(I’ll keep writing ancient-style supernatural stories for ten thousand years.)
As the Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves says: “The hydrangeas bloom again and again, while the youth remains undefeated for ten thousand years.”
This story and The Fair-Faced Young Lord on Horseback are companion works.
A gentle, scheming prince x a radiant, headstrong princess
Blurb:
Lan Yi, a princess of the Southern Kingdom, is ordered by the emperor to marry a prince from a small kingdom.
She’s heard that the prince is as handsome as a jade carving, charming and elegant, every inch the perfect gentleman, but... he cannot father children.
The princess rubs her forehead. “Fine, I understand. At least he’s good-looking, so I can live with that.”
The prince of the small kingdom: “But I... I still want to explain...”
Yuan Jinshi fell for her at first sight. But a fortune-teller once said his fate was sinister and that he was destined to love her without being able to stay by her side. So he deliberately acted cold and kept his distance. This seemingly splendid banquet also conceals an evil presence no one knows about...
Later: a groveling-to-win-her-back arc
[Little scene]
Their first meeting, at the wedding ceremony
Princess: How boring.
Yuan Jinshi: If Your Highness finds it boring, why marry me?
Princess: I’m only following orders.
Yuan Jinshi: If you’re only following orders, you shouldn’t expect it to be interesting.
Princess: You’re boring too. Apart from being handsome, you have nothing going for you.
Yuan Jinshi: Oh? Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness.
Princess: ...I wasn’t complimenting you.
Yuan Jinshi: I’ll take it as one, for now.
Princess: ...You’re so unreasonable!
Yuan Jinshi: That’s just how unreasonable I am.
Later, inside a tower in Fusang Commandery
Princess: It’s so stuffy here. I can’t get used to the food or the bed, and I can’t get used to you either...
Yuan Jinshi: Why say that all of a sudden?
Princess: I just feel like our lives have nothing to do with each other. We don’t have anything in common.
Yuan Jinshi: Then do you like yourself?
Princess: Of course I do.
Yuan Jinshi: I like you too. Does that count as something we have in common?
A prince from the Eastern Isles x a princess of the Southern Kingdom. One-on-one, happy ending.
Reader notes:
1. An ancient-style setting with demons, immortals, spirits, Buddhas, and ghosts.
2. This is a fictional setting, so don’t nitpick the history. The story unfolds through the eyes of their son, Yuan Fengzhu.
3. No golden finger. They go about their daily romance while taking down the occasional little monster. Please give this little author a double tap and a 666!
Theme: Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them
