The Song of Yi'an

[The bonus chapters are complete. You can read them for free in my author profile.]

[My next book will be Meet Poetry (two reborn leads). If you're interested, you can add it to your reading list now~]

[Upcoming novels: Meet Poetry, a young dancer x a young general, and The Minister's Decree, a female chancellor x a state preceptor. Their blurbs are below. Thanks for your support~]

------Novel blurb------

Yu Yi'an was born into a military family. She was as beautiful as an immortal, with both talent and looks.

Because of power struggles in the previous dynasty, she had no choice but to enter the palace and play a part in keeping the factions in check.

Since entering the palace was inevitable, she would play the part of a spoiled, favored consort.

Who could have known that after only a few performances, she would discover that the schemes in the inner palace went far beyond what she had imagined?

She fights her way through every obstacle. The truth gradually comes to light, and so do her feelings.

A high-stakes gamble wins her a lifetime of love and devotion in a flourishing age.

***A little scene***

After the banquet, the two walked back to Huaqing Palace.

Passing a cluster of viburnum, Xiao Chengzhuo paused and asked her with a smile, "When the viburnum blossoms, would the Noble Consort care to admire them with me?"

Yu Yi'an turned at his voice and glanced at him. Rather than say yes or no, she replied, "The viburnum won't bloom for another six months. Aren't you asking a little early, Your Majesty?"

He smiled faintly, then took two steps toward her.

He raised a hand to straighten the pearl hairpin at her temple, then lowered his eyes and said tenderly, "In ancient times, they said the south wind knew my heart. I say the viburnum knows my heart. Since the flowers know how I long for them to bloom, surely they won't have the heart to disappoint me."

At this, the corners of her mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, though she still refused to give in. "Then Your Majesty will just have to wait."

Reading notes:

* Both leads are each other's only partners, happy ending, one-on-one romance

* A sly, devoted emperor x a great beauty who's prim on the outside but spoiled at heart

* Not a typical palace-intrigue story, and political scheming isn't the main plot

* Set in an imagined world

------Upcoming novel blurb------

Later, Shi Ci learned to recognize many characters and memorized a great many poems.

At last she could speak in elegant verses, and no one would ever laugh at her for being nothing but a pretty face again.

But on every sleepless night, she found herself longing for the days when she couldn't read a single word.

All because she wanted one more look at that lively young man.

*

Shi Ci didn't like learning to write, but Gui Yu, who indulged her in everything else, was unyielding about this.

That day, under her wounded, protesting gaze, Gui Yu resolutely locked the study door. Twirling the folding fan he never let out of his hand, he casually settled into a round-backed chair, looking perfectly at ease.

He looked at her with a lazy smile. "Learn these ten characters and I'll let you out. I'll stay here and keep an eye on you. Don't bother with tricks. They won't work."

With no other choice, Shi Ci reluctantly sat down to study.

His confident, elegant handwriting lay beside her own, making the contrast all the more striking. The longer Shi Ci looked, the more upset she became. Her tears spilled over, blurring the still-wet ink into a mess.

In the end, Gui Yu was the one who gave in.

He handed her a soft handkerchief and gently suggested, "At least learn to write your name, all right?"

"Shi Ci is a very beautiful name."

*

On the day Gui Yu went off to battle, he stood in the vegetable garden wearing dragon-scale armor and smiling brightly.

"Aci, when I return victorious, will you marry me?"

For the first time, Shi Ci cast aside all restraint. She ran into his arms, her voice trembling as she whispered, "I'll work hard at learning to write, and I'll memorize my poems. I'll say yes to everything you asked."

"In exchange, all I want is for you to come back safely."

He clearly said yes.

*

Shi Ci would remember that day forever.

Torrential rain poured down, filling the ground with pools.

He wore white, his clothes marked with several streaks of dirty gray and black.

The young man who had never feared even death ran to her in a panic and held her tight, calling her name over and over.

Until she reached out to embrace him in return and choked out, "It really feels like I've been waiting forever..."

"But at least you're back."

Reading notes:

* No angst at all, not even a little! They love each other so much

* Both leads are reborn

* A breathtakingly beautiful but illiterate young dancer x a versatile but world-weary young general

* Her illiteracy is temporary, and so is his weariness with the world

* Both leads have their own growth arcs. They're not perfect, but they're both trying their best to live well

* Both leads are each other's only partners, happy ending, one-on-one romance

* Set in an imagined world. The official system is loosely modeled on the early Ming dynasty, with some original elements. Please don't nitpick the historical details

* In this setting, all imperial children are eligible to inherit the throne. Both lineage and ability matter

Theme: Life needs the occasional impulse. Life is a wonderful adventure