(The complete manuscript is in progress. Expected to start publishing at the end of the year.)
Career-focused heroine | Jealous hero | Falls in love without realizing it, loves her desperately and gets insanely jealous | Detective main plot with a touch of court intrigue
Outspoken and powerful Grand Princess who holds the court in her grasp x Scheming, sweet-talking top scorer who has a secret crush
[Heroine's perspective]
The Grand Princess, who controlled the government and kept three thousand male companions, abducted the top scorer in the street and forced him to marry her.
On their wedding night, the red candles burned bright.
Xue Yuanzhao lifted Cui Zhe's chin. "Now that you've shared my bed, don't think you can leave."
They spent the night together.
The top scorer hung himself with a white silk sash, so ashamed he wanted to die in front of the three thousand male companions.
The wanton Grand Princess dismissed all her male companions, and everyone in the capital said the consort was jealous and the princess doted on him alone.
Only Xue Yuanzhao knew this was all an act put on by her consort and herself, a grand performance staged to seize power.
She thought they each had their own motives.
Just as she coveted the top scorer's beauty, Cui Zhe had climbed the ranks by leaning on her.
It never occurred to her that all of this was one person's wholehearted devotion.
[Hero's perspective]
Cui Zhe could never forget the day he was carried off from the street. Xue Yuanzhao's hair brushed his nose, and the scent of soapnut mixed with rouge bewitched him.
On their wedding night, the woman he loved pinned him to the bed, leaned close to his ear, spoke softly, and did all manner of outrageous things.
He held her slender waist in his hands, hoping his beloved would show him some affection.
Everyone said Xue Yuanzhao was lewd and cruel, but to him, she was simply doing as she pleased.
Everyone laughed that he had lost the dignity of a top scorer, unaware that he had risked his life to obtain evidence of the Dowager Consort's rebellion.
One fleeting glance in his youth had already made Cui Zhe fall deeply in love.
For that one glance, he had schemed tirelessly to become her consort and stand openly by Xue Yuanzhao's side.
For her sake, he was willing to be her stepping-stone and the blade in her hand.
[The Grand Princess's Daily Record, reviewed]
---Year 3 of Jingyuan, spring, the sixth day of the third month. The Grand Princess abducted the top scorer. He is remarkably handsome, outshining all three thousand male companions.
(Grand Princess's note: What do you mean, abducted? I married him.)
---Year 3 of Jingyuan, spring, the seventh day of the third month. The Grand Princess and her consort slept in and missed court.
(Grand Princess's note: A nap now and then does no harm.)
---Year 3 of Jingyuan, spring, the eighth and ninth days of the third month. The Grand Princess missed court, and the consort looked radiant.
(Grand Princess's note: Ahem, the consort still needs to exercise.)
(Consort: Hmm?)
---Year 3 of Jingyuan, spring... The Grand Princess won't let me write anymore. The only person left in the residence is the consort.
[Reading guide]
1. The heroine is like: a pretend couple on opposite sides. The hero is like: madly in love, hopelessly devoted, and insanely jealous.
2. One-on-one romance, both sexually inexperienced, happy ending.
3. A touch of court intrigue. The heroine wants to focus on her career, but a love-struck man clings to her relentlessly.
Theme: Live as yourself, and find your way back to yourself
