Ashes Beneath the Brocade Canopy

Han Tongxuan, princess of Jiangnan, believes she is helping a fallen prince reclaim his throne. Through the northern campaign, his coronation, and her investiture as empress, she personally places "Yuan Yixiu" on the throne, believing they will rule the realm together as emperor and empress. What she never imagines is that the face beside her in bed is a paper-thin human-skin mask.

Beneath it lies the deposed tyrant Wen Zong, Yuan Tutie, who was overthrown years ago. He murdered his brother to seize the succession, won the civil war, and massacred the imperial clan. After being usurped, he killed the real Crown Prince Yuan Yixiu, disguised himself, and deceived his way to Jiangnan. Now he has returned, and Han Tongxuan is nothing more than a hostage he is using to secure control of Jiangnan’s military forces.

When the truth is exposed, Han Tongxuan is imprisoned deep within the palace. He demands that she continue as empress, bear him a prince with Han family blood, and use her body and dignity to pave his way to the throne once more. But Han Tongxuan is no puppet made of clay. She is a princess who has fought her way through blood and fire.

When she secretly takes up the charge left by her former followers, when her child mysteriously dies, and when the Yuan clan royalty who fled to the northern deserts returns, she will ignite a fire in this prison-like palace with her own hands, one that will burn away every disguise.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.