A Lifetime of Fragrance

As the illegitimate daughter of an illegitimate son of the Duke of Dingguo's household, Qi Yunfei has a hard time getting by: her grandmother dislikes her, and her stepmother doesn't love her.

In her previous life, she was weak and easily bullied, and her stepmother sent her to Prince Jing's household as a concubine.

Who could have guessed that the seemingly unremarkable Prince Jing would eventually ascend the throne, and that she, though unloved, would be made a Noble Consort?

The people of the duke's household were naturally consumed with regret, kneeling before her and trying to curry favor.

But when she woke up, she had returned to the time before entering Prince Jing's household.

At the same time, Qi Yunxin, the duke's legitimate daughter, who had also been reborn, wanted to exchange marriage arrangements with her.

If Qi Yunfei remembered correctly, Qi Yunxin was supposed to marry the emperor's only younger brother, Prince Rui.

Prince Rui had spent years campaigning on the battlefield. He was nearly thirty and still unmarried.

Rumor had it that he was savage and had always coveted the throne.

Though he hadn't seized the throne in her previous life, Qi Yunfei had heard from Prince Jing that Prince Rui had helped him ascend it.

Qi Yunfei naturally didn't dare exchange places with Qi Yunxin. A ruthless man like Prince Rui would never forgive them if he discovered their deception.

Who could have known that her elder half-sister would scheme to send her off in the bridal sedan bound for Prince Rui's residence after all?

The moment she lifted her veil, she saw a stern-faced man before her. Kneeling on the floor, Qi Yunfei pleaded, "Your Highness, I didn't know."

Then tears streamed down her face, and her body shook like a leaf.

Looking at the delicate young woman, tears falling like pear blossoms in the rain, Prince Rui wondered: Why hadn't she seemed this timid when she saved him in the mountains all those years ago?

What Qi Yunfei never expected was that in this life, she would enter the palace again, this time as empress.

The people of the duke's household once more knelt before her and tried to curry favor, while her elder half-sister, who had failed to get what she wanted in either life, fainted in fury.

1. An imaginary setting. This story is entirely fictional and is a short novel.

2. Other completed works: Reborn as a Delicate Young Lady, The Chancellor's Ageless Beloved Wife, The Prince's Household's Hidden Gem, The Marquis's Household's Hidden Gem, and others.

Coming soon: Marrying a Powerful Official from a Humble Family. Please add it to your library!

Xun Li is the new emperor's favored minister, a knife in the emperor's hand that strikes wherever he points.

Though exceptionally handsome, he makes everyone tremble wherever he goes.

Behind his back, people have given him a nickname: "The Jade-Faced King of Hell."

The great noble families show him respect to his face, but privately look down on his humble origins.

One day, that knife comes down on the Marquis of Shengling's household.

After court, the marquis finally loses his temper and curses him out: "You're nothing but a rabid dog. What do you have to be so pleased about? Dare to come after me, and I'll make you pay!"

Xun Li gives a cold laugh, his gaze toward the marquis icy.

The next day, the Marquis of Shengling receives an imperial decree: the new emperor has betrothed his legitimate eldest daughter to Xun Li.

The marquis is so furious that he skips court for three days. Yet a month later, his eldest daughter, Sheng Luyan, still enters the Xun household.

Theme: repaying a debt of gratitude.