How long could Illyriad maintain her composure? Accumulated emotions are bound to collapse eventually. Although she seemed to ignore everything firmly now, who knows what’s inside?
She must be sharpening her knives and maintaining her guns, wanting revenge.
The move to bring in Selina as empress must have been her plan to use her limited power to gain leverage over Cledeius. Her struggle to stand against him within her limited power was almost admirable.
By now, a nobleman appointed by the emperor would have discreetly approached Selina’s father, Duke Diobe, proposing a partnership in a foundation the palace was planning to establish. The plan was to appoint the duke as the head of the foundation.
The empress’s palace and Duke Diobe were to be used to launder illegal funds for Cledeius and other imperial nobles.
The Diobe family was perfect for such a role. Not only were they foreigners, but the duke had always been eager to gain favor with the empire’s power brokers.
The duke’s father had quickly surrendered his land when he realized his homeland had no chance in the war against the empire. Unlike other nobles who resisted the Astriad Empire to the end, the Diobe family gained minimal land and a noble title in the empire as a reward for their surrender.
Perhaps opportunism ran in their blood. Cledeius glanced at Selina wriggling in his arms.
Such a simple father and daughter. Naive, overflowing with greed, yet lacking in suspicion.
Such people are always foolish. Never satisfied with what they have in hand, always desiring more. Desire blinds and dulls people, narrowing their vision.
‘Am I the same?’
A lifeless laugh escaped Cledeius’s lips. Selina momentarily pulled away to gauge his reaction, but he brushed it off casually.
Finally, the morning of the coronation day arrived.
Eagerly awaiting this day, Selina awoke even before anyone could wake her and made a fuss.
Complaining about the tea not being the usual one she drinks in the morning or the temperature being wrong, and even fretting over a slightly wrinkled lace, she was overly sensitive about minor things.
“Could you tighten the corset more?”
Though she naturally had a slender waist, Selina was never satisfied. Every time she looked in the mirror, she only saw flaws. Starting from why her skin wasn’t as white as the ladies in the capital to thinking her pink hair was too unusual.
As the maid adjusted the corset’s knots behind her, Selina slowly released her breath. She didn’t say it, but she looked quite uncomfortable.
Seeing Selina’s face turn red from holding her breath, one of the maids spoke up.
“Recently, a tailor shop in the capital introduced dresses without corsets.”
“Who would wear such a dress? It would completely ruin the figure. To stand in front of men with a sagging waistline? I couldn’t do that.”
“I was quite curious about it. It seems it would be comfortable to wear and remove, and breathing would be easier…”
“Really? Then make sure to wear it to the next royal ball. That’s an order from the future empress.”
Selina said smugly. Was there even a position called ‘future empress’ in the palace? The maid silently swallowed her complaints. Soon, Selina would officially become the empress, giving her even more freedom to act as she pleased.
‘But being under the strict Empress Illyriad as part of the empress’s palace will be troublesome.’
All those serving Selina shared the same thought.
The empress was well-known for preventing any mistreatment of her subordinates. It was easier to just accept Selina’s behavior as ending this morning.
After finishing her makeup, Selina surveyed herself in the mirror. She planned to change into the formal coronation dress in a small room at the banquet hall, so this was enough for now.
She wanted to attract more attention than Illyriad today, especially with many nobles present, to solidify her position in the palace.
She would be the only woman loved by the emperor and the next person to hold power, Selina Diobe.
Her steps towards the banquet hall seemed lighter than ever.
But about an hour before the coronation, Selina’s excitement was shattered.
“What do you mean the empress’s crown is… what?”
Her shrill voice filled the room. Just as she was excited about wearing the coronation dress, cold water was thrown on her.
“The crown for Her Majesty the empress has gone missing.”
A jittery attendant barely managed to convey the message. It was the most unfortunate moment.
The small tiara for the empress, while much smaller than the one worn by the empress, was still quite valuable, adorned with gold and jewels.
The moment the emperor places the tiara on the empress’s head during the coronation is the most important.
But now, an hour before the coronation, that tiara was missing. There couldn’t be a bigger mishap. Selina’s flushed cheeks turned pale.
“How could such a mishap happen? Where is His Majesty? I must see him at once!”
“The emperor is also trying to manage the situation. He just ordered to find a substitute for Your Majesty’s tiara.”
“A substitute? With what? Do you think I don’t know there’s only one crown for the empress?”
Trembling and collapsing into a chair, Selina clutched her elaborately decorated hair. Messing up her hair was the least of her worries given the current crisis.
“There was nothing unusual when the attendants brought the tiara into the banquet hall this morning. But right before the coronation ceremony, suddenly…”
“It must have been stolen.”
Selina, who had buried her face in her hands, murmured quietly. Illyriad’s words from yesterday flashed through her mind.
‘…The crown for the empress to use at the coronation will be quite heavy.’
With this thought, Selina abruptly stood up and glared fiercely at the attendants and maids huddling nearby.
“I must go to Empress Illyriad. Lead the way.”
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
