She’s Sweet and Seductive: The Crown Prince Is at Her Feet

[Ensemble cast + plot-driven + all major characters are intelligent + the leads’ identities are revealed + substitute marriage + touches of fantasy] After her homeland fell, Nie Xiaoman settled in the capital with her family. *Epic disclaimer: This work is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. It takes place in an imaginary world and is based on no historical figures. The characters’ beliefs and values do not represent the author’s. Please don’t identify too deeply with them. This is a novel, not real life. End of disclaimer When we first met, you were fourteen, and the peach blossoms were in full bloom. Bright petals drifted down in a shower. The spring breeze always laughs at us; the peach blossoms are never as they were before. We were too young to know how long the years would be, and in a blink, the memories came flooding back. These days, the daylight seems endless, and I often dream of you. But you are gone, and I cannot bring myself to forget. The sunset is nowhere to be found, and the winding stream no longer carries wine cups. The realm is settled, and the people live in peace. You belong at court, while I will roam the jianghu. Let the past drift away on the wind; there is no need to speak of what is gone. Only, Che is still lost in the dark, Si Chu cannot return, Han Lu never settles, and Xi Yu is never at peace. Fortunately, Xiaoman has found fulfillment, and Zijian will return. Spring is mild and bright these days, and the waters of Jiangnan are lovely. I will return to my hometown, alone. !!Content warnings: Relationship pairings are forced to balance the cast; tragic ending; the romance is underdeveloped. I wanted to write every character as highly intelligent but don’t know how to pull it off, so the gaps in intelligence aren’t very noticeable. Slow burn.