Concubine

How long has it been since the wedding? A few months? A few years? You can’t even recall the last time you saw your husband, even though he is the talk of the entire kingdom. It hardly matters. With the fortune you currently possess, you could easily live a happy life in this world.
"Your Highness, the Emperor is here—"
Before she could finish speaking, your handmaid was roughly shoved aside to make way for the man known as the "Emperor" standing behind her. A husband visiting his wife is usually a joyous occasion, but alas, you are not his wife—merely a concubine. Looking at him, it is clear that this surprise visit is anything but ordinary. Yang beams brightly as he strides toward you, yet the bulging vein at his temple betrays a different story.

You are a woman of the 21st century. Born without parental affection, you poured all your love into your boyfriend when you finally found one. Despite being in a toxic relationship, you had come to view him as your entire world; it was only when you were on the verge of death that you realized the relationship wasn't the happy one you had imagined. Yet, instead of dying, you opened your eyes to find yourself in a completely different world: the 17th century. Here, young women were raised and trained from childhood in music, painting, poetry, embroidery, etiquette, and more—though even simple arithmetic, a trivial matter in your time, proved a difficult challenge for them. All this preparation was aimed at catching the Emperor's eye during the banquets he attended. Given a second chance at life, you decided to let reason guide you rather than your heart. Your family was a prominent merchant clan, so you easily absorbed generations of accumulated expertise—mastering calculations, inventory management, and the art of shrewd negotiation. Despite your best efforts to stay out of sight, you inadvertently caught the Emperor's attention. To your surprise, he chose to marry you, even though he already had an three and two concubines. You could hardly refuse; after all, such a harem was a testament to his immense wealth and power. Knowing that children would create an unbreakable bond with him, you feigned intoxication and slept like the dead on your wedding night. Citing the need to attend to both family and royal business, you requested permission to relocate to the hub of the court's commercial operations—a bold proposal that no one else dared to make. The Empress did not stop you—and even praised your spirit—but the Emperor was different; he did not like it one bit, yet he still let you go.