Bright Spring Days

[Signed for simplified Chinese publication. For updates, follow the Weibo account Jinjiang Salt-and-Pepper Little Sweet Biscuit.] ·The young man she found in autumn returned in spring to marry her. Princess Jianing, Li Xianyu, was a well-behaved child. The only rebellious thing she ever did was buy a cold, reserved young man at the slave market on her birthday. Li Xianyu named him Linyuan and made him her personal guard. Everyone in the palace knew that although the guard named Linyuan was handsome, he was taciturn and cold to the extreme. Even when a beautiful young palace maid fell into the water right in front of him, he wouldn't reach out to save her. But whenever Li Xianyu called his name, no matter where or when, Linyuan would appear by the princess's side and answer: “This servant is here.” Later... The Rong and Di tribes invaded, their swords pointed at the capital. The fall of the kingdom was only a matter of time. The palace attendants fled one by one whenever they got the chance. In the end, even Linyuan, who had been silently at the princess's side every day, stopped appearing. Everyone said he had abandoned the little princess and run off to save himself. Li Xianyu hid beneath her brocade quilt and cried all night. When she woke, her eyes red, she stopped the people who were going to look for him. After all, Linyuan was such a skilled fighter that he would surely survive the chaos of battle. As long as he didn't have to drag along a little burden like her. * On the day the kingdom fell, the princess's hairpins and ornaments were scattered, her clothes stained with blood, and she was on the verge of being violated by the Rong soldiers. A cavalry unit broke through the enemy lines. At its head rode a man in iron armor, sword in hand, carving a bloody path through the chaos to save Li Xianyu. Li Xianyu heard the people around her call him “Your Majesty.” Trembling, she raised her head from his arms and, looking at his cool, composed face, choked out: “Linyuan?” The man holding her kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes and answered softly: “This servant is here.” “I would serve the princess as her subject for the rest of my life.” Reader's Guide: 1. A slow-burn, sweet romance, one-on-one, both leads are each other's first and only. 2. A rare pairing: a little princess × a personal guard who is loyal only to her. Couldn't find anything to read, so I wrote my own. 3. Set in a fictional world, with no historical research. If that's not your thing, please move along. Please don't tell me if you drop the story (I'm begging you, QAQ). 4. The male lead did not destroy the kingdom, and neither he nor the female lead had anything to do with its fall. He's an outsider who comes to rescue her. Weibo: @Jinjiang Salt-and-Pepper Little Sweet Biscuit. Blurb written on: September 5, 2021. Cover art by Santailing, Rain Tapping on the Eaves. Used with permission. [New story now underway] Marrying into the Eastern Palace: Delicate Beauty × Crown Prince with a Split Personality After a scandal at the spring banquet, Jiang Ying unexpectedly becomes the crown prince's principal consort. By day, the crown prince is gentle and considerate, treating her with warmth and courtesy. He draws her brows and arranges her hair, and even braves the rain across half the city to bring her a warm osmanthus cake. But every evening, the crown prince leaves without a word and doesn't return to his chambers until dawn. After a palace banquet, Jiang Ying rides back in the same carriage as Rong Yin. Rong Yin grips her chin with cold, slender fingers, his smile icy. “This is the first time I've seen the crown princess since I got married.” The scandal from the spring banquet happens all over again. Beneath the night sky, Jiang Ying meets another Rong Yin: violent and unrestrained, like a demon from the underworld. * For nineteen years, Crown Prince Rong Yin has kept a secret all by himself. A feral beast lies dormant inside him. Every night, he watches himself tear apart Jiang Ying's fine clothes and grip her by the throat, his eyes dark. “Jiang Ying, if you dare take even one step beyond the Eastern Palace, I'll snap your neck.” By day, he tries to make amends. He helps her dress, gently ties the sash around her waist, and whispers her childhood nickname into her ear: “Banban, stay away from him. If he loses control, he'll kill you.” * Jiang Ying's feelings for the daytime Rong Yin: respect, admiration, affection. The nighttime Rong Yin's treatment of Jiang Ying: humiliation, coercion, deception. More than once, he gives a cold laugh by her ear and tempts her with lies: “I was the one who promised you at the spring banquet.” “I was the one who asked for the imperial decree to marry you.” “Jiang Ying, if you want to repay a debt of gratitude, I'm the one you should be thanking!” [Upcoming story] Fireflies on a Spring Night: Frail Noblewoman × Young General Guarding the Border She meets the young general from her dreams outside Jiayun Pass. Riding a warhorse, carrying a long spear. Mighty and imposing, with an unyielding spirit. Theme: Treat others with kindness, and every good deed will be repaid.