"So this day had finally come. Hu Ze's Avatar would be drawn into the maelstrom of struggles within and without."
"Relying on Demon Kings alone had been too feeble a force. Only Hu Ze had the resources to abide by the rules of the game, contend for supremacy at spearpoint, and wage war for the realm."
"In this respect, Fairy Zhang Hua clearly had more foresight than her disciple Hu Meiniang. Both had bewitched the human emperor and meddled in politics from the harem, yet she had known to rein in her nature, befriend court officials, and protect her reputation. She had even supported the young emperor who succeeded to the throne, ensuring a smooth transition of power for the entire Great Qian dynasty."
"For historical reasons, the various factions of Great Qian actually held little prejudice against the Demon Race. Even when human supremacists preached that those not of our kind must harbor different hearts, their conflicts generally went no further than interests and culture."
"Hu Meiniang had been too hasty. There was nothing inherently wrong with absorbing fortune to become a Celestial Demon, but draining the pond to catch every fish in one go inevitably harmed other people's interests."
Over these years, Li Chen had watched developments from the provinces and thoroughly explored Great Qian's politics, economy, history, and culture. Naturally, he could also see the differences in how the two successive Demon Empresses conducted themselves and employed their methods.
Just as there was only one supreme imperial throne, there was only one position as mistress of the harem. This meant they, too, had to compete with one another, each relying on her own abilities to rise.
There were always demon women who indulged themselves, whether driven by their nature or forced by circumstances, and lost control entirely,