Picking Jade

Advance notice: The blurb for A Thousand Autumns and Ten Thousand Years is at the bottom ↓

[Pampered Nobleman × Martial Arts Powerhouse]

Qi Mei, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, grew up on the frontier. Born with extraordinary strength, she was bright and sweet, a flower of wealth and privilege.

By imperial decree, she was summoned to the capital to marry Shen Yi, the eldest son of the current chancellor.

Shen Yi placed third in the imperial examinations and was the Crown Prince's study companion. Refined and aloof, he was a match for anyone in talent and looks. Unfortunately, he was frail from birth, coughing blood at the slightest breeze. Two years ago, he even took an arrow for the Crown Prince, leaving him unable to walk properly.

For a while, finding him a wife seemed impossible. Then, unexpectedly, the emperor chose her.

Qi Mei was a total looks enthusiast: if he was handsome, that was all that mattered. But on their wedding night, she scooped him up in a bridal carry, and, whoa! The groom, who had spent two years in a wheelchair, leaped to his feet in mortified outrage...

Qi Mei still carried Shen Yi to bed.

At a flower-viewing banquet in the imperial garden, Shen Yi stumbled, and with everyone watching, Qi Mei carried him into a room again.

At a military parade on the training grounds, Shen Yi's body tilted, and in front of tens of thousands of soldiers, Qi Mei swept him up once more...

...Qi Mei carried Shen Yi yet again! Every time, one arm under his armpits and the other beneath his knees, bridal style!

Shen Yi was so angry that his eyes reddened and his body trembled. "Don't I deserve to save face?!"

Qi Mei looked at him aggrievedly.

Shen Yi gave in. Forget saving face...

■■■■■ Advance notice: A Thousand Autumns and Ten Thousand Years

Meng Lanshi was a powerful Empress Dowager.

The first time she heard the name Shen Yun was from the new emperor. Her stepson, whom she had raised herself, complained to her, "The Great Xia is full of talented people, yet nine out of ten candidates at the palace examination are hopeless cases."

She said, "An emperor must not judge people by their looks."

The young emperor waved a hand. "Mother, you didn't see them. Compared with the others, Shen Yun is as handsome as a god. When I was grading the papers, I had already decided to name him the top scholar. But then I saw the other candidates, so I had to settle for making him third place."

The second time the emperor spoke to her about Shen Yun, the young man, dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe, declared with conviction, "Shen Yun is only seventeen at most, while you're a whole zodiac cycle older than him, and then some! Please be prudent!"

She tilted her head slightly. "What if I insist?"

The emperor shouted solemnly, "Mother! Shen Yun is even two months younger than me!"

Meng Lanshi smiled. "There are plenty of people in this world who devote themselves to serving the people, but not many who devote themselves to me. I may as well ruin just one Shen Yun."

But Shen Yun said, "I don't expect to be the only one you have. But could you wait a little before touching me, after you've just touched someone else?"

He knelt at the hem of her skirt, his lashes faintly damp, tender as young bamboo after the rain, trembling like dewdrops on a gardenia.

Before Meng Lanshi could explain, he added, "Your Highness, just follow your heart. You don't have to deceive me. I'll learn to accept it, little by little. I only ask that you don't tire of me too soon."

Meng Lanshi rubbed her chin. Well, this was...

*Age gap: 17 years

Theme: The clouds will part and the moon will shine again.