The Handpicked Young Palace Beauty

When A Ruo was sixteen, a young man named Cheng Mu moved in next door.

Cheng Mu was handsome, and A Ruo couldn't resist good looks, so she brought him things every few days.

Braised pork hock, chrysanthemum wine, and a crabapple blossom to tuck into his hair.

He was someone the girls for miles around couldn't get close to, yet he could only smile helplessly and let her do as she pleased.

Three months later, Cheng Mu was leaving. A Ruo lay over a stone lion, crying so hard her face was covered in snot bubbles.

Before he left, Cheng Mu kept telling her, "Your family is poor, so the selection is a good opportunity. The palace has your favorite cloud-slice cake and dragon-whisker candy, and dresses embroidered with peonies for you to wear."

A Ruo pouted, thinking he was lying. The palace was so wonderful, so how could they possibly let her go there?

Sure enough, A Ruo ran into one mishap after another on the day of the selection.

She pricked her finger with the embroidery needle and smeared blood over her painting. Her zither playing sounded like a ghost howling.

Feeling humiliated, A Ruo sniffled pitifully among the other candidates.

But her unfinished embroidery was judged top quality, her bloodstained painting was praised as ingenious, and even her zither playing was somehow complimented as refreshingly rustic.

A Ruo was stunned. Under the gaze of countless other candidates, she stepped forward.

The screen was removed. The emperor sat there, imposing and majestic, his face somewhat familiar. As ever, he smiled at her helplessly.

"If you don't hurry up and accept the decree, the dragon-whisker candy and peony dress will disappear."

A little promotion for my upcoming novel, Stealing Beauty:

In the final years of the Great Liang dynasty, the countryside outside the capital was full of starving corpses, while inside the capital, music and dancing filled the streets.

As the nation fell, Princess Bai Wu was dragged out of the palace gates and forced to grovel at the enemy army's feet.

She was timid and trembling, with none of a princess's bearing.

Then the enemy nation's Third Prince, who led the army, rode up and looked down at her, lifting her face with his riding crop.

A bead of blood clung to the corner of his eye. When he smiled, he looked arrogant and bewitching.

"Your Highness, it's been a long time."

Bai Wu was disheveled, her hair in disarray, and her appearance wretched. She looked up and recognized him, then suddenly laughed.

It actually hadn't been that long.

Six months ago, he had disguised himself as a zither player, and she had taken him into her household.

Three months ago, he had pushed her into the hands of bandits.

Half a month ago, he had given the thing she cherished most to his younger sister.

And what had she done in return? She'd forced upon him the love he didn't want.

It made her seem rather stingy.

After the new dynasty was established, the Third Prince, who had rendered outstanding service, brought the fallen kingdom's princess back to his residence as a captive.

Rumor had it that he humiliated her in every possible way.

Later, on the city wall, she stood dressed in red, dazzling and bold.

A princess of a fallen kingdom was supposed to die for her country.

She laughed without restraint as she watched him stumble toward her on his knees, looking utterly wretched.

Then, the instant he grabbed her sleeve, she turned her hand and plunged the jade hairpin he'd given her into his chest.

"Here, I'm taking back the love you didn't want!"

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