The Palace's Slender Beauty

The next book in the same series, Beauty of the Eastern Palace, is now open for follows~~ Blurb One: Yusheng was a famous courtesan in Yangzhou, with fragrant cheeks, cherry-red lips, and almond eyes that seemed to hold spring water. Her slender waist could be circled with one hand, and she had captured the hearts of countless young men in Yangzhou. She was supposed to be sent to the prefect's residence, but for some reason the Crown Prince took a liking to her. Carried into the Eastern Palace in a small sedan chair, she became the lowest-ranking consort. The Crown Prince was aloof, appearing refined and courteous, like an orchid or a jade tree. Only Yusheng knew that the Crown Prince, who seemed to the world like an immortal descended from heaven, had two very different sides behind closed doors. She knew perfectly well that his favor and indulgence were nothing but a little charity granted at his fingertips. Blurb Two: Yusheng had known since childhood that to get what she wanted, she first had to give something in return. The Crown Prince liked virtuous women, so she washed her hands and made him soup, gentle as water. The Crown Prince liked alluring women, so she let spring linger in her eyes, charming and winsome. When he was thwarted at court, she was the one who understood him. When he prospered in politics, she was his gentle refuge. When he was in danger, she threw herself in front of the blade for him. Everyone in the household said she loved His Highness to the very core. She was so good at pretending that sometimes even Yusheng believed it herself. With this, she climbed from the lowest consort rank to Lady Liangdi. She had everything she should have, and she'd avenged every wrong. With her goals fulfilled, she wanted to leave the Eastern Palace and start a different life. On the day chaos broke out in the palace, she escaped through the gates, only to have a bloodstained sword pressed to her throat. On a rainy night, the Crown Prince wore armor, holding a sword in one hand and the Empress's imperial seal in the other.