Did the Crown Prince Succeed in Taking the Throne?

Blurbs for the upcoming stories "The Dowager Empress Is More Passionate" and "The Emperor Thinks I'm in Love with Him" are at the bottom.

THIS STORY

Two-faced Crown Prince vs. delicate noblewoman. The heroine has lost her memory, and the hero takes advantage of her vulnerability to steal her away.

*

A palace coup plunged everyone into danger.

Zong Yao, Crown Prince of the empire, encountered Qiao Yunmi as he was evacuating the imperial capital. She was desperately trying to escape the flames.

He set aside his usual cold indifference and stopped to ask the woman of celestial beauty, "If you agree to do me one favor, I'll help you escape. What do you say?"

"I agree." She extended her delicate hand, unaware of the hidden meaning in his eyes. If she had known what would happen later, she would rather have perished in the flames...

Afterward, Zong Yao became an actor in his own play, pretending to be a "loving couple" with Qiao Yunmi.

*

Qiao Yunmi forgot her past, including her betrothal to Heir Qin.

And she was now caught up in the dream Zong Yao had woven for her.

When her legs became disabled and she could no longer walk, he carried her everywhere.

When she was gravely ill, he held her in his arms and whispered in her ear: There is a most precious treasure vault in this world, and it lies within the Eastern Palace. It holds exquisite clothing, hairpins and ornaments, and medicine to cure you.

But a lie is still a lie...

*

When they met again,

Zong Yao stood motionless in the wedding hall, his expression terrifying, dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold.

In her wedding dress, Qiao Yunmi bowed to him. "Your Majesty, I, your subject's wife, the Qin family, wish you success in fulfilling your ambition and ascending the throne."

Before she had even finished speaking, the courtiers saw the emperor stagger. He reined in his anger and gave a cold laugh. "Madam Qin?"

"Mi'er, if you come back with me, everything can go back to the way it was." The wind stirred the red silk decorations, and the emperor's barely contained longing rang out over the wedding feast.

But Qiao Yunmi's face held only a gentle, distant smile.

Reader's guide:

Both leads remain faithful to each other; past and present lives are involved, see Chapter One; possessive love; the hero will have to win her back.

"The Dowager Empress Is More Passionate"

*

Jiang Zhi was in her prime, fond of extravagance and shrewd by nature, yet she rose to become empress. She thought that once the aging emperor died, she would become the dowager empress and spend the rest of her life enjoying wealth and glory. She never expected to be caught up in a war of succession among the princes. So she made a quick decision and fled with the imperial seal.

*

One day, Yan Fuju, son of the Grand Princess and head of the great aristocratic clans, was discussing leading an army to eliminate his political enemies. Suddenly, someone came trembling with a report: "There's someone outside the camp claiming to be your... lover."

As the words fell,

a coquettish voice called out, "My lord, though it's been days since we last met, you look as radiant as ever."

Yan Fuju, a strikingly handsome man, lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable. "Oh? Not as handsome as the pretty young men by your side, Auntie."

The officials gasped. The visitor was none other than the current Dowager Empress, Jiang Zhi!

*

On a night of passion,

Yan Fuju lounged on the bed in a half-open white robe, looking at Jiang Zhi, whose face was as lovely as a peach blossom. He couldn't help stroking her willow-slim waist. "The day I become emperor, I'll make you empress."

"The Dowager Empress?"

Seeing the smile in her eyes, he felt his heart burn. He pulled the quilt over them and sealed her lips with a kiss. "The Empress."

"The Emperor Thinks I'm in Love with Him"

The Xie family had a daughter named Qing Shi, universally praised for her exquisite beauty and graceful, dignified manner as the Third Prince's consort.

Xie Qingshi was perfectly content with her life as it was. She only had to tend to her own little corner and show Pei Shi a little care each day. She never imagined that one day he would ascend the throne and issue his first imperial edict: to demote her to a consort!

Since you've chosen another woman as your empress, don't blame me for dropping the virtuous-wife act!

The capital was rocked by one scandal after another:

First, Xie Qingshi refused to enter the imperial palace. Then she submitted a petition for divorce and demanded a division of their marital assets.

A palace servant's gossip:

"Hasn't His Majesty tried to return to his old residence several times, only to be turned away by the imperial consort? If he goes again in the middle of the night, he'll lose face for sure."

"Lose face? If he doesn't go now, he might lose her. The imperial consort just took the bedroom-service tokens and ordered someone to engrave the names of the young men she's close to on them!"

Inside the old residence, Xie Qingshi was surrounded by admirers and having a lovely time. Suddenly, the door burst open, and the revelry came to a halt.

Everyone huddled in a corner, catching sight of His Majesty, once handsome as jade and masterful in his plans, now with nothing but stubbornness in his eyes. He asked in a low voice, "You once said, 'The jade emperor's green is the color of the sky, just like the lasting affection between you and me.' Do you still remember?"

But the woman, perfectly at ease, raised a cup to the emperor and smiled like a flower. "Your Majesty, let me give you another line: I only pretended to love you."

Theme: Never give up. Keep moving forward.