Cold Mist Over the River

A village trapped among the mountains is visited by a group of unwelcome guests, who claim they have come to escort the Noble Consort back to the palace. But isn't the imperial palace just another cage? Unable to bear leaving her young son behind, she wants to take him back and raise him there, but the emperor refuses because the boy is not of the imperial bloodline. With no other choice, she entrusts him to Shen Weifan, the current Secretary of the Censorate, courtesy name Qingli. Shen Weifan has no sons, but he does have a daughter. He names the boy Shen Sifeng, courtesy name Siyan.

The Noble Consort longs for her son, so the emperor adopts his second son, Chu Yanhuan, courtesy name Xianyue, and gives him to her to raise. The second prince is ambitious, but the eldest prince is even more so. Lacking allies, the second prince seeks out Shen Sifeng, the rising star and favorite of the emperor, who serves as Junior Secretary of the Censorate. The second prince tries to win him over but is refused. Later, he and the Noble Consort use threats to force Shen Sifeng's hand. With no way out, Shen Sifeng gives in. In time, they fall in love and stand together at the pinnacle of power, only to be separated forever by an ambush.

A nation cannot go a day without a ruler. Shen Sifeng has no choice but to put Chu Yanhuan's younger brother on the throne and teach him to govern. Once peace and prosperity have returned, he drinks a cup of poison that pierces his heart, and sees the one he loved in his dreams again.

Theme: My first attempt at writing a political intrigue story.