out in alarm, "Your Majesty, spare my life! I don't want to die..."

"Father, please spare Mother..."

The old emperor ignored the mother and son who were kowtowing and begging for mercy, and only looked at Nie Yuhuang, his cloudy tears flowing down his face.

"My dear Huang'er, I... I'm so sorry."

After leaving these words, the old emperor breathed his last.

"Father, Father..."

Nie Yuhuang was heartbroken, and Xu Shi pulled her into his arms, saying, "Princess, please take care of yourself. You are pregnant."

When the old emperor died, the empress was buried with him, and Crown Prince Nie Ming ascended the throne.

During the morning court session, an extra chair was placed to one side of the dragon throne, hidden behind a beaded curtain, and Nie Yuhuang sat behind the curtain.

Princess Nie Yuhuang, who was only nineteen years old, became the de facto "Regent".

Half a month later, Nie Yuhuang suddenly vomited blood and fainted. When she woke up again, her four-month-old baby was gone.

The imperial physician said that she would never have any more children.

At the same time, she lost feeling in both legs and could no longer carry a gun, ride a horse, or fight on the battlefield.

They investigated thoroughly, killing many people, but they still couldn't figure out how she was poisoned.

Putting aside her beloved armor and silver spear, Nie Yuhuang sat in a wheelchair dressed in palace attire, her former liveliness and radiance replaced by a forced coldness and majesty.

The new emperor is young and weak, the court officials are cunning, the vassal kings are restless, and the enemy states are eyeing the country covetously.

Nie Yuhuang dared not relax in the slightest. Her father had entrusted the country and its people to her, and she had to protect them no matter what.

This vigil lasted for seven years.

She also earned the title of "Shura Princess".

Princess Nie Yuhuang of the Asura Realm is cold-blooded and ruthless, and she is cruel to court officials, to the emperor, and even more so to herself.

That's not the case. With a crippled princess and a weak and useless little emperor, she would have been devoured long ago, leaving not even bones behind.

She was only vulnerable in front of one person: her husband, Xu Shize.

Nie Yuhuang was unable to have children, had a disability in both legs, and was busy with court affairs all day, so she had no time to spend with him.

But Xu Shi showed no disgust or complaint, remaining gentle and considerate towards her for years.

Even when Nie Yuhuang offered him permission to take a concubine and have children, he firmly refused.

"Ayu is the best woman in the world. I don't want anyone else, I'll only be your support."

Nie Ming married the prime minister's daughter at the age of sixteen and became a father at seventeen, with princes and princesses being born one after another.

Even when she was very busy, Nie Yuhuang never neglected her younger brother, teaching him how to handle state affairs and waiting for him to come of age so she could return power to him.

But clearly, Nie Ming didn't think that way.

Before his death, his mother told him that as long as Nie Yuhuang was around, he would always be a puppet and could never become the true master of Dayu.

Therefore, while he outwardly showed great respect to Nie Yuhuang, he secretly wished for her to die sooner.

Half a month before Nie Ming's coming-of-age ceremony, Wumeng attacked again.

At this critical juncture, Nie Yuhuang could not possibly leave this mess to Nie Ming.

She planned to hand over Taiping Dayu and the Tiger Tally to Nie Ming after defeating the enemy, and she also told him her plans frankly.

Nie Ming verbally agreed, but when he turned around, his face was twisted with hatred.

Those people are right. Nie Yuhuang is a traitor and has no intention of returning the country to him.

A few days later, Nie Yuhuang drank the soup that Xu Shize personally fed her, and then lost consciousness.

Ever since she was poisoned years ago, she has been very careful about what she puts in her mouth. But this time, she let her guard down in front of her lover and was poisoned.

She woke up again in the prison, with thick iron chains around her ankles and her collarbones pierced through.

A spirited Nie Ming stood outside the prison, toying with the tiger tally in his hand, with Xu Shize standing beside him.

"Royal sister, you never expected this, did you? You, a princess who protects the country, actually fell into the hands of your good-for-nothing brother whom you despise the most."

Nie Yuhuang didn't even look at him, only staring intently at Xu Shize.

She didn't cry, question, or curse; that wasn't her style.

Nie Yuhuang laughed nonchalantly: "The victor is king, the loser is villain. I'm blind and heartless, so I'll just accept my defeat."

Looking at his elder sister, who was imprisoned and looked disheveled, yet still exuded a noble air that made him feel ashamed, Nie Ming gritted his teeth and said:

"You forced me into this situation; you have only yourself to blame."

"Still so petty. What's done is done, no excuses needed. I've been teaching you for so many years, and you're still so uncouth. But at least you're starting to look like an emperor."