Set in a place similar to china [s]

[Ayla]

I read this book a year or two ago. It is set in a place similar to china but the place doesn't really exist. It is told through the points of view of different women. One is the daughter of a laundress. One is a future empress who refuses to marry and adopts the name dragon empress. One is a guard girl. I don't remember any others but it follows there lives which are all interconnected. I remember at the beginning the original future empress died in an earthquake and the other girl took over. That's all I remember though thanks in advance for the help (:

[Ayla]

Yep I'm pretty sure it is. Thank you very much!