The Princess Becomes King

[Next up: modern romance, Inferior Love, or fantasy romance, The Pretend God. If you're interested, check them out on my author page.]

Princess Shen Youran, posthumously honored as Emperor Zhaoyi, was the only princess of the Great Sheng dynasty.

Cherished by her parents and doted on by her twin brother, she could have anything she wanted.

It took only one glance for her to fall for Yan Sheng, her brother's study companion.

Yan Sheng had everything going for him: an impressive family, fine character, and handsome looks. Yet he never showed interest in women, discouraging countless young ladies from respectable families.

People advised her that a melon forced from its vine wouldn't taste sweet.

But you couldn't know whether it was sweet until you tried it.

Shen Youran, who had accomplished this with no trouble at all, remarked afterward: This difficult, stubborn stone seemed much easier to handle than the rumors suggested.

But she never expected that the shocking news of the Crown Prince and his study companion Yan Sheng falling to their deaths from a cliff would arrive right on the heels of the imperial edict granting her marriage.

After searching beneath the cliff for three days in the pouring rain, Shen Youran returned to the palace only to discover that her parents had both been killed by her second elder brother's sword.

She plunged the dagger she carried for self-defense into the Second Prince's back.

"Second Brother, I want you to watch from the heavens as I take Father King's and Crown Prince Brother's place, and become a worthy ruler."

*

Emperor Zhaoyi was far more ruthless than her father had ever been.

After ascending the throne, she purged corruption in the palace and investigated the extravagance of the imperial clan, leaving officials throughout the court in a state of panic.

To reassure her ministers, she held a palace banquet, where she unexpectedly noticed that the man standing behind Commandery Princess Shunning had a very familiar figure.

Princess Zhaoyi might have pursued a man relentlessly, but Emperor Zhaoyi would not.

"It seems things are going well for you, Cousin."

"Then I wish you a lifetime of harmony and love, and many happy years together."

Reader advisory:

1. This is not a strong female lead story, political intrigue, or wish-fulfillment novel. The female lead's ascension to the throne faces few obstacles and involves little scheming. Please don't expect otherwise. At heart, this is simply a light historical romance to pass the time.

2. The characters are not perfect.

Theme: A ruler should care for the country and its people.