Stealing Beauty

This book is also known as The Concubine's Rise and Record of a Flourishing Age. The story is set in an alternate Northern Song during Emperor Renzong's reign. It has the right atmosphere and style, but please don't nitpick the history! The story begins: “Old Madam, Fifth Miss has run away from her wedding to her wealthy maternal family in Xijing.” The old madam slammed her palm onto the rosewood tea table. “Our Ji family has been an illustrious clan for a hundred years. How can we allow such an improper thing to happen?” Narration: The only reason that rosewood tea table you just slapped is still here is the Bai family's money. Before her mother died, she told Ye Beixing, “Fu Nu, when you grow up, you must marry someone who likes and admires you.” Ye Beixing never forgot his mother's words, and vowed that his wife would be someone he liked who liked him in return. But everything changed after he met Ji Yunyin. Heroine: Ji Yunyin Appearance: Pretty, with bright, expressive eyes Personality: Highly intelligent, calculating, resourceful, and strategic, but with principles. She acts gentle and obedient in front of outsiders, but is actually bold and sly. Background: A concubine-born daughter of the declining Ji clan, born to Concubine Bai. Her maternal family is a wealthy, newly established merchant house. Relationship: Wife of the hero, Ye Beixing Hero: Ye Beixing Appearance: Tall and imposing, handsome, and commanding Personality: Resolute and decisive, with a knack for planning, but his intelligence is no match for Ji Yunyin's. Background: As a young man, he served as a military officer in the Palace Command. He later trained with the army in Xingzhou, now Yinchuan, then returned to serve as Deputy Commander, Commander of the Palace Command, Deputy Commissioner, and Commissioner of the Privy Council. He is deeply trusted by the emperor. Relationship: Husband of the heroine, Ji Yunyin Little scene one: Ye Beixing: I thought Third Miss Ji was merely bold. I didn't expect her to be so sly, too. But her lamb's clothing is about to slip. Should I give her a hand? Ji Yunyin: Want to help me? Sure. Why not be my backer? We can work together to take our silk and tea businesses overseas. The Emperor: First help me get the tea-and-horse trade going, then we'll talk! Little scene two: Ye Beixing: I haven't married yet, and you're not betrothed. Why not marry me? (Inner monologue: If you refuse, I'll ask the Emperor to issue an imperial decree ordering you to marry me.) Ji Yunyin considered it: This man is powerful and handsome, and the important thing is that he's saved and helped me several times. All right, I'll marry him. After they married, Ye Beixing accepted Ji Yunyin just as she was, and before she knew it, she had fallen for him. Little scene three: The Emperor's inner monologue: Merchants have done much to create this prosperous age. Yet although they aren't registered as low-class, people still treat them like commoners. That's unjust! Take the birth mother of Miss Ji, for example. Because she came from a merchant family, no matter how capable she was, the First Madam could still take her life and seize her property. Sigh...