The Tale of Lingyi

Historical romance, palace intrigue and power struggles, a heroine’s rise, and a comeback story Her nine brothers had died on the battlefield, and her father and uncles had barely been laid to rest. Before a mourning hall could even be set up, the Shangguan family was accused of treason and sentenced to execution in its entirety. Overnight, only women and children remained. Fifteen-year-old Shangguan Lingyi tore up her token exempting her from the selection and bowed to her mother. “Your daughter is willing to enter the palace as a hostage and a pawn, to win our Shangguan family a chance to survive.” On the day she entered the palace, she hid her father’s blade at the very bottom of her bundle. Everyone thought she had come to await her death. Until she danced before the emperor. Until the mighty ruler knelt before her. “I have been investigating what happened to your father.” The inner palace was full of danger. Some wanted her dead, some wanted her driven mad, and some wanted her to be their dog. But Shangguan Lingyi was the daughter of a military family. She did not fight for favor. She fought for her life. She would make sure not one of those who had harmed her father and brothers got away. In this game, she started from the very bottom. Her bet was that only the one who survived to the end could laugh.