The Years I Made Trouble in the Eastern Palace

My brother and I are boy-girl twins. When we were seven, we were both sent to the Eastern Palace. Father told us, "You two have to cling tight to the Eastern Palace. It's the biggest thigh you can grab." My brother and I nodded, not really understanding. Eleven years later, my brother had worked hard and finally become a trusted confidant of the Eastern Palace. I had worked hard too, and finally become its greatest thorn in the side.

1. My name is Xiao Xiao. My father is Xiao Qi, the mighty general who guards the nation. He started out as a country bumpkin, but was one of the old emperor's first trusted men. Still, my father was lucky, practically a walking good-luck charm. The young men from his village are still slaughtering pigs and fishing, scraping together a few coins each day...