The Empress’s Darling: The Heart’s Treasure
朕是娘娘心尖寵
Synopsis
Du Qingxiao was the Empress of the Great Jiang Empire. She died young, only to discover after her death that she had merely been the supporting character in a “white moonlight” romance novel.
By a twist of fate, she is given a second chance at life.
The good news? She is reborn in the body of her twenty-year-old self, just two years after her death.
The bad news? She awakens in a hostile kingdom—and is immediately recruited as a spy.
“The late Emperor and Empress of Great Jiang were deeply devoted to one another. You bear an uncanny resemblance to the late Emperor. Your mission is to become the Empress Dowager’s favorite.”
Du Qingxiao: “…”
First of all, who started that ridiculous rumor that the Emperor and Empress had been deeply in love?
And second…
How had her closest friend, the novel’s heroine, and the unattainable “white moonlight” loved by every male lead ended up becoming her widow, the current Empress Dowager of Great Jiang?
“Stop daydreaming and focus! Learn everything you can about seduction!
Du Qingxiao: “…”
When Du Qingxiao finally appears at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, the entire court is thrown into chaos.
Everyone has the same thought:
This is bad.
The various male leads are especially shaken.
After the late Emperor’s death, they’d finally thought they had a chance to win the Empress Dowager’s heart.
So why had someone appeared who looked exactly like the late Emperor, only younger?
Their eyes instinctively turn toward the Empress Dowager seated upon the throne.
As expected, she smiles softly and extends a hand.
“Come here.”
Du Qingxiao walks over, only to accidentally stumble straight into her embrace.
Seeing the male leads nearly explode with jealousy, she smiles in satisfaction and whispers,
“Alright, you can let go now.”
But the Empress Dowager doesn’t move.
Instead, she tightens her grip on Du Qingxiao’s hand and murmurs in her ear,
“Your Majesty… now that you’ve come back, you’re never leaving again.”
Du Qingxiao: “…?”
Later that night, inside the imperial bedchamber…
“I heard Your Majesty learned quite a few new skills while you were away. I’ve been looking forward to tonight.”
Du Qingxiao replies coldly,
“Prime Minister Luo, this is an act of insubordination.”
Luo Junchao smiles.
“Your Majesty, I’m your Empress now.”
“Between husband and wife… who takes the upper hand doesn’t really matter.”
Only then does Du Qingxiao realize something.
“Wait… why are you, my Empress? My final decree clearly appointed you as Regent.”
Luo Junchao answers as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“I revised the imperial edict.”
She had simply changed Regent…
…to Empress.
Du Qingxiao: “…”
That was outright tampering with an imperial decree.
Luo Junchao gently guides Du Qingxiao’s hand to her pale neck, her voice as tempting as a hook.
“Your Majesty, I know I’ve committed a capital crime.”
“So… will you execute me?”