Ming Shu of the Eastern Palace

Upcoming: The Eastern Palace's Startled Sparrow. Add it to your favorites if you're interested. The blurb is at the very end.

Wen Ran, the legitimate daughter of the Wen family, was as beautiful as a hibiscus, her complexion rosy as cinnabar. Unfortunately, her marriage prospects were poor. After three broken engagements, rumors ran rampant through the capital.

Her former fiance wouldn't leave her alone, and then the powerful Fifth Prince set his sights on taking her. Her father was also bent on using her to curry favor with the powerful.

Wen Ran refused to become anyone's plaything.

At the same time, Lu Yan was being forced by Marquis Wenning to marry his daughter.

Lu Yan had passed the imperial exam at a young age and become the top scholar. After three years serving in a provincial post, his achievements were outstanding, and upon returning to the capital, his career prospects were even brighter.

A gentleman as refined and upright as jade, he was admired by countless young women in the capital.

Wen Ran had known him only a short while.

That day, wind and rain raged outside the pavilion.

Through the endless, fine rain, she saw a handsome young man approaching with an umbrella. He made his way through the layers of mist and rain, stopped before her, and took a peony jade pendant from his robe. His voice was clear and gentle as he asked, "Miss Wen, would you be willing to give me a chance?"

At the time, Wen Ran had no other choice. She also thought she was Lu Yan's choice of last resort.

Then, in an instant, everything changed. Lu Yan regained his true identity: he was Zhao Yan, the long-lost Imperial Grandson.

As the Crown Prince, with his exalted status, Zhao Yan gave it long thought before Wen Ran presented him with a divorce agreement of her own accord.

That thin sheet of paper was finally torn to pieces. The once-gentle young man, his face dark with anger, gripped her wrist and declared:

"There will be no divorce between us. I, Zhao Yan, will never marry anyone else in this life."

-

When Zhao Yan was young, he once met a lively, cheerful girl who was like the warm sunshine of spring.

Back then, his leg ailment weighed heavily on his heart, leaving him despondent and withdrawn.

But that girl was like the brightest sun, fearlessly and bravely venturing into his world to encourage him and give him confidence.

Their parting came suddenly, and he thought they would never meet again.

Then one spring, beneath a pear tree whose blossoms fell like snow, he saw a young woman standing gracefully in a pale blue dress. A greenish-white jade pendant carved with pear blossoms hung at her waist.

It was the one he had given her all those years ago.

#He married her not because he had no choice, but because he'd planned it long ago#

Reader's guide:

1. Set in a fictional world, with many original details that cannot be verified.

2. One-on-one romance, both leads have had no previous sexual partners, and each is the other's first love.

3. The cover design isn't exclusive. Similarities are to be expected.

4. This novel will go premium on January 14, with three chapters released that day.

---- Upcoming novel blurb ----

The Eastern Palace's Startled Sparrow:

Shen Jinghuan had a dream.

In the dream, her father was falsely accused and thrown into prison. To save him, she mistakenly believed the Third Prince's promises and became his mistress.

The Third Prince promised to save her father, but in the end her father died of illness in prison, and she was drowned in a lotus pond.

The last thing that happened in the dream was the Crown Prince clearing her father's name. After learning of her death, he even crossed swords with the Third Prince.

When she awoke, her father had already been imprisoned, and the Third Prince was watching her intently.

In a panic, Shen Jinghuan mustered her courage and broke into the Crown Prince's residence.

The Crown Prince, Huo Yan, was a paragon of refinement, but unfortunately his temperament was violent and unpredictable. The Emperor disliked him, and he was bedridden for much of the year.

Everyone said the Third Prince was the one destined to rule the Eastern Palace.

Shen Jinghuan had always been afraid of Huo Yan too.

Trembling all over, she knelt beside the soft couch, not daring to look at the person lying on it.

Only when Huo Yan sat up did his cold fingers lift her chin, forcing her to meet his deep, shadowed phoenix eyes.

He smiled faintly. "If you want me to help you, have you thought about the price?"

Shen Jinghuan's eyes shimmered with tears as she nodded. "I'll do anything. I only beg Your Highness to save my father."

Huo Yan's gaze deepened. Slowly, his thumb brushed over the girl's lips, then he swept her onto the couch.

At the time, Shen Jinghuan thought she only wanted her father to survive and asked for nothing more.

But later, Huo Yan held her hand and led her step by step to the highest seat of power. As they whispered intimately, he repeated the same words again and again:

"Huanhuan, stay with me forever, until I die."

Only then did Shen Jinghuan finally understand.

Huo Yan had fallen for her long ago. He'd been thinking of taking her for himself from the start. In the end, it was only because she willingly threw herself into his arms that he didn't completely lose control.

One-on-one romance, both leads have had no previous sexual partners, sweet romance.

Theme: Reunion means a new beginning