[Han] Radiant Through a Thousand Years

[Bonus chapters are on their way]

After the college entrance exams, Liu Yuan transmigrated before her graduation trip was even over, waking up as Liu Yuan at the end of the Qin dynasty. Her father was famous: his name was Liu Ji. Her mother was famous too: her name was Lu Zhi.

Liu Yuan was a good kid. Since she was here, she might as well work hard. She strongly approved of her parents’ ambition. When her father wove a bamboo crown and said he wanted to be emperor, she had him make one more and declared, “I want to be emperor too.”

Liu Ji thought his daughter had the right idea. Exactly! Everyone needed a dream. The First Emperor’s procession was so magnificent, and he happily wove a Liu-family crown for her too. Patting her on the shoulder, he bragged, “When your father becomes emperor, I’ll make you crown prince.”

Liu Yuan nodded solemnly. “Good!”

Her father was going to change his name, from Liu Ji to Liu Bang.

Keeping up with the times, she was changing hers too, from Liu Yuan to Liu Zhao.

Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty and ascended the throne. Liu Zhao looked at him and brought out the bamboo crown from years ago, reminding her father: “If you ever make it big, don’t forget me.”

Liu Bang took his daughter’s bamboo crown and promptly gave up. Good grief, why was this child so serious?

But looking at everything she accomplished along the way, building the economy, establishing the imperial examinations, developing infrastructure, and bringing prosperity wherever she went, she was undeniably capable. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all? He knew it! She’d been just like him since she was little!

Besides, Liu Ying wasn’t up to the job either.

(The heroine is sweet on the outside, ruthless underneath. The plot comes first, and romance is just an extra. She grows over the course of the story, so please be patient with her. Before eighteen, there’s flirting but no romance; after eighteen, a full-blown love rivalry. The Han emperor is captivated by beauty, and the Liu family’s men are all scoundrels. The male lead is sexually inexperienced.)

Note: Parallel world, fictional history. No need to nitpick historical accuracy.

Coming soon: After Outliving Five Husbands

When Zhang Heng returned in mourning clothes for the fifth time, rumors that she was cursed and brought death to her husbands had spread throughout town. Her father, Zhang Fu, worried himself gray. In this world, young men seemed more fragile than autumn leaves: one moment alive, the next gone, leaving his daughter to bear the blame.

Until one day, while inspecting the fields, he saw someone among the furrows. Old clothes could not hide his beauty, and his elegant bearing was like a pine growing in a secluded valley. Zhang Fu stood frozen for a long while. In all his years, he had never imagined anyone like this could be found in the countryside.

He was so struck by the man’s appearance that he coaxed him back to his house.

Chen Ping sneered. “Poverty cannot sway me. Does Master Zhang intend to make me the sixth dry skeleton in a grave?”

Just then, the bamboo curtain shifted.

Zhang Heng leaned beneath the eaves, dressed in mourning white, like moonlight reflected in a cold pool.

Chen Ping froze. He’d been a little too quick to make that threat

He had seen her before, when he and Zifang were traveling in Xiapi and happened upon the Sword Saint Gai Nie. This woman had been at the man’s side, her robes fluttering in the breeze. He had looked back several times as they left, and Zifang had teased him, “Ping, has someone stolen your soul?”

He never thought he would meet her here.

Zhang Heng’s gaze swept over Chen Ping. He was indeed handsome. “Marriage is just a formality.”

Looking at the scholar who had fallen silent the moment he saw her, she thought her father had a good eye. Everyone was greedy for money; if they refused, it was only because the offer wasn’t high enough. “I like your looks. A thousand gold pieces for one night. Are you willing?”

Chen Ping: ...

Years later, Liu Bang looked at this important minister by his side and sighed. “Chen Ping, demanding ten thousand gold before you’ve even done anything, isn’t that a bit much?”

Chen Ping replied sorrowfully, “Your Majesty, I have my reasons.”

“Oh?”

“There’s a tiger in my bedchamber.”

Theme: The rise and fall of the realm.