A Golden Branch Is Hard to Raise

[Official exclusive publication on Jinjiang Literature City. Any infringement will be pursued.]

The Le family was full of loyal heroes, and only its young legitimate daughter, Le Tao, was left. She was taken in by the Prince of Qin's household.

The Prince of Qin, Lu Jiqing, was the emperor's uncle. Rumor had it that he was a sickly man who lived on medicine, so Le Tao became his child bride, brought in to bring him good fortune.

While everyone pitied the poor orphan, Le Tao sat happily in the arms of the prince's chief steward, munching on walnuts.

Lu Jiqing's eyes were clear and warm as glass. Patiently, he peeled the walnut shells for the little girl.

The prayer beads on his wrist gleamed with cool, flowing colors.

Le Tao stared at them blankly, then thought of the Prince of Qin she'd never met. Suddenly, she sniffled in distress. "Zhu Qing, do I really have to marry His Highness?"

Lu Jiqing fell silent for a moment, then asked softly, "What would you like, Miss?"

The little girl nervously clutched her skirt. "I... I don't want to be a princess. When I grow up... I want to marry you."

Lu Jiqing froze for an instant, then chuckled.

Le Tao was too young to understand why he was laughing, but Zhu Qing's smile was calm and clear as snow on pine branches. She remembered it for years, falling for him at first sight.

As she gradually grew up, she never once saw the rumored Prince of Qin in the manor. It was always the steward, Zhu Qing, by her side.

He fed her, taught her music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and gave her endless patience and protection.

With Zhu Qing around, no one in the Prince of Qin's household or the capital dared bully her.

Le Tao seemed to be immersed in a gentle spring, nourished by his affection.

As the years passed, the orphan was raised into a precious young lady.

By the time Le Tao blossomed into a beautiful young woman, everyone in the manor called her "Young Madam."

But no one knew that on the night of her hairpin ceremony, she held the prayer beads on the steward's wrist between her lips.

She lifted her peach-blossom eyes with lazy charm. "Zhu Qing, let's elope."

Backlit by the bright lamps, the man's long lashes trembled as he gazed deeply at the treasured flower he'd raised himself.

After a long pause, his Adam's apple bobbed. "Are you sure, Miss? You won't regret it?"

*

A month later, the Prince of Qin recovered, and no longer needed a child bride to bring him good fortune.

Everyone speculated that His Highness would send away the orphaned daughter of the Le family, who was living under his roof.

Then, at the spring banquet, the Prince of Qin, who had always kept his distance from women, gently led Le Tao to her seat.

He personally served her food, with the practiced ease of someone who'd done it a million times.

But the girl didn't seem impressed. She turned her head and huffed, "Big liar."

[Charming heiress x cool, abstinent imperial uncle]

He had meant to spend the years doting on her until she became a pearl whose dazzling brilliance the world could see. He never expected to fall for her himself.

[Reading Guide]

1. A story about raising her; a doting, fatherly male lead, with a ten-year age gap.

2. Sweet romance, one-on-one, both leads' first time. The male lead is chaste and follows proper conduct.

3. The male lead's main identity is the prince, and his secret identity is the steward. There is a reason he doesn't appear as himself. No spoilers in the blurb.

*Blurb screenshotted and archived on June 22, 2022.

Theme: Life offers so few moments of clarity. Let Tao Tao live joyfully and remain innocent.