A quirky, spirited girl + a cold-on-the-outside, warm-hearted, overprotective, dramatic emperor + sweet romance + mutual firsts + love at first sight + two hopeless romantics pursuing each other
When she was sixteen, Li Zhiyuan fell for the newly enthroned Emperor Xie Rongzhi at first sight.
No other reason. He was handsome.
Her parents simply waved a hand and donated a hundred thousand taels of gold to send her into the palace as Lady Li.
Before she went in, her parents drilled into her that none of the imperial concubines were easy to deal with. She needed to keep her wits about her, and if things got really bad, they would donate another hundred thousand taels to get her out.
She took their advice to heart. But how was it that as soon as she entered the palace, the emperor was sneaking around and climbing over her wall?
They said an emperor’s heart was impossible to read, but he seemed to treat her differently.
He not only stood up for her, but also gave her pear blossom cakes and South Sea pearls.
She thought he was such a good emperor. She would love him for the rest of her life.
Xie Rongzhi had been forced onto the dragon throne. At first, he was simply curious to see what the girl sent in for a hundred thousand taels of gold looked like.
The little girl entered the palace, and right after her, he sneaked over the wall to peek at her.
That was the end of him. The girl was soft and sweet, and her words were so charming. She smiled whenever she saw him, making his heart itch.
He thought: They paid a hundred thousand taels for her. I can’t let her suffer. So he always looked out for her, openly and behind the scenes.
He had no idea that he’d lost his heart to her at first sight.
Little Scene 1
Xie Rongzhi leaned close to her. “Ruanruan, try treating me the way your mother treats your father.”
Li Zhiyuan hesitated, then hesitated some more, and finally gave him a gentle slap.
Xie Rongzhi stared in shock. “Ruanruan, why did you hit me?”
Li Zhiyuan bit her lip. “Mother said hitting means affection, and scolding means love.”
