Wen Xue Ning had a crush on the Crown Prince, Pei Jiqing.
A fall into the water at a palace banquet brought them together, and she became a secondary consort in the Eastern Palace. From then on, she enjoyed unparalleled favor.
In bed, he warmed her feet against his chest. The heat made her toes curl slightly, and he teased, "Such lovely feet, my dear. What a lucky man I am."
She raised an eyebrow and playfully kicked him in the chest, then huffed with a spoiled air. "Your Highness, are you really going to act like you haven't gotten what you wanted?"
Whenever her adoptive mother came to the palace to pay her respects, she would say with a smile, "You are the only woman in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. You must do your best and give him an heir soon."
That was until the Crown Prince ascended the throne and purged the court with an iron fist. The Earl of Huaiyuan's household was among those affected.
She knelt outside the Hall of Imperial Rule, pleading desperately. Her forehead was battered and bloodied, and the palace servants turned away, unable to bear the sight.
Pei Jiqing ordered the chief eunuch to take her back to her chambers and keep her under strict guard.
He also sent word that her family would only lose its title and be exiled; their lives would be spared. But if the matter involving her family caused her to lose the child in her womb...
After ten months of pregnancy and a difficult delivery, she had only just regained consciousness when she was told the baby had been taken away.
Wen Xue Ning lay on the birthing bed, barely conscious. In a daze, she heard a palace maid scream, "Oh no, Her Highness is hemorrhaging!"
Was she going to die? Perhaps that would be for the best... She was so tired...
Pei Jiqing was composed and prudent. As the late empress's legitimate son, he had no choice but to tread carefully at every turn.
After a scheme was set in motion, a secondary consort was added to the Eastern Palace.
His trusted advisors repeatedly urged him to kill her. He replied coolly, "With more important matters at hand, there's no need to invite trouble."
It was only when he watched her forget herself and kneel outside the hall to beg for mercy for the Earl of Huaiyuan's household that he snapped the imperial brush in his hand. The broken end cut his palm, and blood flowed freely.
During the Lantern Festival of the third year of Chengming, the emperor celebrated alongside the people, and the palace gates were left unlocked that night.
When news that the lady of Chengqian Palace had gone missing reached the Hall of Imperial Rule, Pei Jiqing's expression twisted with fury. He enunciated every word: "Seal off the imperial city. Search every inch and find her. Otherwise, bring me their heads!"
When they met again, Pei Jiqing saw the little girl in her arms. A metallic sweetness rose in his throat, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Whose child is she?"
"Mine."
Killing intent filled Pei Jiqing's eyes. "You don't have to tell me. The bastard can simply be killed."
"Are you insane?!" Wen Xue Ning struggled to break free.
"I went insane the day you left." Pei Jiqing laughed maniacally. "You like daughters? Then let's have one, too."
Once again, the long-empty Chengqian Palace echoed with the sounds of a man and woman making love.
Listen closely, and beneath the man's heavy breathing, you could hear the woman's broken sobs and angry curses.
Reader's Guide:
1. Both leads are each other's one and only. A regret-and-redemption story.
2. The female lead was reincarnated in the womb and has mostly assimilated, about 80 percent.
3. A story built around the author's particular fantasies, with extensive original worldbuilding.
4. The blurb was screenshotted on 2025.11.26.
Theme: I insist on having what I want.
