The Beloved Concubine

Hua Ying, a high-ranking household's lowborn maid, is stunningly beautiful and gentle by nature. But her humble origins make her a target, like a man carrying jade in a lawless land. Then one day, she goes to deliver something to the Second Young Master, and he keeps her there. With even her hopes of leaving the household cut off, Hua Ying tells herself she must endure the indignity of becoming a concubine. She must not long for status or compete with her master for favor. When her affair is exposed and Hua Ying is sentenced to death by beating, Xie Junxing grants her a title, elevating her to the status of a mistress. But Hua Ying sees through the callousness hidden beneath the man's gentle facade. She will not fall in love. She will not give him her heart. When he sees her turn to leave, Xie Junxing panics. “Stay. I was wrong.”