After the Sinner's Daughter Gave Herself to the Emperor

A new emperor ascended the throne, and the entire city was searched for rebel fugitives and remnants of the former regime. Su Jinyue, formerly a Junior Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, was among them.

After two months on the run, Su Jinyue knew she and the new emperor had a history of old and new grievances. If she fell into his hands, she could only imagine what would happen to her.

After every attempt to escape failed, Su Jinyue had no choice but to use the last retreat the late emperor had left for her: she resumed her female identity and went to the residence of the Earl of Yi'an to claim her kinship.

Half a year later, the search had finally died down. But at an ordinary palace banquet, Su Jinyue unexpectedly met the new emperor's gaze, and her heart tightened at once.

In the days that followed, the new emperor tested her again and again, closing in at every turn.

Su Jinyue met each move with a counter, escaping danger several times.

The Earl of Yi'an's residence was no place to stay for long. She planned to leave the capital through marriage.

But on the night before her engagement was to be settled, an imperial decree arrived from nowhere, making her the first concubine in the imperial harem.

Ling Ye had always suspected the identity of the Third Young Lady newly brought back to the Earl of Yi'an's residence.

Unfortunately, he had no conclusive evidence, and propriety between men and women meant he couldn't investigate too closely.

There was one thing Ling Ye was sure of: her hurried marriage and departure from the capital meant she was guilty of something.

So Ling Ye simply issued an imperial decree bringing her into the palace. Given enough time together, he would surely catch her slipping.

He searched for evidence day after day. Later, when irrefutable proof finally reached his hands, he couldn't help thinking of the sleeping face that had nestled in his arms the night before.

Suddenly, he thought that perhaps, when it came to living one's life, it wasn't so bad to be a little muddleheaded.

After sitting alone for a long while, Ling Ye finally tossed the unopened confidential report into a hidden compartment. On his way back, he remembered to bring along two boxes of the pastries Su Jinyue loved.

But when he pushed open the palace doors in eager anticipation, he found the inner chamber empty.

It wasn't just Su Jinyue who had disappeared. All the gold and silver objects that could be sold were gone too.

Ling Ye laughed in fury.

Good. Very good. Just wonderful.

Theme: Face challenges head-on and strive boldly for progress