Competing with the White Moonlight for His Affection

[The next story, A Shield for the Crown Prince, is in the works. The upcoming story, The Princess Consort Fu Fu, is described at the very bottom. Please add them to your collections!]

[Complete]

When a letter arrived at Xu Qingru's home from a distant relative who served as a noble consort in the palace, Xu Qingru was summoned to the palace.

Only after entering the palace did she learn that she'd been brought there to compete for the emperor's favor with the empress's beloved, who had also just arrived.

The beloved gave the emperor a sweet smile and was made a Zhaoyi of the second rank.

Xu Qingru tried to imitate her and smile sweetly too, but the moment she looked up, the emperor's stern gaze made her shudder. She was given only the title of Cairen of the fifth rank.

After entering the palace, the beloved rose steadily through the ranks, while Xu Qingru couldn't even get a glimpse of the emperor after receiving her title.

She had to endure the empress's faction humiliating her from time to time, while the noble consort scolded her for being useless. Xu Qingru's life in the palace was like walking on thin ice.

But things gradually began to grow strange. First, the concubines who had bullied Xu Qingru were punished for all sorts of bizarre reasons. Then the emperor gradually lost favor with his beloved, while Xu Qingru claimed to everyone that she had never shared the emperor's bed and yet thrived, rising steadily through the ranks.

Everyone in the imperial harem was baffled. Only Xu Qingru knew what was going on: the cold, stern emperor, so imposing by day, always slipped quietly into her chambers late at night.

Beneath the faint candlelight, Xu Qingru leaned against the arms of a tall figure.

Nuzzling his neck, she said in a coy, timid voice, "Your Majesty, Lady Wang said today that my eyes are big but lifeless, and that they look frightening."

Emperor Li Chen kissed her bright, clear eyes and whispered, "Don't worry about it, Ruer. I'll send her to the Cold Palace tomorrow."

Xu Qingru buried her face in Li Chen's arms, smiling like a sly little fox.

A few things to know before reading:

1. The male lead has never had a beloved. The so-called beloved in the blurb is merely what people assume he likes. Given the circumstances, he has no choice but to play along.

2. The female lead is chaste; the male lead is not.

3. The setting is fictional, with some original world-building.

4. There is an age gap between the leads: the male lead is 26, and the female lead is 16.

5. If anything makes you uncomfortable, please feel free to drop the story. Please don't attack the author personally.

[Blurb for A Shield for the Crown Prince]

Pei Youyi is the beloved daughter of the Duke of Qi. Beautiful and sweet-voiced, she grew up pampered and adored under her father's protection.

But she has two flaws: she loves gold and silver, and she has a volatile temper that makes her hard to get along with.

She has offended nearly every noble young lady in the capital.

Who could have guessed that the Duke of Qi would be imprisoned for a crime, and Pei Youyi would end up waiting for her fate in a ruined temple?

The noble young ladies of the capital cheered, all waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

But then, unexpectedly, a wise man said that Crown Prince Zhao Xun was destined to suffer a great calamity, and that someone with a particular birth chart needed to remain by his side every day to take the calamity in his place.

Pei Youyi was the one whose birth chart matched.

She left the ruined temple and entered the Eastern Palace, but the Duke was out of favor, which made life in the palace difficult for her too. On top of that, Zhao Xun was a man of few words, and Pei Youyi's life in the palace was far from smooth.

Yet a few months later, Pei Youyi went to classes at the imperial clan school and caused a huge scene. Her temper was as fierce as ever.

Everyone thought that if she kept acting this way, the crown prince would soon grow tired of her. But whenever Pei Youyi caused a stir, the crown prince himself stepped in to settle the matter.

Zhao Xun brought Pei Youyi back from the imperial clan school. Her offense that day was getting into a fight with the daughter of the Duke of Qing.

Pei Youyi's eyes were red, her tears three parts genuine and seven parts fake, as they slid down her cheeks. She held out a little hand, with a barely visible red mark on its back.

The crown prince frowned and studied it for a while, then personally visited the Duke of Qing's residence the next day.

That evening.

"Youyi has been wronged. The Duke of Qing specially sent over a white jade cup today. See if you like it."

Candlelight gleamed on the snowy-white jade cup, and Pei Youyi's eyes curved into crescents.

"Can I accept it? I'm afraid of causing you trouble, Your Highness." Pei Youyi pretended to be reserved, hugging the jade cup and looking at him coyly.

The usually solemn crown prince's lips lifted slightly. "I welcome any trouble Youyi brings me."

As he kept shielding her from calamity, the crown prince became emperor, and Pei Youyi became empress.

[Blurb for The Princess Consort Fu Fu]

The little daughter of the richest family in the capital, Jiang Fu, is nicknamed Fu Fu. Ever since birth, she has been blessed with extraordinary good fortune. She always turns danger into safety, and brings prosperity to her family, home, and father.

Protected by her father, Master Jiang, and cherished by her whole family, Jiang Fu has led a smooth and happy life. She is innocent, pure-hearted, and carefree.

But soon she encounters the first setback of her life: the boy next door, her childhood sweetheart, passes the palace examination and catches the attention of the emperor, who immediately chooses him as a husband for Princess Mingshu!

Fu Fu cries for three days and nights. She was supposed to marry her childhood sweetheart!

Accepting reality, Fu Fu, her eyes red from crying, clenches her harmless little fists and vows to get even. But though her fighting spirit is strong, she can't think of a single way to do it.

Then news spreads from the imperial city that Prince Jin has come of age, and the emperor is selecting a bride for him. This time, not only officials' daughters but also common women may participate.

Though Prince Jin is known for his stern, emotionless manner, Fu Fu's eyes light up with joy: You dare steal my childhood sweetheart? Then I'll become your sister-in-law!

Several months later

Princess Consort Fu Fu watches Princess Mingshu and her childhood sweetheart respectfully bow to her. Then she looks at the handsome Prince Jin beside her and can't help smiling to herself.

Seeing her mischievous smile, Prince Jin quietly reaches out and pinches the soft flesh at her waist, making Fu Fu cry out in surprise.

Fu Fu gives him a sidelong glance and rubs her tender waist, thinking: What a miscalculation! In public, Prince Jin looks dignified and refined as jade, but in private, he's quite the rascal!

With Fu Fu's natural good fortune, the prince and princess consort enjoy smooth sailing all the way...

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