Stealing Spring (Reborn)

[Late Emperor's Selected Beauty x New Emperor]

Sisters reborn / swapped marriages / both leads virgins / cat buddies / fictional Ming dynasty

In the spring of Xiping Year 18, the Yue family, a minor official's household in Gusu, had two happy occasions to celebrate.

The eldest daughter, Yue Shu, married into the prominent Lian family in the capital. The second daughter, Yue Ying, entered the palace for the selection of consorts, where she made a dazzling impression and was exceptionally named a concubine.

But before the Yue family patriarch had finished drinking to celebrate, all their good fortune fell apart. In the winter of Xiping Year 18, the Emperor died. Concubine Yue, having no son, was ordered to be buried with him. Lian family young master was a brute. After getting drunk, he beat the pregnant Yue Shu to death.

The sisters died on the same day.

When Yue Shu opened her eyes again, she was back on the day her marriage was being discussed.

In her previous life, Yue Ying had cried and made a scene to steal her chance to enter the palace. This time, however, she made no fuss. Instead, she smiled and placed the edict summoning Yue Shu to the palace in her hands. "A blessing as wonderful as entering the palace should, of course, go to my elder sister."

Yue Shu looked coldly at her sister and said nothing. She turned around, packed her things, and followed the eunuch into the palace. Her sister, beaming with delight, accepted the Lian family's marriage proposal.

The Emperor had no sons. Fu Heng, Prince Li and the Emperor's nephew, was the only candidate to inherit the throne.

In Xiping Year 18, as the Emperor's health declined, Fu Heng was ordered to enter the palace.

After spending the night reading in the Hall of Martial Valor, Prince Li grew drowsy and went out for a walk. Someone mistook him for a palace guard and begged him to climb over the wall into the Imperial Kitchen to steal her two pieces of pastry.

How strange. Someone in the imperial palace actually wanted to steal pastries?

Fu Heng eyed her warily. "Who are you? Where do you serve?"

Yue Shu straightened her back and bluffed. "I am His Majesty's beloved consort. Whatever I say is an imperial decree. Why is a lowly guard asking so many questions?"

This was quite amusing. Fu Heng, looking to pass the time, went ahead and got her two pieces of pastry. He watched as she crouched in a corner of the Garden of the Palace of Compassionate Peace, crumbling the pastries bit by bit to feed a frail stray cat.

Fu Heng suddenly felt that palace life, though tense and tedious, was actually rather interesting.

Somehow, perhaps because he had lost his mind, "Guard Fu" became "Lady Yue's" confidant. Every three days, they stole pastries together and fed the stray cats.

In the winter of Xiping Year 18, just as in her previous life, the late Emperor died.

The difference was that the late Emperor had not yet had time to select this batch of palace beauties.

Yue Shu was left in an awkward position. She was neither a consort nor a servant. Fortunately, this meant she was spared from being buried with the Emperor. By imperial decree, she moved to the Palace of Phoenix Grace, becoming a shadow in the palace, someone who could easily be overlooked.

On the first day of the first month of Year One, the day the palace attendants paid their respects to the new Emperor, Yue Shu looked up and saw a tall figure seated high on the throne. She was so startled that her soul nearly left her body. Then she saw Minister Lian beside the Emperor, his face mild yet sinister, and she dropped to the floor, unable to get back up.

The young Emperor was approachable. He rose from the throne and helped her to her feet himself. "Miss Yue, please take good care of your health." Then he lowered his voice. "If you fall ill, what will happen to all those stray cats in the Garden of the Palace of Compassionate Peace?"

Yue Shu fled in a panic. From then on, she huddled in the Palace of Phoenix Grace, not daring to step outside again.

Later, snow piled high throughout the Forbidden City. The Emperor personally trudged through it, one step sinking deeper than the next, until he reached the Palace of Phoenix Grace. He raised his hand and knocked on the palace gate. "Miss Yue," he said, humbling himself, "shall we go feed the cats?"

After a long while, Yue Shu's muffled voice came from inside. "If you drive Minister Lian out of the palace and forbid him from coming back, I'll go feed the cats with you."

The Emperor was surprised. Lian Yicheng seemed mild, but was in truth cruel and narrow-minded. He had long intended to demote and dismiss him.

"It's a deal!" The Emperor's voice sank low once more. "The stray cats say they've been missing you for a long time."

- A fictional Ming dynasty setting. Don't sweat the details. A sweet little story.

Theme: Always stay positive