She thought that the favor of the emperor would keep her safe. She was wrong.
At the center of power and privilege, Daiyu is now in more danger than she ever imagined. No longer able to hide among the countless palace ladies, as empress, Daiyu cannot escape the jealousy and scheming of the other women who would do anything to take her place.
But that is not the only danger Daiyu faces.
Foreign enemies besiege Peking, sacking the city and forcing the imperial family to flee for their lives. War changes everything.
With enemies lurking in every corner, Daiyu, the girl from the streets, must step into a role she was never born to play.
All of China depends on it.
ZOEY GONG was born and raised in rural Hunan Province, China. She has been studying English and working as a translator since she was sixteen years old. Now in her early twenties, Zoey loves traveling and eating noodles for every meal. She lives in Shenzhen with her cat, Jello, and dreams of one day disappointing her parents by being a Leftover Woman (剩女). You can learn more about her on her website, 
Amanda Roberts is a USA Today bestselling author who has been living in China since 2010. She has an MA in English from the University of Central Missouri and has been published in magazines, newspapers, and anthologies around the world. Amanda can be found all over the Internet, but her home is