After the Emperor Took Me Back to the Palace

Mu Xue grew up among a merchant caravan. When she was fifteen, the caravan was attacked, and she was the only one to survive by sheer luck. Later, she was rescued by Nangong Xian, who was traveling incognito. Seeing how much Mu Xue knew about the world, and that she had no one, Nangong Xian asked her to serve as his personal attendant. He promised to let her leave once a year had passed. With no other choice, Mu Xue agreed. Only later did she learn that the man she'd be living with for the next year was the emperor of an entire country. Nangong Xian originally brought Mu Xue into the palace simply because he admired her experiences and knowledge. She had traveled to many places and seen many people and things, all of which he envied. But later, he wanted more than that. As soon as Mu Xue entered the palace, she became the emperor's personal attendant. Everyone looked at her with envy, convinced that the girl was about to rise to the top. But Mu Xue never thought of it that way. She only planned to do her job well, then take the salary she'd saved and go to Yangzhou when she left the palace. But... why was her relationship with Nangong Xian getting stranger and stranger? They'd agreed that as his attendant, all she had to do was organize the study, grind ink, and things like that. So why was she expected to comfort him when he was sad, accompany him on outings during festivals, get dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to eat dumplings with him, and even help him take off his clothes? Mu Xue: "..." Actually, she supposed... she could put up with all that... But when Nangong Xian started asking her for kisses, hugs, and to be lifted up high, Mu Xue was ready to refuse without hesitation, firmly and decisively... Wait, what?! Then she met Nangong Xian's utterly aggrieved, utterly expectant gaze. Mu Xue: "..." Well, a hug probably wouldn't hurt... And a kiss... she could just think of it as getting bitten by a dog... And being lifted up high, well, if she'd already kissed him, that probably wasn't such a big deal either... right? "Fate is such a strange thing. In this world, there's always someone who can make your heart skip a beat, no matter when or where you meet her." A well-read, worldly merchant's daughter who treats romance like caring for a pet x A seemingly aloof and proper emperor who is actually timid, clingy, and proud 1. Happy ending. 2. The setting is very loose, with a chaotic mix of dynasties. 3. Mostly slice of life, with a focus on romance. 4. Check out my profile for bonus content. Feel free to take a look if you're interested! 5. The literary title is "Morning Snow" (zhao). Theme: Fate is written in the stars