(The entire novel has been written in advance.)
In the sixteenth year of Qide, Princess Changping Xie Linxi led an army north to defeat the Turks.
On the day she returned in triumph, the first snow of the year fell over Chang'an.
On Vermilion Bird Avenue, the Imperial Guard cleared the way for miles. Xie Linxi rode past, her robes flying with the snowflakes, her bearing bold and brilliant.
Every onlooker turned to stare. "Of the four children of His Majesty, the one who most resembles him must be Her Highness, Princess Changping."
Outside the imperial city, Censor-in-Chief Ling Jing welcomed her with the other officials, tall and graceful, as gentle as ever.
At the sight of him from afar, Xie Linxi remembered their night together that spring.
Pulling her horse to a stop, she asked with a smile, "I wonder what you have decided about that matter from years ago, Censor Ling?"
Ling Jing raised his eyes slightly, calm and composed.
Before he could give the long-awaited answer, Xie Linxi added, "But I can no longer offer you anything else."
She chuckled and leaned close to whisper in his ear, "If you are still willing, would you deign to become my kept man?"
Hah. Ling Jing laughed in disbelief.
If he remembered correctly, Xie Linxi had asked him back then, "Would you be willing to enter the Princess's household as her consort?"
Three years later, was he now fit only to be her kept man?
[Reading Notes]
An alternate setting inspired by the early Tang dynasty, during the reign of an empress.
Both are each other's only partners, both are strong, happy ending.
(This version of the blurb was written on August 25, 2026, and has been archived.)
Theme: Stay strong and keep living!
