The Eastern Palace's Lady-in-Waiting (Reborn)

Because of her striking looks, Shen Su caught the eye of the wealthy Master Zhang Si. Her family was too humble to protect her, so they had no choice but to send her into the palace as a maid. Shen Su didn't think being a maid was so bad. Serving others wasn't shameful; being a concubine was.

She worked diligently in the palace and tried to do everything to the best of her ability. She thought becoming a Palace Matron would be nice, too: an official position, with prestige. So what if it was in the inner palace? It was still an official post.

Crown Prince Zheng Feng was gravely ill, and no medicine could help him. A Daoist read his fate and bluntly declared that a palace maid whose birth horoscope matched his could bring him good fortune through marriage. Everyone in the palace said Shen Su was lucky, destined to rise from a humble branch and become a phoenix. But Shen Su was afraid of him. They said the Crown Prince looked so imposing that a single glance could scare someone to death. Shen Su suspected he might even eat people.

After arriving at the Eastern Palace, Shen Su kept working diligently. The Crown Prince merely kept her by his side to attend to him. He made no improper advances, so perhaps he really had brought her there to bring him good fortune? To be a lucky charm?

At the New Year's Eve banquet, Shen Su stood beside the Crown Prince. The moment the Empress Dowager looked at her, she couldn't take her eyes away. Shen Su looked just like an old family friend who had passed away many years ago.

One coincidence after another, one thick veil of mystery after another. Her background seemed far from simple.

Many years later, as Shen Su held her little daughter in the imperial harem, she looked back on the past and couldn't help thinking that stories in books were never as exciting as real life.

Scene One:

Shen Su followed the palace steward toward the Eastern Palace. Her slender, pale fingers clutched the hem of her clothes. She didn't want to go!

Zheng Feng gazed at the delicate, timid girl trailing behind the steward. Her little face was nearly beet red.

"Come here."

Shen Su gritted her teeth and stomped her foot. Fine, she'd go. She was already here, so what was the point of being afraid?

Zheng Feng laughed at her show of bravado. Having lived another life, he knew he had to protect his little beauty. He needed no one else in his harem. She alone was enough.

Zheng Feng loved her, and he wanted her. He knew that if he beckoned, Shen Su would have no choice but to obey. But he wanted her to come to him willingly, with her heart and eyes filled with nothing but him.

Scene Two:

Late at night, candlelight flickered in the Eastern Palace's inner hall. Shen Su stood beside Zheng Feng as he waved the account book in his hand. Her little chest sat wide open on the desk, revealing the silver she'd saved.

"You've got quite a stash in here. Are you still thinking of leaving?"

As he spoke, Zheng Feng drew Shen Su into his arms.

"The Crown Princess has the surname Shen. What more do you want?"

Shen Su took a deep breath.

"What if I said I forgot to put these in my dowry? Would you believe me?"

Zheng Feng tossed the account book onto the desk and scooped Shen Su up in his arms.

"Whether you believe it or not, you'll find out in a little while."

Clever maid x Scheming, devoted Crown Prince

Theme: Time is precious, so cherish your youth