The Empress Monopolizes the Emperor's Heart

Synopsis: [Palace drama ★ Aloof Beauty vs. Scheming Emperor]

When Qingzan entered the palace to serve Empress Duan, she didn't know her true purpose.

She didn't know that the Empress was concealing her infertility and needed Qingzan's beauty to entice the Emperor, then needed her womb to bear the imperial heir.

Even more, she didn't know that after fifteen years as a servant, she herself carried the blood of the Duan family. They had meticulously planned her entire life.

If a palace maid were to become a concubine, she could only start as a low-ranking imperial attendant. Later, the plan was to remove the mother and keep the child, so her son would not remember his lowly birth mother, only feeling grateful to the Empress who raised him. If he were to become Crown Prince in the future, he would carry the Duan family's bloodline and recall only the Empress's kindness.

However, the one thing they didn't account for was Qingzan discovering the truth beforehand and proactively confessing everything to the Emperor.

Under the lamp, the Emperor saw a face of profound innocence. Yet, she spoke not of innocence, but of sin: "This servant despises her own insignificance, and has repeatedly failed to live up to Your Majesty's favor, a grave sin indeed. To now be used by others as a tool to scheme against Your Majesty… is a sin upon a sin, unforgivable."

No one could refuse such a face.

The Emperor, noncommittal, released her hand with a faint, enigmatic smile: "Then, shall I point you to a clear path?"

And then that hand lightly tapped the imperial bed beside him.

That night, Qingzan stayed in the Taiji殿. Later, everyone said that the Lady of Chengluan Palace was the gentlest and kindest, no wonder she alone held the Emperor's favor.

However, no one saw the burning hatred and ambition hidden in Qingzan's eyes when she humbly bowed before the Emperor's tent, expressing vulnerability and timidity.

How could someone who survived in the mire of filth be called truly kind?

Qingzan thought, every step she took into the palace gates, towards the Emperor, was indeed not her choice. But that was all in the past.

From now on, she would make the man on the dragon throne hate what she hated, give her what she wanted, and fulfill all her desires. Atoning for all wrongs, being favored above all concubines, and holding the phoenix seal – that was the path she meant to walk.

#Let the Emperor's heart be her blade #Sister, why do you think you lasted a few extra days as Empress? It's simply because I chose not to contend with you before.

Trigger Warnings: 1. Male lead is not a virgin; 2. Slight ensemble cast; 3. Numerous private settings, please do not overanalyze.