Within the court of the Ying Dynasty, the political landscape was intricate and complex. Though Empress Dowager Ying Yanran had retired behind the scenes, she still controlled a considerable faction of court power, and her preferences and decisions exerted an undeniable influence within these deep palace walls.
Emperor Ying Xiaohui had just reached his twentieth year and had not long ascended the throne. Though full of ambition, he often felt unequal to the task when facing a court troubled by internal strife and external threats, alongside a harem churning with undercurrents.
Empress Mi Yifang was a key pawn in the political marriage between the outer court and the inner palace. Her family's influence was deeply rooted across the court, maintaining a delicate balance of power with the royal family. Though she was the same age as the emperor, she had grown up in a family well-versed in political scheming. Beneath her composed and graceful exterior lay a deeply strategic mind.
Chapter 349