Reborn as a Soft and Charming Enchantress, the Entire Court Falls for Her

In her previous life, Ruan Tang was forced into the imperial harem by her aunt, the Empress Dowager, to secure their family's political standing. Deeply infatuated with her cousin, the newly crowned Emperor, she willingly endured public disgrace to be by his side. Yet despite his nightly visits, he never granted her a higher rank, turning her into a target for every rival in the palace. After over a decade of suffering, bearing no children, and being branded a nation-ruining enchantress by history, she discovered on her deathbed that the Emperor had secretly orchestrated her tragic downfall all along. Reborn with bitter clarity, Ruan Tang abandons her foolish devotion. Instead of wasting away in the ruthless harem, she resolves to marry a suitable nobleman. Soon, an array of distinguished suitors begins vying for her affection—the gentle son of the Grand Secretary, the handsome young Marquis of Zhongyong, and the ethereal heir of the Duke Zhenguo. As Ruan Tang carefully evaluates which gentleman would make the best husband, the court braces itself when the Empress Dowager requests a reward from the new Emperor on her niece's behalf. Everyone assumes the Ruan family is scheming to send her back into the harem. Instead, Ruan Tang blushes deeply and shyly whispers her true wish: to choose her own husband through a traditional embroidered ball toss. The usually composed Emperor's eyes suddenly darken with dangerous fury. Crushing a delicate glass cup to dust in his hand, his voice turns ice-cold as he declares, "I do not permit it!"