A calculating, sly regent vs. the former dynasty's empress
//
One winter, when Shen Kuo was fourteen, he went to the imperial garden. Beneath the white snow and red plum blossoms, the consorts laughed and chatted.
A little girl with two braids and a white fox-fur cloak noticed him at once and climbed down from the empress's lap.
She trotted over to him, tugged at his sleeve, and looked up with broken starlight in her eyes.
"Big brother, you're so beautiful."
//
When he was twenty-four.
He gently pulled her down from the phoenix branch where she perched, holding her as it swayed, and drew her into his arms with a sly smile.
"As long as you become my concubine, I'll naturally do whatever you want."
She bit her lip and cursed, "Shen Kuo, you scoundrel."
//
Also known as How a Concubine Became the Official Wife
Notes:
Older man, with a nine-year age gap between the leads.
Both leads are completely chaste in body and heart.
The heroine is strong, and the hero is even stronger.
Hmm... It's quite good. Hopefully, their relationship will improve.