Modern auditor Stella Sterling time-travels, becomes a palace maid in The Cold Palace. She befriends Deposed Crown Prince Ash Shaw, imprisoned. They partner. A plague breaks out; Prince Rui sends assassins. Stella saves Ash. Ash stages a palace coup, takes control, respects Stella. Stella uses auditing skills to sort harem debts, foils conspiracies. Controversy over her becoming empress, she resolves it, ascending the throne with Ash. They rule together.
