Plucking a Branch

Upcoming novels: "The Noble Consort Is Done Causing Trouble," "The Madam Is an Expert at Tea Arts," and "A Tang." If you like them, please visit my author page and add them to your collection!

While staying in Jiangnan, Zhao Rongrong had a brief affair with the man who lived next door. But before long, an urgent summons from the palace forced her to return. She set a fire and faked her death, cutting off their relationship for good.

She thought that with the capital a thousand miles from Jiangnan, she and that man would never meet again.

But could someone explain why the emperor's uncle, seated beside her father at the palace banquet to welcome the return of the imperial uncle from a different surname, looked exactly like that man?

Everyone knew that Yu Sui and his wife had shared a deep and devoted love. After she died, he never took another woman to his bed.

His sworn brother fell gravely ill and summoned him back to the palace.

At the welcome banquet held in his honor, countless graceful women were present, but none caught his eye.

Only when the figure who had said she had met the imperial uncle stepped forward did he suddenly grip his cup tightly and look up. The bright, beautiful woman who called him Imperial Uncle had the exact same face as his deceased wife.

Upcoming novel blurb

"The Noble Consort Is Done Causing Trouble"

The Lin family had three daughters.

Outsiders only knew that the eldest, Lin Yushu, was dignified and proper, a Minister's wife praised by all, while the second daughter, Lin Yuyi, was a talented writer and a perfect match for the newly crowned top scholar.

The youngest daughter, Lin Yuxian, was also famous, but not for anything good.

"She's truly a seductive, bewitching concubine who has the emperor wrapped around her finger."

"She must have the looks of a fox spirit. She has neither talent nor virtue, and spends all day making trouble and seducing His Majesty into bed."

"His Majesty has become foolish and cruel because of her..."

"Making her die for the country was letting her off easy."

Lin Yuxian opened her eyes and touched her neck. The dream in which she was strangled to death with a white silk cord had left her truly shaken.

At that moment, she was wearing a bright red wedding dress and sitting beneath a red canopy embroidered with a hundred children and a thousand grandchildren. It was her wedding night.

She looked at the pair of dragon-and-phoenix candles and nearly cried. Why would Heaven do this to her, making her learn on her wedding night that she would die so miserably in the future?

There was no way to escape.

She could only make a plan for how to behave from then on, striving to be as dignified and virtuous as her eldest sister, as well-read as her second sister, and, for good measure, to stay away from the "great foolish tyrant, who is cruel and incompetent because she bewitched him."

When the "great foolish tyrant," Helian Zheng, was trapped in an ambush, he was still thinking of his beloved consort, far away in the palace. He had spoiled her until she knew nothing of the world, and without his protection, she would surely suffer.

On the thorn-strewn road to the throne, she was the only pure thing he had ever possessed.

As a blade pierced his throat and a blood-red moon hung high in the sky, he returned to ten years earlier, when he had ascended the throne and just married the woman he loved.

The "great foolish tyrant" was delighted, only to discover that his beloved consort had changed.

"Your Majesty, I don't like gold, silver, jewelry, or fine silks. Please don't give me any more."

"Your Majesty, you should spread your favor evenly..."

"Your Majesty, the weather has turned cold these past few days. I'm ill, cough, cough, and can't attend you in bed."

After his beloved consort had avoided him for nearly a month, the "great foolish tyrant," who was on the verge of becoming truly foolish and cruel, finally couldn't take it anymore. He cornered her and drew her into his arms.

The woman in his arms looked utterly aggrieved. "Your Majesty, I don't want people to think of me as a wicked consort."

The "great foolish tyrant" bent down and pressed a tender kiss to her tearful eyes. "I will make them all pay."

Upcoming novel 2: "The Madam Is an Expert at Tea Arts"

At first, Shen Yu just thought Wen Yu was incredibly gentle and considerate toward him. Naturally, he assumed she must love him very much.

After he was poisoned in an underhanded attack and recovered, he discovered that Wen Yu was attentive and considerate to him in public, but in private...

One day, he had to spend the night at the government office. Wen Yu packed all his things and saw him off reluctantly. "It's snowing heavily tonight. Why do you have to go to the office, Husband?"

But he clearly heard Wen Yu cheering inside: Yes! Shen the Judge is finally gone. That pot of rich spring brew should be ready soon. Then I'll have the kitchen make mutton soup with snow peas.

Wen Yu felt that life had been difficult lately.

Shen Yu seemed to be picking on her at every turn.

At a palace banquet, she appeared completely absorbed in the singing and dancing, but her eyes kept drifting to the refreshments on the table. The palace had made her favorite three-layer golden cake today. It was making her mouth water, and she was already planning to savor it later.

At last, it was time to eat. Shen Yu silently popped one piece of golden cake after another into his mouth. In the blink of an eye, the plate was empty. He even asked her, "This pastry is delicious. Why don't you try some, Madam?"

Wen Yu: I would love to! There's only an empty plate left. What am I supposed to try?

Another day, Shen Yu came home through the snow and wind, chilled to the bone. As usual, he would spend the night in the study outside their bedroom.

Wen Yu's words were full of heartfelt concern, but inside she was muttering frantically: Hurry up and go to the study, you walking block of ice. I still want to curl up in my warm bed, read random notes, and eat fruit.

She hadn't expected him to take her polite words at face value and agree. He spread his arms and calmly waited for her to attend to him.

Wen Yu approached with a stiff smile, only for Shen Yu to pull her into his arms. His icy hand rested against her neck, making her shiver, and he whispered in her ear, "Madam, would you warm me up?"

(New blurb, May 1, 2022)

Theme: You have to give life a try to find out how beautiful the future can be