The Stubborn Little Girl Behind Palace Walls

[Sharp-tongued, punishment-loving emperor vs. earnest, hardworking palace maiden] [Everyday palace life, misunderstandings over punishments, mutual healing, light comedy]

Everyone in the capital knows that I, Xiao Jingyan, emperor of Great Qi, love finding fault and punishing people. The palace consorts see me and think they’re looking at Yama himself.

Then a country girl named Lin Xiaoman entered the palace.

I punished her by hitting her palm, and she asked tearfully, “Your Majesty, was my posture wrong when I served the tea? I’ll fix it!”

I punished her by spanking her, and she gritted her teeth and said, “Thank you for the guidance, Your Majesty. I’ll be more careful when I walk next time!”

I... I was completely dumbfounded!

Where were my punishments?

Where was my authority?

What was wrong with this girl? Why did she take all my “troublemaking” for “lessons”?

Watching her improve day by day thanks to my “guidance,” I seemed to... be falling for her.

I meant to keep a little bird for amusement, but ended up raising the apple of my eye.