She Is Bullied

[A resilient, clear-eyed beauty x a brooding, unhinged crown prince]

Shen Si has an aunt who has been a beloved imperial consort for many years. Ever since her aunt gained the emperor's favor, the Shen family has received much help from her.

Then one day, her aunt specifically requests that Shen Si enter the palace to keep her company. Shen Si bids farewell to her family and childhood sweetheart and enters the palace as her aunt's lady-in-waiting.

Only after entering the palace does Shen Si learn that her aunt is consumed by fears that the emperor will lose interest in her as she ages. She is determined to find a reliable young woman to take her place in charming the emperor.

Her aunt chooses Shen Si.

Shen Si has no desire to serve the emperor. She only wants to leave the palace and marry her childhood sweetheart as soon as possible, but her aunt has done so much for the Shen family.

Two months later, the crown prince returns from his tour of the south. At the welcoming banquet, after several rounds of drinks, the emperor secretly pinches Shen Si's palm and asks pointedly, "How old are you this year, Lady Shen?"

-

The crown prince, Zhao Lin, is beautiful as jade, with an exceptionally graceful bearing.

On the day Zhao Lin returns from his tour of the south, he catches sight of a woman in a lady-in-waiting's uniform among the crowd waiting to welcome him. She stands tall and graceful, her lovely face showing not the slightest hint of joy.

He later learns that she is called Shen Si, a beauty Imperial Consort Xiao intends to offer to his father to secure the emperor's favor.

Zhao Lin scoffs: That old seductress has spent half her life competing for favor. If she wants a peaceful life for her remaining years, shouldn't she be currying favor with him instead?

One night not long afterward, Shen Si is blindfolded and carried in a small sedan chair straight from the imperial consort's palace to a bedchamber.

The eunuch who receives her says the emperor has taken an interest in Lady Shen and has secretly summoned her to attend him.

-

After that first secret summons late at night, it happens many more times that month.

The bruises all over her body never have time to fade.

Shen Si privately wonders: Her aunt, the imperial consort, clearly said the emperor has lately been too weak to perform his marital duties. So why is the man in that bed so virile and tireless all night long?

Until one day, when the emperor stays overnight in the imperial consort's palace for the first time in ages, Shen Si serves tea outside the hall as usual and overhears him whisper to her aunt, "I wish to take Shen Si as a consort. Would you be willing to give her up?"

Her aunt smiles and replies, "If Your Majesty likes her, you can summon Shen Si tonight."

But the emperor says, "That would be improper. I'm not so eager to get a woman into my bed. I can summon her after she's been formally appointed."

Shen Si is thunderstruck. Then who was the person who had secretly summoned her to his chambers all those times before?

Reading notes:

1. One-on-one romance, both leads have had no prior relationships.

2. The heroine is one year older than the hero.

3. The hero falls for the heroine at first sight.

4. Not historically researched, a melodramatic mishmash.

The first draft of this blurb was written on September 22, 2025, and the second draft was revised on January 23, 2026. (Screenshots saved.)

Theme: The moon is cold, the days are warm