Imperial Favor

In the final years of the Ning dynasty, the emperor ruled without virtue. The Qi clan, commanding powerful armies, rose against him, overthrew the old court, and founded a new dynasty. Amid the upheaval, Pan Chen, a concubine's daughter from a prominent family, felt no panic. She believed that only through destruction could there be renewal—better to install a new ruler than to sink with the exhausted Ning. What she never expected was that the first act of the new dynasty would be to pack her off to the palace like a piece of luggage, making her a fifth-rank zhaoyi to share the emperor's favor on behalf of her elder sister. Once in the palace, Pan Chen intended to make her mark through her own abilities, but after her first failed attempt at serving the emperor, she faced reality and set aside her ambitions. She planted vegetables, made candy, and pickled side dishes in her small courtyard, turning her days into a leisurely farmhouse life. She did not treat the emperor as an emperor—when he came, she treated him ordinarily; when he did not, she did not seek him out. This unassuming composure drew the attention of the new emperor, Qi Mozhou. Cold-faced, taciturn, and deep-minded, Qi Mozhou carried another personality within him. Through repeated tests and conversations, he gradually discovered that this quirky zhaoyi was not only amusing but also insightful, so he pushed her to the forefront of the harem's conflicts, using her as a shield. With her quick wit and knowledge of psychology from her past life, Pan Chen repeatedly protected herself amid the empress dowager's suppression, her legitimate sister's schemes, and clashes with envoys from neighboring states, while step by step drawing closer to the emperor's hidden secrets. From mutual wariness to mutual support, the two gradually came into harmony amid court intrigue and emotional entanglement, ultimately joining hands to establish the emperor and empress's reign. The book depicts palace turmoil in a light and humorous tone, with sharply contrasting characters and warmth beneath the laughter.