Synopsis
In the third year of Hongwu, I was born into the womb as Xu Lining, the legitimate daughter of Xu Da, Duke of Wei. A phoenix appeared at my birth, and I gained a spirit-spring space with two springs!
The spirit spring can purge toxins and strengthen the body. I secretly added some to my mother’s restorative soup, helping her recover quickly, and sent a thread of warm energy to my father to ease the old injuries left by years of battle.
At my one-month celebration, someone secretly poisoned my older brother with aconite, leaving him on the brink of death. I used my crying to point the way, quietly neutralized the deadly poison with spirit-spring water, and became famous as the Xu family’s lucky star.
As the guests were still recovering from their shock, three-year-old Zhu Di, wearing a little red brocade robe, crouched by my cradle with wide, round eyes, curiously examining the objects laid out for the one-year-old’s grab ceremony.
I stretched out my little hand, picked up a children’s book on military strategy, and placed it in his chubby palm. Then I firmly grabbed a medical text and a silver needle, wiggled my hand, and smiled at him.
Zhu Yuanzhang clapped his hands and laughed. “The Xu family’s lucky star gives my son a military text and holds a book of medicine. She means to keep him safe and healthy for life, and walk the road to empire with him!”
Empress Ma smiled and nodded. “This is a match made in heaven. Their marriage is settled.”
Rumors spread. Everyone in Yingtian Prefecture knew that the Duke of Wei’s lucky daughter had been betrothed to the Prince of Yan at her first-birthday grab ceremony. With medicine in one hand to safeguard his health and a military text in the other to accompany him on his journey.
I kept the secret of my spirit-spring space and smiled without a word as I looked at the exquisitely pretty boy before me. I could not only keep the entire Xu family safe, but also use the spirit spring and my medical knowledge to accompany you from childhood to emperor, becoming the one and only empress you cherish above all others.
(Loosely adapted from official history | Spirit-Spring Space | Lucky Star Protects Her Family | Sweet Childhood Romance | Fateful Match at the Grab Ceremony)
