My Sweetest Love

(Temporary blurb)

The year Miss Murong Eleven accompanied her grandmother to the capital, she knew she was there to serve as a hostage.

The imperial family planned a marriage alliance, betrothing her eldest legitimate sister to Prince Yong as his consort. It would help balance several factions and undermine the disfavored Crown Prince. But then a sudden turn of events came. Her grandmother had intended to take the blame and call off the engagement, yet the emperor had no intention of letting go of Murong's daughter, such a tempting prize. The Marshal Murong had only one legitimate daughter.

So after weighing the pros and cons at court, unlucky Miss Eleven became the substitute. But not as Prince Yong's consort: she was to become the Crown Prince's secondary consort, simply because she was born of a concubine.

Old Madam Murong slammed down her teacup. Nonsense! My granddaughter is the apple of my eye! How could she become a concubine?

The old madam did not sleep all night. The next day, dressed in her official noblewoman's robes and carrying her late husband's memorial tablet, she went to court, though not to demand an explanation.

With a few tears and a passionate speech, the old madam, though advanced in years, showed the eloquence of someone raised in a scholarly household. She spoke at length, movingly, of loyalty to the emperor and love of country, and looked ready to dash her head against a pillar if she did not get her way. The assembled officials were at a loss. To give himself a way out, the usually benevolent and Confucian-minded emperor reluctantly made his decision: The Crown Princess! It's settled!

But the old madam was not satisfied. She wiped away a few more tears with heartfelt emotion and said that her granddaughter was delicate, that a match made in heaven was hard to find, and that an ill-suited marriage could easily lead to resentment. What if she and the Crown Prince did not get along?

(In other words, you can't use my family and then discard us once we're no longer useful. My granddaughter needs a way out after being dragged into this mess with the imperial family.)

The emperor was rather troubled. For the sake of stability at court, he gritted his teeth and agreed: Fine, three years. If Miss Murong still has no feelings for the Crown Prince by then, the engagement will be annulled, and both sides can go their separate ways in peace.

Since she had not yet come of age, there would be no wedding ceremony for now. But the emperor was gravely ill, and the palace needed a joyous occasion to drive away bad luck.

The whole country celebrated on the day the Crown Prince formally presented the betrothal gifts, as she was carried through the Vermilion Bird Gate in a phoenix carriage.

The Crown Prince was a graceful young man, like jade and cinnamon. He was the most outstanding of the princes, a true top student and the heir appointed by the late emperor's final decree. He was clearly destined for greatness.

Before entering the palace, the old madam and her granddaughter talked things over all night.

This would be like going to war. They needed to thoroughly analyze the enemy and prepare accordingly. When they came to the Crown Prince, the old madam looked pleased.