Basking in Your Favor

[On sale December 17 at 7:30 p.m. Preorders in the first three minutes come with a signed copy. Author on Weibo: @Jinjiang Fenfen He Guang] A Zhen is the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of An’s household. She spends most of her time in the inner quarters and rarely appears in public. Quiet and well-behaved, she does not talk much. Her stepmother and legitimate elder sister know that, though she is stunningly beautiful, her lowly birth means she can only marry into an ordinary family, so they often mistreat her. Only the emperor’s closest confidants know that A Zhen does not live in the Duke of An’s household. The emperor raised her himself, taking her with him back when he was still the Prince of Qin. At the time, A Zhen was tiny, a little girl who clung to the emperor’s leg and sobbed. When A Zhen shed a tear, even the decisive, ruthless emperor would patiently comfort her. At night. The Son of Heaven gripped A Zhen’s slender waist and said, half threateningly, “The empress’s seat has been empty all this time. If you still refuse, I’ll have you enter the palace with a child in your belly.” Tears streamed down A Zhen’s cheeks. “You’re always bullying me. I don’t want to be with you.” The emperor held A Zhen’s chin and bent over her. “Nonsense. I’m clearly loving you.” Later, Madam An and her legitimate daughter discovered that at a palace banquet, Li Fu, the chief eunuch at the emperor’s side and the head eunuch of the palace, whom even the court officials treated with respect, was smiling as he poured tea for their lowborn illegitimate daughter. Reader’s guide: [Completely fictional setting] [Please avoid if you are uncomfortable with sex before marriage] [Not plot-focused, slow-paced, lots of everyday romance] The everyday life of a reserved, breathtaking beauty growing up cherished and adored The emperor is no good sort, while the little beauty is a sweet, clingy girl Eight-year age gap, indulgent romance, slice of life, strictly monogamous in every respect Theme: Saving each other in the darkness, growing together, and finding a way out of adversity