The Empress's Peerless Beauty: The Cold-Hearted Emperor's Beloved Queen

Born as the legitimate daughter of a Duke’s household and betrothed to the Crown Prince, Li Yunshu was destined to shine like the moon surrounded by stars. Everyone in the capital knew—besides her stunning beauty, Li Yunshu’s proud and spoiled temperament was one of a kind.

But one day, the Crown Prince fell gravely ill and died.

In an instant, the Duke’s household—once the Crown Prince’s future in-laws—became a thorn in the new Emperor’s side. To make matters worse, this new Emperor was none other than the Third Prince, who had once held a grudge against Li Yunshu.

People whispered that the new Emperor despised her to the core.
Li Yunshu’s days of glory were over, they said.

Yet against all odds, Li Yunshu didn’t become the Crown Princess—she became the Empress?!

The court gossiped again: the Emperor only married her to drain the Duke’s household of their remaining worth.
They waited for her downfall, certain the Cold Palace would be her final resting place.

They waited… and waited… until—

The Empress was pregnant.

…

And pregnant again… and again.

—During a palace banquet one day—
The cold and stoic Emperor looked at his Empress, unease written all over his handsome face.
“Yunshu, please… talk to me.”

Everyone: “!!!!!!!”

Just when did things start going off script?!

—
A story about “I’ve desired you in the shadows for so long… and now, you’re finally mine.”

PS: Contains original worldbuilding.