The Princess Consort in His Palm

[Upcoming novel: The Palace Maid on the Run. Blurb below.]

[Blurb: A sweet, everyday romance]

At the slave market, Song Yun was covered in wounds, yet carried himself with such noble grace that he was impossible to forget.

The fisherman's daughter, Rong Mian, walked up to him and asked, "Can you teach?"

Song Yun lowered his eyes, hiding their sharpness. "I can."

Rong Mian traded a basket of grass carp for him.

Song Yun was gravely ill, and the physician said he wouldn't live another year. But he was a good teacher, and Rong Mian couldn't bear to see him die. She secretly sold her dowry to pay for his treatment, and her adoptive mother beat her for it.

Rong Mian, covered in bruises, leaned against the bed and covered her eyes. "You mustn't die. If you die, I'll have nothing left."

Song Yun heard her words just before he lost consciousness. So someone did care whether he lived or died.

The Fourth Prince, Song Yun, returned to court and ascended the throne amid the old emperor's furious protests.

The once gentle and courteous Fourth Prince was gone. The new emperor, reborn from the ashes, was ruthless and cruel, earning himself the name of tyrant.

The only warmth in his heart was the fisherman's daughter who had traded grass carp for his life and wanted to study in earnest.

But that girl refused to enter the palace.

*

Her birth father had been falsely accused and thrown into prison. With nowhere else to turn, Rong Mian relied on the little affection between them and pleaded with Song Yun: "Your Majesty, save my father. Mianmian will do anything."

Song Yun gazed at her tear-filled almond eyes and remained silent for a long time. Then he suddenly bent down and kissed her.

Was he taking advantage of her desperation?

Yes. But without her, there would be no light in his heart.

*************Blurb for upcoming novel below*************

The Palace Maid on the Run

By day, Shuli was a lady official in the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau. By night, she was a palace maid assigned to keep watch over the emperor.

There was no doubt that Shuli was favored.

But she knew full well that she was just a servant who never dared look too closely at her master.

The new emperor, Chen Shubai, liked quiet. When Shuli kept watch, she hardly made a sound.

They each kept to themselves until the powerful eunuch forcibly took away Shuli's best friend in the palace. With no other choice, she sought help from the Son of Heaven.

The new emperor sat on the dragon bed beneath swaying curtains, holding a book and saying nothing.

Shuli knelt on the floor and pleaded desperately, but she couldn't move the emperor's cold, unyielding heart. Knowing she was beautiful, she gritted her teeth and slowly rose. "This servant will attend to Your Majesty... for the night."

Her graceful figure beneath her gray-green palace robes was reflected in the emperor's light brown eyes.

*

The new emperor had never been interested in women. The only time he made an exception was the night he pulled Shuli into his arms and fell onto the silk bedding.

Shuli became the beloved plaything at his fingertips. Whenever the mood struck him, he would lift the curtains and watch her come to him of her own accord.

When the Empress Dowager learned her son had finally taken an interest in women, she hurried to fill his harem. For an emperor, a palace filled with consorts was only natural. Chen Shubai didn't give it much thought. He merely patted Shuli's waist and said, "Pay attention. Be careful, or I'll punish you."

Shuli knew the royal family was heartless. She didn't want to get mixed up in this and had already planned her escape. But the day before the selection of new consorts, she discovered she was pregnant.

That was a grave violation of palace rules.

*

Recently, the palace servants had noticed that the emperor was in a bad mood. It seemed to have something to do with the palace maid who had run away.

Note: A melodramatic pregnancy-and-flight story, followed by a groveling pursuit.

Theme: Stay optimistic in adversity, and reflect on yourself in times of good fortune.