The Splendor of the Imperial Court

◎Seven-year age gap, unhinged emperor x resilient, headstrong little fox Wei Shufan was famed in the capital for her beauty, radiant as the spring dawn and captivating enough to topple kingdoms. But she had a child out of wedlock. Not only did her cousins look down on her, the other young women in the clan secretly laughed at her, too. Her half-sister, Wei Wenyi, never passed her door without taunting her. By chance, Wei Wenyi discovered that every little thing in the shabby house where Wei Shufan lived was a priceless treasure, and that she had bodyguards protecting her. Her life was quite comfortable. Before long, the father who had once treated Wei Shufan coldly changed his tune and even smiled as he begged her to come home. Wei Wenyi couldn't make head nor tail of it. It wasn't until that snowy night, while the whole family was celebrating, that someone foolish enough to make trouble for Wei Shufan heard a voice suddenly come from outside, cold as the snow swirling beyond the window: "Lord Wei, what fine manners you've taught your family." Guards filed in, silent and solemn, as if escorting the most honored person in the world. Beneath the newcomer's black cloak, a corner of a dragon emblem showed. He took Wei Shufan by the hand and led her to her seat. Nobody dared even breathe loudly. At last, they understood who Wei Shufan had been relying on. - They had married young and once loved each other deeply. Though she came from humble origins, she had been made empress, and everyone in the empire said the emperor cherished her. At first, Shufan believed it, too. But time changed everything. The emperor was heartless, and their relationship had already been pushed to the brink by one argument after another. When she learned he was about to depose her and make a favored nobleman's daughter his new empress, she arranged an assassination attempt and died before his eyes. Amid the falling snow, he held her tightly. His hands were frozen, but he didn't notice. A few drops of blood stained her snow-white cheek. A smile lingered on her lips, as if she had simply fallen asleep. In that moment, it was as though all his senses had deserted him. He stared at her in a daze, unable to believe it, as if the whole world had gone dark. - Years passed. The Jin dynasty grew stronger, commanding the Central Plains and leaving its neighboring kingdoms in constant fear. The neighboring state of Chu was weak, and its new ruler was utterly incompetent. He even abandoned his country's title, declared the Jin dynasty the rightful sovereign, and styled himself a mere lord. He paid tribute every year to keep the peace, yet still could not withstand the Jin armies. After being captured, Shufan was sent to Chang'an along with the others and temporarily housed at a post station. The captive nobles of Chu were terrified. One of them, taken by her beauty, even set a trap to make her ingratiate herself with the Jin emperor. In the inner hall, behind the bright yellow gauze curtains. The emperor's jade-white face showed signs of drunkenness, but his deep phoenix eyes remained clear, sharp as blades, fixed steadily on her. She didn't dare look at him. Her slender shoulders trembled. Before she could speak, he seized her delicate wrist and shoved her roughly onto the bed. "Shu'er, where do you think you're running this time?" he murmured, his eyes bloodshot. It was hard to tell whether he felt more hatred or the overwhelming joy of having her back after losing her. ★ In the first volume, a powerful man descends from on high: an age-gap, indulgent romance with a Mary Sue heroine. In the second volume, the heroine fakes her death and runs away, and the male lead breaks down and goes mad. A chase of cat and mouse, forced possession, and rekindled love. ★ Romance-focused, with falling in love and raising a child, lots of angst and push-and-pull, both leads' first time. (Not a palace-intrigue story. The harem is just a backdrop, and the romance is one-on-one.) (The male lead never intended to depose the empress, but the leads have plenty of other conflicts. The blurb is for reference only; please refer to the actual story for the plot.) ☆ The cover is an authorized CG, not an exclusive purchase. Artist: Zhong Qing. Theme: Pursuing freedom and pursuing oneself.