Warm Spring

Blurb:

Zhou Sui, a thousand-household officer in the Southern Pacification Office, goes undercover as a stable hand in the prefect's residence to investigate the Yunzhou prefect's corruption and bribery. Just as he is about to succeed, his identity comes under suspicion.

At fifteen, Nuan Chun lost both parents to illness in the warm spring. Her family was so poor that they had already piled up debts trying to pay for treatment, and could not even afford a coffin.

With no other choice, Nuan Chun sold herself into servitude through a broker and entered the prefect's household. Only then could she bury her family.

As luck would have it, that very day the prefect sent men after Zhou Sui to kill him. On Nuan Chun's first day in the residence, she had just returned to her room when a dagger was pressed to her throat...

Zhou Sui's voice was icy, edged with murderous intent. "Die, or help me get out of the residence. Choose one!"

On the seventh day after her family's death, Nuan Chun was granted leave to leave the residence. Zhou Sui spent all seven days in her room.

They met again on the day the prefect took a fancy to Nuan Chun and raised her to the rank of concubine.

That day, evidence of the prefect's corruption, bribery, and exploitation of the people was brought to light.

The prefect's entire family, along with their servants, was taken into custody. From horseback, Zhou Sui recognized at a glance the woman who had helped him evade the prefect's assassins.

The prefect was taking a concubine today. She wore a wedding dress, her hair swept up in an elaborate bun, but there was no joy in her eyes...

Yet when Nuan Chun saw the man on horseback, a glimmer appeared in her eyes.

For the first time, Zhou Sui bent the rules for personal reasons. He spared her from being jailed along with the prefect's household.

A colleague warned him, "She's a corrupt official's dependent. Don't keep her around and give people something to use against you..."

Zhou Sui replied coolly, "She... is mine!"

Theme: Never give up in the face of adversity