Liu Ruohong has truly had a hard life.
Her father was a low-ranking official in charge of canal transport, framed by a colleague and wrongfully left to die in prison.
Her mother was the daughter of a wealthy family, but fell seriously ill after her husband's death.
Poor Liu Ruohong had to support the family from a young age, and through the Ninth Master's connections, she got a job preparing tea at the Tea and Wine Office.
A strict supervisor, scheming colleagues, and a life of poverty all made things unbearable for her. But she never expected that the handsome man she once saved out of kindness would turn out to be the crown prince.
Everyone in Bianjing says that Prince of Yong'an Ji Min is aloof, arrogant, and busy with official duties all day. The noble young ladies of the capital have exhausted every trick in their efforts to win his favor, to no avail. But no one expected him to return from a trip to Jiangnan with a common woman in tow.
Word has it that this woman is illiterate, penniless, of humble birth, and the daughter of a convicted criminal. The noble young ladies seethe, convinced she's used lowly tactics to seduce the heir to the throne. But no one expected that, in private, it would be the dazzlingly beautiful heir who doted on her without restraint.
Years later, the history books would have much to say about Empress Dehui: her humble origins, peerless beauty, decades of imperial favor, and power before which the officials bowed, along with the words that would echo through the ages:
"They say fate plays tricks on people, but I refuse to bow to it!"
Reader's guide:
1. This is a boy-girl romance, one-on-one, with both leads inexperienced in love and a sweet, doting romance. It includes political intrigue and has a happy ending.
2. The male lead is the crown prince, a master of both civil and military arts with an instinctive grasp of politics in public, and a devoted househusband in private who patiently teaches the heroine. The heroine is a commoner who eventually becomes empress, introduces reforms, and makes her mark in history.
3. There are male supporting characters, but the heroine only loves the male lead. Enjoy!
Theme: Self-reliance and strength are the path to happiness.
As expected, "a true gentleman observes chess without speaking"—I guessed it!