The Entire Capital Is Begging Her to Return to the Palace

Crown Prince Liu Yuan was majestic and dignified, high above everyone else. Even the most outstanding daughters of noble families could only gaze at him from afar, waiting for the day he might take it into his head to glance their way. What chance did Jiang Ying, an orphan from a fallen military family, have? A single glimpse from the corner of the room was already a blessing.

Jiang Ying couldn't accept that. Her infatuation became an obsession, and in the end she got her wish and married into the Eastern Palace. Liu Yuan treated her with courtesy and made her a promise: "For every step you take toward me, I'll take ten toward you. For every step you retreat, I'll retreat ten. I won't force you into anything."

Liu Yuan truly lived by his promise never to force her. Jiang Ying thought that meant he had no desires or expectations, and that he had no feelings for her. When she asked for a divorce, he agreed at once, even knowing she was pregnant.

After their divorce, Jiang Ying left the capital for six years. When she returned with her child, her heart was calm, and all she wanted was a peaceful life. Strangely, noble families and court officials flocked to her as if they owed her a huge debt. Even Liu Yuan, now Emperor, clung to her day after day...

Pestered until she couldn't stand it, Jiang Ying had no choice but to invoke the "I won't force you" principle to rein Liu Yuan in. She expected it to have little effect, but Liu Yuan was as steadfast as ever. "I will honor the words I gave you back then. I won't force you into anything."

#Jiang Ying thinks Liu Yuan is the greatest defeat of her life, never realizing that she won long ago. Her spoils of war are both the empress's throne, there for the taking, and the heart of an emperor who has tasted the bitterness of a secret, unrequited love for years.#

A long-suffering, lovesick emperor VS a delightfully goofy beauty. Mutual pining, rekindled love, one-on-one romance, happy ending.

Coming next: After Mistaking My Savior

Goddess-like older sister X younger brother who's a killing machine

Ling Shuo spent ten years in disguise, traveling far and wide to hunt down the wicked.

On his first night in the capital, he set out with his sword to avenge himself at the dilapidated marquis's residence.

But a woman stood at the entrance. When she caught sight of him, her eyes lit up. Unafraid of his sword, she came gracefully to meet him.

The woman wore plain clothes, her features as lovely as jade. She accepted a brand-new cloak from her maid, a faint dimple appearing in her cheek. She was beautiful in a serene, gentle way.

"The night is cold and damp, and your clothes are thin, benefactor. Why not put this on before you go inside?"

The sword hummed, eager to spill the blood of the woman before him.

Yet Ling Shuo seemed to see the jade Guanyin statue from the old temple where he'd once taken shelter, the one that had kept him company through countless long nights.

His sword slipped back into its sheath. Ling Shuo calmly accepted the cloak, lowering his eyes to hide their gleam.

Never mind. A kind-hearted Guanyin sister like her could not be his enemy. And as for when he became her benefactor, he couldn't remember.

*

Jiang Ling found her benefactor rather interesting.

Her benefactor was only sixteen, like a handsome mountain spirit who had wandered into the mortal world by mistake. He knew nothing of worldly customs and liked to hold his sword and call out brightly, "Big Sister."

No matter how many times he called, Jiang Ling answered every time. Helpless but indulgent, she thought that since he had saved her life, she ought to treat him well.

She instructed everyone at the marquis's residence to show the boy respect. She indulged him in everything herself, even setting aside the rules of the capital and letting him follow her everywhere, never leaving her side.

Before long, even after his evening scripture copying and bath, the boy could walk right into her bedroom and sit beside her.

His damp presence drew unmistakably close. The boy seemed obedient as he knelt by her legs, but they were so near they could feel each other's breath. His low voice carried an unusual emotion. "Big Sister."

When the boy's strong arms wrapped around her, Jiang Ling finally realized something was wrong. She deeply regretted how improper their closeness had become.

*

Jiang Ling found it harder and harder to deal with Ling Shuo.

By day, the boy still showed some restraint, but at night he clung to her as if he might force his way into her bedchamber before long.

Jiang Ling stopped going soft on him. The day she decided to send Ling Shuo away, she received a letter from her father. After reading it, she was shocked to learn that she had mistaken the identity of the person who saved her life.

Ling Shuo had not saved her, and he seemed to have a longstanding feud with the marquis's family. She had even less reason to keep him now.

But before she could say a word, Ling Shuo disappeared.

She found him in an old alley and saw with her own eyes how skillfully he swung his sword, swiftly slitting the throat of the Duke of Zhenguo's heir.

Blood gushed forth. A powerful court official, renowned throughout the land, had died just like that.

Ling Shuo, however, sheathed his sword as casually as if he had stepped on an ant. A streak of blood at the corner of his brow slid down his cheek like a writhing snake.

He was still as beautiful as ever, but he was no longer the mountain spirit in Jiang Ling's heart.

Theme: Live life with determination and keep striving.