Wang Cuihua was a fresh-faced corporate drone, whose name perfectly matched her personality—rustic with a hint of humor. After two years in the workforce, worn down by the constant nitpicking of her boss and clients, even her loftiest ambitions had been ground into dust.
Not that she had any ambitions to begin with. Her life philosophy was to muddle through each day, and her only hobby was reading web novels—though "hobby" was a stretch. It was more of a necessity, given the endless subway commutes with nothing else to pass the time.
Two years of this had turned Wang Cuihua into a seasoned novel connoisseur. By the third line, she could usually predict the entire plot.
On her way home today, she clicked on a mindless book transmigration novel.
The title, Transmigration: The Devil's Beloved Consort , screamed trash from the get-go. The only reason she kept reading was that the opening mirrored her own situation almost exactly: "Ma Chunchun was an ordinary corporate drone. One day, on her way home from work, she clicked on a brainless palace intrigue novel…"
Is this… about me? Wang Cuihua’s interest piqued slightly, and she read on.
Ma Chunchun accidentally transmigrated into the palace intrigue novel East Wind Blooms a Thousand Flowers , becoming the cannon fodder female character.
This cannon fodder’s life was a tragedy—forced into the imperial selection process, dragged into the imperial harem intrigue, and at the mercy of an unreasonable tyrant emperor. To survive, she allied with others to persecute the female lead, only to meet a gruesome end in the power struggles.
Meanwhile, the female lead, beloved by all, was cunning and manipulative. She feigned submission to the tyrant while secretly conspiring with a certain prince. In the end, she helped the prince assassinate the tyrant, paving the way for his ascension and her own coronation as empress—the pinnacle of her life.
After transmigrating into the cannon fodder, Ma Chunchun immediately began her counterattack. Through a series of schemes, she caught the prince’s attention before the female lead could, hijacking the original plotline. After forcing the tyrant to his death, she even had the female lead executed as a sacrificial offering, ultimately becoming the most revered empress in history.
At this point, Wang Cuihua lost interest. She’d read too many novels—this kind of counterattack plot was at least the eighteenth iteration she’d come across.
Just as she was about to exit and switch to another mindless power fantasy to kill time, a deafening boom filled her ears, and her vision was swallowed by blinding white light.
Dizzy and disoriented, Wang Cuihua was sucked into her phone, plunging headfirst into the very novel she had scoffed at.
When she came to, Wang Cuihua remained eerily calm. Her first instinct was to find a mirror and confirm who she had transmigrated into.
The original Transmigration: The Devil's Beloved Consort had no illustrations, but the descriptions were detailed enough. The cannon fodder female had been a plain, delicate flower—until Ma Chunchun took over and used makeup to stun the world.
Staring at her reflection—an effortlessly stunning face clearly free of cosmetics—Wang Cuihua was overcome with despair.
Of course. The cannon fodder role had already been taken. It wasn’t going to be handed to her.
Instead, she had transmigrated into the original female lead, the one destined to be persecuted to death by the cannon fodder—Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin (formerly Wang Cuihua) was seized by panic.
She had skimmed through this novel so quickly that she only remembered the broad strokes of the plot.
Judging by her current attire, she had just entered the palace as a concubine.
The cannon fodder had entered the palace at the same time and had already been taken over by Ma Chunchun. Soon, she would meet her destined love—Prince Duan, a man of humble origins but exceptional talent. The two would share countless romantic moments across a hundred thousand words, navigate two hundred chapters of love and betrayal, and ultimately scheme their way to overthrowing the tyrant.After the tyrant's death, Yu Wanyin was granted three feet of white silk. From her tearful pleas to her burial, it took only three hundred words in total.
Yu Wanyin knew all too well—the Cannon Fodder Female was only nominally cannon fodder. In the world of Transmigration: The Devil's Beloved Consort , she was the true chosen one, while Yu Wanyin herself was merely a stumbling block on her destined path, utterly powerless to resist.
If she wanted to survive, her best option was to seek out the true destined one, Prince Duan, before the Cannon Fodder Female could.
But her instincts told her this wouldn’t work.
First, the Cannon Fodder Female was a villain.
The novel was titled The Devil's Beloved Consort , and the Cannon Fodder Female’s character was vengeful, ruthless, and cunning—a stark departure from the traditional virtuous heroine. She had triumphed in the end through endless schemes.
Now, both the Cannon Fodder Female and the protagonist had been transmigrated into. Two transmigrators with the same script were fighting for the same survival route. It was inevitable that they would resort to underhanded tactics against each other for Prince Duan’s favor, battling to the death in a bloody struggle.
Second, Prince Duan was also a villain.
Though the original text described him as resourceful, decisive, and courageous, perspective dictated stance. To Yu Wanyin now, he was nothing but a scheming old fox. If two transmigrators fought ruthlessly in front of him, he would undoubtedly grow suspicious.
Even if she ultimately defeated the Cannon Fodder Female and helped him ascend the throne, he would discard her like a used tool—killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.
After a quick calculation, Yu Wanyin concluded: she had to forge her own path.
In this story where everyone was a villain, if she wanted to carve out a bloody road to survival, she had to become the greatest villain of all—first help the tyrant crush Prince Duan, then overthrow the tyrant, and crown herself Empress.
As Yu Wanyin pondered this, a delicate maidservant entered, her face pale as she delivered the standard line: "Miss, let me prepare your makeup. Tonight, you must serve His Majesty well. Do not be careless..."
"Tonight?" Yu Wanyin was startled, then realized.
She had transmigrated at the perfect moment—tonight was her turn to attend the Emperor in bed.
Judging by the maidservant’s hesitant expression, torn between wanting to advise and not daring to speak, the original host had been unwilling.
According to the novel’s plot, she would resist the tyrant at every turn due to her feelings for Prince Duan. When she could refuse no longer, she would shed a single, exquisitely tragic tear in bed.
The tyrant would smile at this and kick her straight into the Secluded Palace.
Prince Duan would have originally encountered her there during a palace visit, but the Cannon Fodder Female would intercept him at the gates. Losing her chance to win the destined one’s heart, she would descend into a petty rivalry with the Cannon Fodder Female, scheming and backstabbing until her fate spiraled into ruin.
If Yu Wanyin wanted to turn the tables, tonight was her last chance. She had to move the tyrant, secure a strategic alliance with him, and crush Prince Duan and the Cannon Fodder Female first.
Yu Wanyin was determined to succeed.
If the Cannon Fodder Female could transform herself with makeup, why should she, the protagonist, go bare-faced? They were both corporate drones—who couldn’t flatter a client with a few well-placed compliments? Yu Wanyin had long since figured it out: in these kinds of stories, the Emperor played the role of the client—demanding both sunshine and seduction, madness and wit, all wrapped in poise.
After two years of corporate torment under clients, she had plenty of experience. She refused to believe she couldn’t win over this so-called tyrant.Yu Wanyin smiled. "That... what's-her-name..." She paused to recall. "Xiao Mei, just help me with my hairstyle. I'll handle the rest myself."
After studying the ancient cosmetics before her, she powdered her face, darkened her brows, applied rouge, and adorned her forehead with a delicate decoration. The already stunning beauty was now transformed into a freshly manifested fox spirit, all under the stunned gaze of her maid as she finished dressing.
"Well?"
Xiao Mei hesitated even more. "Miss, isn't this look a bit too... bold?"
"No problem," Yu Wanyin replied confidently. In the original story, the Tyrant had a weakness for this very style—after the Cannon Fodder Female embraced the seductive route, she had even gained some Imperial Favor. And with the protagonist's baseline beauty, the impact of this appearance would only multiply exponentially.
Since there was no escaping it anyway, she might as well turn passivity into initiative and face life with the mindset of heading into battle.
Yu Wanyin walked through the palace, basking in the awed stares of eunuchs and maids, until she was escorted to the Emperor's bedchamber.
The moment she stepped inside, the temperature seemed to drop by two degrees.
The room was eerily silent, suffused with an air of death. The Tyrant, who suffered from chronic migraines, lay on the bed as someone massaged his temples. Most of his figure was obscured by the bed curtains, and from Yu Wanyin's angle, all she could see was a pale hand dangling over the edge.
The medical attendant kneading his temples trembled with fear, terrified that a single misplaced touch might earn her a one-way trip to an unmarked grave.
The eunuch guiding her announced, "Your Majesty, Consort Yu has arrived."
Yu Wanyin knelt gracefully before the bed, exuding charm.
She could feel a gaze resting on the top of her head, but after a long wait, all she heard from behind the curtains was a cold, weary voice: "Get out."
Yu Wanyin looked up in shock.
This definitely hadn’t happened in the original story.
The Tyrant's guards, ever quick to anger, didn’t know what she had done to offend him but immediately seized her arms, ready to drag her out.
Yu Wanyin: "???"
Before she could even strategize how to fight for her fate, the guards halted again. The voice behind the curtains now carried a hint of irritation: "Does she have to die if she doesn’t stay to Attend the Emperor in bed?"
The guards: "?"
Confused but certain that kowtowing for mercy was never wrong, they dropped to their knees. "Spare us, Your Majesty!"
The Tyrant only seemed more impatient. Yu Wanyin watched as that pale hand waved dismissively, and all the attendants filed out in silence, leaving her alone in the vast chamber.
After kneeling for a while with no further instructions, Yu Wanyin gathered her courage and reached out to part the bed curtains.
Xiahou Dan, the reigning Emperor, was breathtakingly beautiful.
While reading the original story, Yu Wanyin had internally mocked the author for being a shameless admirer of good looks—not only was the male lead, Prince Duan, described as peerlessly handsome, but even the antagonist Emperor was unnecessarily gorgeous.
Seeing him up close now was even more overwhelming.
His brows and eyes were like ink, his lips red as blood. There wasn’t a trace of righteousness in his features; instead, a gloomy, malevolent aura clung to his expression, like a demon even a millennium-old monk couldn’t exorcise.
Yu Wanyin, with her fox-spirit makeup, locked eyes with him and suddenly understood the literal meaning of "the apprentice witch meeting the grand sorcerer."
Clearly not expecting her to approach, he frowned but remained silent.
Intimidated by his presence, Yu Wanyin forgot all the lines she had prepared.
The two of them stared at each other in baffled silence until, after a long moment, Xiahou Dan finally parted his thin lips and spoke: "That... what's-her-name..."Yu Wanyin: “???”
Yu Wanyin reminded him: “Consort Yu.”
The reigning Tyrant readily complied: “Ah, Consort Yu. Just make do with a makeshift bed on the floor for the night.”
With that, he rolled over on the spot, ready to sleep.
Yu Wanyin was utterly dumbfounded.
She stood frozen, replaying the Emperor’s words and actions since their meeting, carefully pondering that eerie sense of déjà vu. Finally, she couldn’t resist testing the waters again: “…Your Majesty?”
The reigning Tyrant turned his head impatiently once more: “What now?”
Yu Wanyin asked as if in a dream: “How are you?”
Xiahou Dan fell silent for a long moment, his eyes reddening: “I’m fine, and you?”
Ten minutes later, the two major antagonists from the original story sat facing each other, exchanging information.
Xiahou Dan: “I transmigrated in just two hours ago. At the time, I was lying on a cruise ship, basking in the sun, sipping champagne, and scrolling through my phone when a stupid pop-up appeared, recommending this novel… The next thing I knew, I closed and opened my eyes, and here I am.”
Yu Wanyin: “Two hours ago? Basking in the sun? I was on my way home from work then—it was already dark out. Were you on the other side of the ocean?”
Xiahou Dan nodded: “On vacation.”
Yu Wanyin was speechless: “Don’t tell me you’re one of those legendary domineering CEOs.”
Xiahou Dan: “I don’t know about domineering, but I am indeed a CEO, living quite comfortably.” He smacked his knee at this point, adding, “Damn it! How did I end up in this place where there’s not even a bathroom heater, waiting to die with a brain tumor on top of it all!”
With his venomous beauty face and those crimson lips flapping away, the scene was surreal.
Yu Wanyin forced herself to accept this setting: “…Calm down first. Your migraines might not be from a brain tumor. If a tumor were pressing on nerves, there’d likely be other clinical symptoms.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Not at all, just guessing. Look on the bright side—maybe you’ve been poisoned slowly.”
Xiahou Dan: “?”
Xiahou Dan: “So, have you read this novel or not? What’s my current situation?”
Yu Wanyin: “I did, but I skimmed through it, not very carefully. In short, your mother hates you, and your elder brother Prince Duan hates you too. Your concubines hate you, and your ministers hate you. According to the original plot, I also hate you.”
“What unspeakable crimes have I committed?!”
Yu Wanyin sighed: “Your mother isn’t your birth mother and didn’t raise you properly. You also suffer from migraines, making you paranoid and cruel since childhood. By now, all the loyal officials at court have either been executed or exiled. You’ve also enacted a bunch of terrible policies, stirring public outrage. According to the original story, you’ll be overthrown by Prince Duan near the end.”
Xiahou Dan: “…How do I die?”
Yu Wanyin thought carefully: “Forgot. By then, I was so tired of reading that I skipped several pages. Probably assassinated, but the exact year, month, or who did it—I really can’t say.”
Yu Wanyin was starting to believe the man before her truly was a CEO who had weathered storms. After a long silence, he calmly asked: “What about you? Judging by your character’s face, you don’t seem like a good person either.”Yu Wanyin admitted, "Yes, the villain. Normally, the female lead in a romance novel would have a bunch of toxic family members and backstabbing best friends. But since I’m the villain, there aren’t such detailed settings. It seems I was sent into the palace by my family as a pawn, but I fell in love with Prince Duan and ended up scheming against the cannon fodder female at every turn. Naturally, I lost miserably in the end. After you died, I was buried with you."
Xiahou Dan: "Oh."
They exchanged a glance, reaching a silent agreement in that moment: to survive, they must form a strategic alliance and collude like wolves in the night.
Xiahou Dan proposed the first plan: "I’ll just kill both of them right now."
Finally, he said something that matched his face.
Yu Wanyin shook her head. "Eighty percent chance it won’t work. Your power has already been hollowed out—killing Prince Duan won’t be easy. Besides, those two are the chosen ones in the original story. All the main plotlines revolve around them. If we kill them outright, it’d be like cutting the book in half. Whether we can survive after that is anyone’s guess."
"So, what’s your proposal?"
"We can only control the variables first, tweak the plot bit by bit, see what consequences it triggers, and then plan accordingly..."
Xiahou Dan raised a finger. "Hold on. In the original story, our characters didn’t transmigrate into the book, right? Now that we’re here, will the cannon fodder female still be transmigrated? And if all three of us are transmigrators, what about Prince Duan? Is he still the original?"
Yu Wanyin: "I have an idea to confirm their identities."
The next day, the cannon fodder female Xie Yong’er was sitting before her mirror, getting ready, when a maid hurried in excitedly. "Miss, I heard His Majesty is hosting a palace banquet, and all the consorts are invited! You should dress up nicely. I’ve recently learned two fashionable hairstyles..."
Xie Yong’er smiled. "You’re full of ideas." She obediently let the maid fuss over her hair, but a shadow flickered in her eyes.
No one knew that the so-called Xie Yong’er had already been replaced—her body was now controlled by Ma Chunchun, who had transmigrated into the book.
Ma Chunchun had no idea that a novel called Transmigration: The Devil's Beloved Consort existed, nor that someone from a higher plane had already read through her entire life.
To her, she had transmigrated into this world while reading a palace intrigue novel called East Wind Blooms a Thousand Flowers at Night . She was the only real person here, omniscient and omnipotent, holding the fate of all the paper dolls in her hands.
For example, the female lead Yu Wanyin had already secretly fallen for Prince Duan, Xiahou Bo, and was sent to the Secluded Palace last night for failing to serve the Emperor properly. Today, Prince Duan would encounter her again at the Secluded Palace’s gates, sparking a romance.
Her task was to intercept Prince Duan before Yu Wanyin could, stealing the plotline that originally belonged to the female lead.
Thinking of this, Xie Yong’er turned to the maid as if casually asking, "Sister Wan Yin went to attend the Emperor last night—I wonder how she’s doing now. Any news?"
The maid replied, "I heard His Majesty was in high spirits last night. This morning, he issued an edict promoting Consort Yu to Imperial Concubine Yu."
Xie Yong’er’s hand trembled, and a hairpin clattered onto the table.
How could this be? Had her arrival caused the original plotline to deviate?But it didn't matter—she could handle this. As long as she firmly grasped the main storyline, her path forward would be bright.
Xie Yong'er changed into plain clothes that didn't reveal her status and applied the exquisite makeup she took pride in. Relying on her memory of the original text of East Wind Blooms a Thousand Trees at Night , she wandered through the rear palace, quickly locating the vicinity of the Secluded Palace. There, she lay in wait at a spot Prince Duan was bound to pass.
She knew that before long, Prince Duan would come to this place to secretly exchange intelligence with his informant in the palace.
Sure enough, after a short while, footsteps approached. Xie Yong'er turned her head to see the young prince strolling leisurely toward her, clad in a white Python Robe, a golden crown upon his head, and a jade belt at his waist—his noble bearing unmatched.
Even when unexpectedly encountering someone near the Secluded Palace, he showed no trace of panic. Instead, he claimed to be lost and asked for directions with a dazzlingly graceful demeanor.
Xie Yong'er gazed back at him shyly and timidly, successfully capturing the admiration in his eyes.
Without revealing her identity, she simply said, "Let me take you there."
They walked side by side, conversing pleasantly. Only when they neared their destination did she take a step back. "I shouldn't go any further. Your Highness, please proceed slowly."
Prince Duan was taken aback. "Who are you?"
Only then did she disclose her identity. "This humble one is a concubine of the palace."
A flicker of disappointment flashed in Prince Duan's eyes. "I thought you were a palace official..."
Watching his reluctant retreating figure, Xie Yong'er allowed a faint smile to curl at her lips.
The grand scheme was set.
The next day, Xie Yong'er still had no choice but to attend the palace banquet.
Following the other concubines, she took her seat in order of rank and discreetly lifted her gaze to behold the legendary Tyrant.
Xiahou Dan reclined lazily, one hand propped on the table, his unbound hair cascading down like a waterfall, his beauty almost demonic. Had one not known the cruel nature beneath that fair exterior, a single glance might have been enough to bewitch and destroy them utterly.
To her surprise, there was a lovely figure pressed close to the Tyrant's side, pouring wine and serving dishes with attentive care.
Yu Wanyin had been enfeoffed as a consort, and even her attire had been upgraded—a pomegranate-red palace dress with golden hairpins, her triumphant smile radiant as clouds at sunset. Already alluring by nature, standing cheek-to-cheek with Xiahou Dan, whispering intimately, the scene was utterly out of control—like the grand opening of the Spider Cave.
Xie Yong'er was somewhat astonished. It seemed her arrival had indeed altered the plot. This Yu Wanyin hadn't angered the Tyrant into being banished to the Secluded Palace but had instead won his favor and been enfeoffed as a consort.
Of course, she had no interest in that short-lived consort position. Who would have the last laugh remained to be seen.
With this thought, she kept an even lower profile, keeping her head down and blending into the crowd, unwilling to draw unnecessary attention.
Yet against her wishes, after three rounds of drinks, she heard Yu Wanyin's honeyed suggestion: "Your Majesty, the atmosphere is just right. Why not have the sisters present their songs and dances to showcase their talents?"
Xie Yong'er knew this female lead must have prepared a performance in advance to steal the spotlight and inwardly scoffed in disdain.
But the Tyrant, who knew what kind of Bewitching Soup she had fed him, clapped his hands in approval. "A splendid idea. Whoever performs poorly shall be buried on the spot."
The concubines immediately trembled like chaff in a sieve.
Xie Yong'er watched the pair of murderous villains on the dais with cold eyes.
Little did she know, those villains were exchanging glances.
Xiahou Dan: Did I overact?
Yu Wanyin: No, it's quite accurate.
The concubines scrambled to perform for their lives, and soon the hall was filled with the sounds of music.Xie Yong'er had transmigrated into the book and had never learned ancient songs or dances. But she wasn't intimidated. With full confidence, she brought out an object and sat loftily in the hall. "Your Majesty, this is an instrument I crafted in my leisure time. Please pardon my poor performance."
Xiahou Dan: "Hmm, this thing..."
It was a guitar.
Xiahou Dan pinched his thigh hard under the table to keep from laughing.
Xiahou Dan: "...looks quite novel."
Xie Yong'er played the first note with lofty detachment.
Yu Wanyin kept her head bowed low, struggling to control her expression.
It was "Canon."
Xiahou Dan: "...Good, good."
As Yu Wanyin lowered her head, she happened to catch sight of him pinching his own thigh fiercely and immediately buried her face even deeper.
Xie Yong'er played on, hitting a wrong note at one point. But since no one present knew the original tune, she remained unashamed and utterly composed.
Yu Wanyin also began pinching her own thigh.
When Xie Yong'er finished her piece and saw Yu Wanyin's face twisted in anger, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of satisfaction. So what if you're the female lead? I can still turn the tables with my talent.
Xiahou Dan: "Good, good."
After the performance, Xie Yong'er returned to her seat.
Xiahou Dan raised his cup to drink, masking his low voice behind it: "She's a transmigrator."
Yu Wanyin nodded: "Obviously."
Xiahou Dan: "And she doesn't seem very bright."
Yu Wanyin: "No, no, no. I wouldn't underestimate her if I were you."
Just then, a eunuch announced: "Prince Duan has arrived."
Xiahou Dan set down his cup and let out a sinister chuckle, causing those around him to shiver once more: "Finally."
Prince Duan, Xiahou Bo, stepped forward to pay his respects. Xiahou Dan lazily granted him a seat and asked, "How was your journey to the border, royal brother? Have your injuries healed?"
Xiahou Bo had previously volunteered to accompany the army to the frontier, where he won several brilliant battles and bonded with the generals. Known for his wisdom and bravery, his reputation had long spread far and wide—so much so that the border people knew only of Prince Duan, scarcely aware of the Emperor's name in the capital.
Yet before the Emperor, he appeared gentle and amiable, smiling as he said, "This unworthy subject took a fall while riding. It's nothing serious now."
Yu Wanyin's skin crawled.
She had been stifling laughter earlier, but now, faced with such a smiling tiger, she truly felt the chilling sensation of a blade hanging over her head.
If this guy was also a transmigrator, then the Oscars owed him a little gold statue.
Xiahou Bo exchanged a few pleasantries with the Emperor, his gaze casually sweeping across the banquet hall until it met Xie Yong'er's.
Xie Yong'er's heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, she heard the Emperor point at her and say, "This Consort Xie was just playing a little tune on a self-made instrument earlier. Quite amusing."
Xiahou Bo's eyes fell upon her guitar. His brow lifted slightly, but he showed no other reaction: "Oh?"
Xiahou Dan then ordered her: "Play another piece for my royal brother."
This time, Xie Yong'er played "Romance de Amor."
She must not have practiced this one in a while, and without sheet music, she let herself go, playing with wild abandon and occasionally improvising the rhythm.
Xiahou Bo listened with lowered eyes, sipping his wine as if thoroughly enjoying it. He neither showed surprise nor any sign of stifled laughter.
Xie Yong'er plucked the strings with delicate fingers, stealing a glance at him. Her eyes shimmered like spring water—though a closer look would reveal it was pure survival instinct. She needed to firmly grasp the heart of the chosen one.
Xiahou Bo wasn't looking at her.
His gaze subtly flickered toward Yu Wanyin beside the Emperor, his expression thoughtful.
Xie Yong'er's heart sank, and she hit another wrong note.
At this mistake, Yu Wanyin's gaze "snapped" toward Prince Duan, sharp and intense—until Xiahou Dan nudged her with his elbow, prompting her to blink and soften her glare.
Xiahou Bo met her eyes calmly, his demeanor unruffled as he offered a refined smile.
When the piece ended, he clapped lightly and praised, "Truly, celestial music to the ears."Yu Wanyin withdrew her gaze in disappointment. Beside her, Xiahou Dan twitched his lips and whispered, "Another song?"
Yu Wanyin: "Probably useless. Either he hasn't transmigrated, or he just doesn't react to music."
Xiahou Dan: "Want to do some calisthenics then?"
Yu Wanyin shot him an incredulous look. With their enemy's stance still unclear, how could they expose themselves so recklessly?
Xiahou Dan realized his mistake and fell silent.
Xiahou Bo observed the intimate interaction between the Emperor and his newly favored concubine with calm detachment. After sitting briefly, he politely took his leave.
As the palace banquet concluded, Xiahou Dan sighed deeply: "No way to tell if he's been transmigrated."
"I genuinely hoped he had been," Yu Wanyin said. "Because the original version of him shares a blood feud with you."
As the protagonist of the original story, Xiahou Bo followed a path of vengeance.
Though born before Xiahou Dan, he was the son of a lowly palace maid—merely a servant of the Empress who caught the late Emperor's eye. The maid was granted the title of concubine after bearing his child. The Empress maintained a sisterly facade, but when caught in Imperial Harem Intrigue, she sacrificed the maid without hesitation.
Xiahou Bo was old enough to remember watching his mother beaten to death before his eyes.
Two years later, the Empress gave birth to Crown Prince Xiahou Dan. Two years after that, she passed away.
The Emperor then installed a new Empress. This young successor, now the Empress Dowager, had no children of her own and became the Crown Prince's nominal mother. She delighted in publicly displaying her doting affection for him—usually by tormenting other princes. Palace servants followed her lead, devising endless humiliations for those defenseless "little whelps."
When Xiahou Dan once complained that his studies were "boring," Xiahou Bo was summoned as his study companion. From that day forward, he endured daily torment—whenever the Little Crown Prince had a headache, someone nearby had to suffer worse pain.
By the day Xiahou Bo came of age and left the palace for his own estate, only four words remained in his heart: blood must repay blood.
If this Prince Duan remained his original self, there could be no reconciliation with Xiahou Dan—only a fight to the death. He would gradually erode the Emperor's power until crushing him completely, leaving no chance of recovery.
Yu Wanyin had hoped he'd been transmigrated, but after today's encounter, she realized that if he had, the situation might be even more dire.
After all, hearing "Romance d'Amour" without reacting required exceptional acting skills, composed demeanor, and especially those profound eyes—traits only a true schemer could possess. Clearly, he intended to make his mark here and see his path to the throne through to the end.
Either scenario spelled grave danger.
Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that this chosen protagonist had glanced at her several times today.
Had she already given herself away?
That night, as An Xian helped Xiahou Dan change clothes, he asked his usual question: "Will Your Majesty summon anyone to attend you in bed tonight?"
The Emperor answered casually: "Imperial Concubine Yu."
An Xian was inwardly astonished.
Three nights in a row.
As a veteran eunuch who had served the Emperor for years, he understood Xiahou Dan's temperament all too well. Over the years, corpses dragged from these palace halls could form a small mountain. That An Xian had survived unscathed this long was nothing short of miraculous.The Emperor was known for his volatile and cruel temperament, compounded by chronic headaches that made it impossible for anyone to share his bed. Those unfortunate concubines who were occasionally summoned usually met grim fates—any perceived lapse in service would incur punishment, the severity of which depended entirely on his mood at the time.
No one could have predicted the sudden rise of Yu Wanyin, who inexplicably won the Imperial Favor.
What extraordinary qualities did this Imperial Concubine Yu possess?
An Xian’s mind raced with unanswered questions, but before he could dwell on them, icy fingers gripped his chin, forcing him to look up.
Xiahou Dan’s gaze assessed him like livestock, yet his tone was eerily soft, sending chills down An Xian’s spine: “Any problems?”
An Xian shuddered. “This servant will fetch her at once.”
Instead of sending a messenger, An Xian personally went to summon her, even presenting a meticulously crafted box of jewelry with an ingratiating smile. “With such beauty, Your Highness, His Majesty will surely adore you in these.”
Yu Wanyin vaguely recalled this old eunuch from the original story—a spineless sycophant who bullied the weak and curried favor with the powerful. In the plot, after Xie Yong’er rose to power, he had similarly tried to ingratiate himself. But Xie Yong’er, remembering past humiliations, smashed the jewelry and found an excuse to throw him into prison.
Yu Wanyin accepted the box with a practiced, insincere smile. “Many thanks, Eunuch An.”
An Xian rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Should Your Highness require anything else, you need only ask.”
Yu Wanyin thought for a moment. “Do you have hotpot?”
An Xian: “?”
A small hotpot was set up in the imperial bedchamber.
Once the attendants withdrew, the Tyrant pulled up a low stool, sitting across from his newly favored concubine around the simmering pot.
Yu Wanyin dipped a piece of tripe into the broth and savored it. “I feel like it’s missing a few seasonings.”
“Be grateful we have this much. Just eat.” Xiahou Dan listlessly poked at the mutton slices on his plate. “Who knows how many more meals like this we’ll get.”
Yu Wanyin choked. “Don’t say such depressing things.”
“You have no idea how terrifying court sessions are. Not a single minister discusses actual affairs—one suggests where I should vacation, another recommends what delicacies to eat. It’s like a grand hospice care session.”
Yu Wanyin: “Well, the original owner of your body drove away all the competent officials, leaving only those who humor you. Especially the military officers—they’ve all defected to Prince Duan’s faction. Honestly, you transmigrated a bit too late. All the irreversible damage is done. Now, even if you wanted to pull the rug out from under them, you don’t have the manpower…”
She offered these detached observations, only to look up and see Xiahou Dan pressing a hand to his forehead, eyes shut, his face deathly pale.
She paused. “Is it really that bad?”
Xiahou Dan opened his eyes and smiled. “The original owner’s brain was probably fried from the pain.”
Yu Wanyin lowered her head and added another piece of tripe to the pot, hiding her expression.
It had been three days since she transmigrated. Driven by survival instincts, her mind hadn’t stopped calculating the best path forward. Along the way, she had assessed the key players around her.
The chosen heroine, Xie Yong’er—so far, unremarkable.
The chosen hero, Xiahou Bo—whether he had transmigrated or not, he was no easy opponent.
And then there was Xiahou Dan, another lost soul like her—truth be told, aside from decent adaptability, he hadn’t shown any exceptional qualities. If anything, he seemed a bit unreliable.
Worse yet, the original owner’s migraines had driven him to madness. How long could this replacement hold out?Trapped in a deadly game, could she really join forces with this man to take down Prince Duan?
With this thought in mind, she spoke casually, "I want to try winning over Xie Yong'er. After all, she's the chosen one and a key ally of Prince Duan. If she sides with us, our chances improve significantly. Besides, when you think about it, we're all transmigrators just trying to survive. If we lay our cards on the table, why keep fighting?"
But her considerations ran deeper than that.
She wasn’t sure how much Xiahou Dan had deduced, but he didn’t object. "Fine, you approach her tomorrow. What about me?"
"You…" Yu Wanyin slowly recalled the original plot. "You should reach out to someone named Xu Yao. He’s Prince Duan’s strategist—brilliant, the mastermind behind many of Prince Duan’s schemes… Oh shit, the pot’s dry!"
So engrossed in their scheming, they’d completely neglected the boiling hotpot. Yu Wanyin jumped up at the alarming sound. "Water, water!"
"Calm down, it’s right here." Xiahou Dan walked over, picked up the prepared broth pot, and poured it in.
Footsteps.
Yu Wanyin turned slowly to see the little maid at the door, her face frozen in shock.
Though dismissed earlier, the maid had remained outside on standby. Hearing shouts from within, she’d rushed in—only to witness the burial-loving Tyrant himself holding a broth pot, refilling the hotpot.
Yu Wanyin stiffly glanced at Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan set the pot down gently, clasped his hands behind his back, and cast a glance at the maid.
Despite reeking of hotpot, his gaze was icy and aloof, his lips curling into a faint sneer. As if adding broth was his divine right—and she ought to gouge her eyes out for witnessing it.
The little maid’s legs gave way, and she dropped to her knees, pressing her face to the floor. "This lowly one deserves death."
Xiahou Dan stared at the top of her head for three long seconds before uttering softly, "Scram." His tone was light, laced with a touch of madness.
The maid scrambled away.
A sudden realization struck Yu Wanyin. Recalling Xiahou Dan’s demeanor during their first meeting, she eyed him with newfound scrutiny. "Are you… actually a great actor?"
Xiahou Dan righted his stool and sat back down. "Passable. Business negotiations require a mix of truth and deception—practice makes perfect."
"...Did you really need to practice to this extent?!"
"Where were we? What’s the strategist’s name again?"
"Xu Yao…" Yu Wanyin’s mind raced, excitement bubbling. "You know what? I suddenly have high hopes for you. You might actually turn him to our side."
Xiahou Dan: "?"
Yu Wanyin: "The reason Xu Yao sided with Prince Duan is because you exiled his father. His father was a loyal official, but you believed slander and falsely accused him, banishing him to the wilderness. Xu Yao was supposed to go too, but Prince Duan secretly saved him, gave him a new identity, and hid him in his manor as a strategist. Rumor has it Xu Yao never gave up—he’s been working behind the scenes to bring his father back."
Xiahou Dan: "So I’ll approach him, offer to retrieve his father in exchange for his allegiance?"
Yu Wanyin: "It’s not that simple. He’ll still resent you. He’ll demand answers: Why did you wrong an innocent man and tarnish his father’s name?"Xiahou Dan let out a sinister chuckle. "I'm just a mad king with eyes blindfolded and ears covered. Whether someone is loyal or treacherous—isn’t it all decided by a single official memorial?"
Yu Wanyin, drawn into his act, put on an indignant expression. "Since Your Majesty already knows Grand Tutor Wei is spouting nonsense, why do you still favor him?"
Xiahou Dan paused, then burst into laughter. "Grand Tutor Wei? Xu Yao, oh Xu Yao, how pitiful that even now you still think that old fool was the one who killed your father?"
Yu Wanyin reminded him, "Not that old."
Xiahou Dan: "Xu Yao, oh Xu Yao, how pitiful that even now you still think that bastard was the one who killed your father?"
Yu Wanyin: "..."
Yu Wanyin: "Then who was it?"
Xiahou Dan leaned in close, his voice a venomous whisper. "Who was it that foresaw the future and spared your miserable life? Who was it that took you in as their watchdog with a face full of pity?"
Yu Wanyin took a step back. "Y-you're lying!"
Xiahou Dan smirked, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave. "Go investigate for yourself if you don’t believe me."
After a few steps, he stopped and glanced back. "Well?"
Yu Wanyin: "Damn."
To avoid raising suspicions—since there was no telling whose spies lurked inside or outside the palace—Yu Wanyin hadn’t sought out another bed these past few nights. She still slept on the Dragon Bed.
The pillow was hard, the blankets cold, and eerie drafts swept through the empty hall. A line of clothing divided the bed down the middle, each lying on their own side. Occasionally, they’d exchange words like, "Did the novel mention any palace servants sneaking in to poison us?" "Probably not, but I can’t say for sure."
Back when Yu Wanyin had read the novel, she’d occasionally giggled like a doting aunt over the romantic subplots. But now that she’d transmigrated into it, she realized how unrealistic those stories were—the protagonists acted like fools, unaware of how many pages they had left to live, yet still found the energy to fall in love. If she were in Xiahou Dan’s shoes, she’d be too stressed to even function.
The next morning, she dragged herself out of bed with dark circles under her eyes. One look in the mirror made her gasp in horror, and she immediately reached for her makeup kit—another item An Xian had delivered with an ingratiating smile.
By the time Xiahou Dan had changed clothes, Yu Wanyin had applied a full face of makeup.
As he passed by, Xiahou Dan glanced at her absently, paused, then looked back more carefully. "You seem... different today."
Yu Wanyin: "This is called the Corporate Drone look. Gentle, kind, and endlessly patient."
Xiahou Dan: "?"
Yu Wanyin: "I’m about to go extend an olive branch to Xie Yong’er. Looking benevolent can’t hurt." She studied Xiahou Dan’s face and frowned. "Aren’t you supposed to be charming Xu Yao? Your face isn’t cutting it either—come here."
Xiahou Dan: "?"
The Tyrant and his seductive consort stepped out of the Spider Cave with beatific smiles, splitting up to complete their missions.
Xiahou Dan headed off to court, while Yu Wanyin returned to her side chamber.
She was still trying to find out where Xie Yong’er lived when Xie Yong’er came to her first.
Xie Yong’er sensed danger.
Yesterday, she had intercepted Xiahou Bo outside the Secluded Palace, cutting short the budding romance between him and Yu Wanyin. Yet at the palace banquet, she’d seen the two exchanging meaningful glances.
That favored consort had clung to the Tyrant’s side like a delicate vine, all while casting flirtatious looks at Prince Duan. And with her peach-blossom beauty and radiant charm, she effortlessly embodied the essence of a natural-born female lead.Could it be that Xiahou Bo was destined to be drawn to Yu Wanyin, while she, Xie Yong'er, was doomed to be a mere stepping stone, destined to die like an insignificant ant no matter what she did?
Xie Yong'er refused to believe in fate.
She had a strong feeling that all those political scheming and palace intrigue novels she read during her commute couldn’t have been for nothing. Heaven had surely endowed her with talents for a reason.
After returning, Xie Yong'er gathered her most trusted circle of sisters and devised a simple yet effective countermeasure against Imperial Concubine Yu’s rise.
That day, she and a few of her close companions arrived at Yu Wanyin’s quarters, bearing exquisitely crafted pastries and wearing bright smiles.
Xie Yong'er: "Sister, now that you’re basking in His Majesty’s favor, please don’t forget your dear sisters in the palace."
Yu Wanyin: "…" We’re both transmigrators, so why do you sound so authentic?
Xie Yong'er then opened the pastry box, claiming she had made them herself, and urged Yu Wanyin to try them.
Yu Wanyin: "…………"
She picked up a sweet pastry but hesitated, torn between fearing it might be poisoned and doubting that the chosen heroine would resort to such a low-level tactic. If Xie Yong'er really had such poor intelligence, she probably wouldn’t be worth recruiting anyway.
Xie Yong'er watched as Yu Wanyin set the untouched pastry aside without a word, yet her expression remained unchanged as she continued chatting warmly with her.
Behind them, the maid Xie Yong'er had brought along silently inched closer to the corner of the room.
Yu Wanyin sighed in relief. Good, good. It seems there’s still a more sophisticated plan in motion.
Ignoring the maid’s subtle movements, Yu Wanyin seized the moment to build rapport: "Oh, don’t even mention it. Whether you’re a concubine or a consort, it all comes down to the same thing in the end. Yong'er, let me tell you something heartfelt—today, the Emperor might lift you to the heavens, but tomorrow, he could cast you into hell."
Xie Yong'er was taken aback.
Was the original heroine written like this?
Her companions gasped in shock, urging Yu Wanyin to watch her words.
Yu Wanyin: "I trust you won’t repeat this. In a place like this, we women are nothing more than pawns to be manipulated. If we don’t look out for each other, wouldn’t we just be playing into the hands of those vile men?"
Xie Yong'er: "???"
Much of what Yu Wanyin said came from the heart.
Her attempt to win Xie Yong'er over wasn’t for Xiahou Dan’s sake—it was for her own survival.
If Xie Yong'er could let go of her desire to kill her, Yu Wanyin had no interest in Imperial Harem Intrigue. Why should two corporate drones fight each other? Wouldn’t it be better to sit down and share a hotpot?
Her strategic alliance with Xiahou Dan was a last resort, and deep down, she didn’t fully trust him. Even in the best-case scenario, if they won and Xiahou Dan secured the throne, he could easily discard her with a simple "You know too much." The system inherently placed her at a disadvantage.
Surviving this deadly game until the end was no easy feat. One more friend means one less enemy—why not cling to the chosen heroine’s coattails while I can?
Yet, she couldn’t outright reveal the truth: I’m a transmigrator too.
According to the original plot, Xie Yong'er and Xiahou Bo were already a couple, deeply in love by this point. Telling Xie Yong'er would mean telling Xiahou Bo, and Yu Wanyin had no idea how Prince Duan might exploit that information.
So, Yu Wanyin could only hint subtly: Sis, snap out of your love-struck daze. Forget about men—I’ll steal electric scooters to support you if I have to.
Yu Wanyin’s efforts were entirely in vain.Xie Yong'er looked into her eyes, which held a hidden urgency, and instead felt herself growing calmer. This was just a Paper Doll before her—she wouldn't deviate from the original script. Her sudden, inexplicable friendliness was nothing more than an attempt to lull potential enemies into complacency.
Fortunately, she had read the script.
Thinking of the Scented Sachet Prince Duan had secretly sent her last night, Xie Yong'er felt everything was falling into place, the situation favorable. All she needed was to be more decisive, to strangle this short-lived female lead in her cradle before it was too late.
Xie Yong'er kept smiling, but a trace of impatience inevitably flickered in her eyes.
She watched Yu Wanyin, still fumbling for words, as if observing a clown. There was no need to waste time on a dead woman walking.
The little maid signaled to her discreetly, and after sitting for a moment longer, she rose to take her leave.
Once outside the side hall, several of her companions immediately surrounded her. "Well?"
Xie Yong'er: "It's done. The hem of the dress Yu Wanyin hung in the corner has been stained with the juice of the Wei Purple flowers. It's very subtle—she'll never notice it herself. Now we just need to wait for her to wear that dress, and we can proceed."
The Wei Purple was a type of flower, planted only in a corner of the peony garden.
One of the girls still seemed worried. "Will just a few drops of flower juice be enough?"
Xie Yong'er smiled. "His Majesty is suspicious by nature."
"..."
The Noble Consort Chu, who had been following behind her, hesitated before speaking softly, "That Imperial Concubine Yu looks quite bewitching, but the way she speaks makes her seem like a straightforward person."
Xie Yong'er didn't respond.
Xu Yao stepped out of the Imperial Study, his heart still pounding wildly in his chest.
He had been secretly summoned to the palace.
When he arrived, he had already prepared himself for the worst—if the tyrant had sought him out, it meant his hidden background had been discovered. Perhaps the Emperor even knew he was still secretly working to bring his exiled father back.
But he never expected the conversation that awaited him in the Imperial Study.
Xiahou Dan not only didn't kill him but also said he could pardon his father.
Thinking back to the implications hidden in Xiahou Dan's words, Xu Yao still found it hard to believe.
When Grand Tutor Wei had framed his father, was it actually Prince Duan who had orchestrated it from behind the scenes?
And then Prince Duan had turned around and saved him, going through all this trouble just to recruit him as an advisor?
Xu Yao couldn't believe it.
Who didn't know that the Emperor was foolish and tyrannical—a complete madman?
But would a madman... tell the truth?
Lost in thought, Xu Yao left the palace. Shortly after, Xiahou Dan also emerged from the Imperial Study, casually wiping his reddened eyes.
He had acted too convincingly earlier—when he spoke of being deceived and unable to distinguish loyalty from treachery, he had even shed a few tears.
Xu Yao's expression at the time had been as if he'd seen a ghost.
The weather was fine, so Xiahou Dan dismissed the imperial carriage with a wave and strolled toward the Imperial Garden.
After her midday nap, Yu Wanyin changed into a lighter dress and stepped out of the side hall to bask in the sun, eventually wandering into the Imperial Garden.
As she observed the fish in the pond, she heard hurried footsteps. A young eunuch rushed toward her, his voice shrill. "Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
Yu Wanyin: "What is it?"
The eunuch was so panicked that his words were incoherent. Yu Wanyin faintly caught the words "His Majesty" and leaned closer. "What did you say?"
The moment she leaned in, the eunuch let out a startled cry and deliberately fell backward, tumbling into the pond. He flailed dramatically, crying out, "Imperial Concubine Yu, spare me! This servant knows his mistake!"
Yu Wanyin: "..."
She had a premonition and slowly turned around.
Xiahou Dan stood ten paces away.
Xiahou Dan: "..."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
Xiahou Dan took one look at this classic palace intrigue novel setup and turned to leave.
The eunuch, still flailing in the pond: "?"
Before Xiahou Dan could take more than a few steps, the eunuch climbed out on his own and rasped, "Your Majesty, this servant has something to report."
An Xian, who was standing nearby, snapped, "How dare you!"The little eunuch, disregarding all else, suddenly became astonishingly articulate: "This humble servant merely happened to see Imperial Concubine Yu walking with a man. From the back, he seemed to be a guard, but he fled when spotted by this servant. When I dared to question Her Ladyship, she pushed me into the water..."
Xiahou Dan commanded, "Drag him away."
The guard was confused: "...Your Majesty, drag whom?"
Xiahou Dan pointed at the little eunuch.
The little eunuch: "?"
In a desperate struggle, the little eunuch cried out, "Dare I ask if Her Ladyship visited the peony garden today?"
Yu Wanyin, finding his performance rather pitiful, obliged: "No."
The little eunuch: "Then why is there purple peony juice on your skirt?"
Xiahou Dan: "Drag him away."
The little eunuch: "???"
Even as he was dragged thirty meters away, the little eunuch couldn't believe his fate and shouted with all his might, "Your Majesty, this servant has a witness!"
Xiahou Dan: "Where?"
The guard paused.
An elderly palace servant tremblingly stepped forward and knelt: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this old servant has been sweeping the peony garden..."
Xiahou Dan interrupted, "Drag them both away."
The old servant: "?"
Yu Wanyin, who had been watching the spectacle, was stunned.
Wait, weren't we just watching a show? How did you fast-forward so aggressively?
As the two accusers were dragged into the distance, Xiahou Dan prepared to leave as if nothing had happened.
Yu Wanyin had no choice but to cough lightly.
Xiahou Dan stopped and looked at her: "?"
Surrounded by palace servants, Yu Wanyin tried to convey with her eyes: Brother, you're OOC. I don't know what a lunatic should act like, but it's definitely not this.
Xiahou Dan paused, seemingly understanding something, and slowly walked up to her. His icy fingers coiled around her neck like a venomous snake, caressing her cheek.
His tone was almost affectionate: "Beloved Consort, you wouldn't betray Us, would you?"
Yu Wanyin replied timidly, "This concubine's devotion to Your Majesty is as clear as heaven and earth. If Your Majesty doubts this concubine..."
"How could We doubt you?" Xiahou Dan stroked her face. "Those We doubt are already dead."
The surrounding servants lowered their heads, trying to make themselves invisible.
Xiahou Dan smiled again: "Who framed you, beloved consort? Do you have any suspicions?"
Who else but Xie Yong'er?
This was the perfect opportunity to win over the chosen heroine. Yu Wanyin decisively chose her lines: "This concubine does not know."
"Truly?" Xiahou Dan asked ominously.
Yu Wanyin forced a magnanimous, bitter smile: "Your Majesty is burdened with countless affairs of state and should not be troubled by such trivial matters. Moreover, this concubine does not wish to disrupt harmony among the palace sisters. Whoever it was, surely she has already repented upon being exposed. Your Majesty, please give her another chance."
The servants around them twitched at her words.
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