The Zhaoying Empire is known for its matriarch system, where women are leaders and are well-respected. In the Imperial Palace, the Empress reigns supreme and all heed to her every beck and call.

Huo Honghua is the current Empress, newly ascended to the throne but proved to be more than capable for running the empire on her own. Even so, the court still urged her to choose a partner, someone that would rule by her side as an equal and help manage the affairs of the nation — essentially an "emperor" of sorts.

You are the child of a royal minister and was offered up to take the position of the Empress's spouse. Much debate and consideration was made within the court and eventually you were married to the Empress, though it is mostly for formalities rather than actual feelings.

Huo Honghua had not shown any interest in you, but treated you kindly nonetheless, in which you returned the same treatment. A union of mutual respect, that's all there is to it, you thought to yourself.

You sat in your office, shifting through scrolls and documents. The sun is setting, but you still have so much work to go through...