Shadow Over the Heavenly Throne - Chapter 16: As long as you are in my palace, you will not be nothing

The journey of a generation’s male empress started because of four words.

“Send a dowry escort.”

During the 19th year of Yuanqing, Qi Yunruo boarded a carriage and entered through a corner door of the second prince’s estate. Then, across the watery corridor, he gazed at the prince from afar.

Notes:

For aristocratic women in imperial China to marry into a family part of the upper nobility, they must be of the legitimate line and must also have an escort/dowry maid that married into that family. That escort would be a “ying” (媵) and could be considered a concubine.

- Description from Novelupdates

[WSA ENTRY 2025 - Discord Nitro for any Gifts ]Elias Kael’s life as a chef was supposed to be simple—until an unexpected event leaves him bonded to a mysterious shard and a peculiar being named Dot. Struggling to make sense of his newfound connection, Elias is drawn into a hidden world where people like him are being hunted, their fates intertwined with secrets that stretch far beyond his understanding.As powerful forces close in, Elias must confront his forgotten past, navigate dangerous alliances, and tap into abilities he never knew he possessed. But as the world shifts around him, the stakes grow higher, and Elias realizes the key to survival lies not only in his own strength but in uncovering the truth behind the shards and the enigmatic forces driving them.A story of resilience, discovery, and unexpected bonds.

Talent? Unnecessary! Wealth? Doesn’t matter! Brain? Eat it!

Even if one was the greatest of gutter trashes with zero redeemable qualities, as long as they had a System, they are bound to reach the pinnacle of life.

Compass Carburettor, a dirt-poor orphan with absolutely zero f**king qualities managed to reach the peak of the business world by the age of 35, all while relying on his Money-Making System like a blinded barnacle.

But at the peak of his life, he was betrayed by his System.

Born as a hybrid, I was ab*sed by my maternal grandfather because I was a useless child who didn’t inherit any abilities from my dad’s family, and ended up dying.I returned to the past with my memories, but my options weren’t so different from the past.I’ll either live like this and be ab*sed to death just like in my previous life, or I’ll go to my dad who hates me.‘I don’t want to die again.’Eventually I went to my dad who hated me, with a locket in my hand that would prove me to be the daughter of the Black Leopard family.“Let me…let me stay here.”All I asked for is protection until I became an adult. Then, when I was old enough to live alone, I was going to go out and live without causing trouble. Because I was going to be a good kid this time.But, somehow…“My beloved daughter, if there is anyone who touches you, I will kill them immediately.”My father, who I thought hated me, was so sweet to me.“Hey, Perfi, don’t keep hugging Thiel. At this time of year, I heard that girls are very delicate.”“Where did you learn that s*upid theory? Thiel likes to hug.”The two brothers who I thought were scary like me so much.“Thiel, I’m going to hand you over the head position of this Black Leopard family.”My paternal grandfather suddenly tells me that he is handing over his position to me.Hey …didn’t everyone hate me?