The Favored Consort

[Upcoming Preorders: Locking a Slender Waist, Pressing for Marriage. Come check them out!] Xue Ling is a beautiful concubine-born daughter of the Marquis of Anyang's household. After her cousin, Consort Xue, falls into the water and suffers an injury, Ling is sent to the palace to serve as a maid. Knowing her cousin is jealous by nature, she hopes only to mend their relationship and leave the palace as soon as possible. Her cousin agrees on the surface, but secretly plans to use Ling to win the emperor's favor. Once Ling gives birth to a prince, Consort Xue intends to kill the mother and keep the child. To save her own life, Xue Ling turns her attention to the emperor. Zhao Hui sat securely as crown prince for ten years before ascending the throne. Having won the struggle for power at court, he saw the harem as little more than a source of amusement and heirs. At first, Xue Ling merely managed to stir a touch of pity and partiality in him, earning a little of his favor. At some point, he began to care more and more about her. Even after learning that she had ulterior motives for coming to him, he chose not to expose her. What harm could she have in mind? She only wanted justice for the wrongs done to her. A little scene: One day, Consort Xue punished her younger cousin, Xue Ling, for defying her, making her kneel in the pouring rain. When the rain stopped, Ling had disappeared. Afraid of being blamed for a death, Consort Xue used the excuse that she was sending Ling out of the palace to cover up her disappearance. Fortunately, a happy occasion helped put her unease aside. Her birthday was approaching, and the emperor had promised to celebrate it in grand style. On the day of the birthday banquet, she was dressed in all her finery, receiving congratulations from the guests, when the emperor's carriage arrived without warning. The curtain was lifted, and Consort Xue's smug smile froze on her lips. Her delicate, beautiful cousin was being led down by the emperor, wearing the unmistakable robes of an imperial consort. Upcoming preorders: Locking a Slender Waist On the eve of her night of service, A Chan learns that the emperor is gravely ill and that she has been chosen as a disposable bride to bring him good fortune. If the emperor dies in his bed, the woman serving him that night will surely be killed. Just as she falls into despair, she meets a strong, healthy man whose looks resemble the emperor's by thirty or forty percent. He is Prince Qin, Xiao Yi, a trusted confidant of the emperor, currently staying at the imperial retreat. Prince Qin is cold and aloof, and keeps his distance from women. A Chan doesn't dare gamble on whether she can seduce him. So she makes an even bolder decision. On the night she is supposed to serve the emperor, A Chan sneaks into Prince Qin's bed. The tides of fortune turn overnight. The emperor dies, and Prince Qin becomes the new emperor. That day in the empress dowager's palace, a toddler who could barely walk wrapped his arms around Xiao Yi's leg and looked up at him, calling in a childish voice, "Father!" A Chan hurried in behind him, scared out of her wits. Unable to pull her son away, she could only crouch down and apologize. Xiao Yi replied coolly, "It's all right." Seeing this, the empress dowager sighed sadly. "The emperor looks like the late emperor. No wonder the child mistook him for his father." The others chimed in, flattering them by saying that the late emperor's young prince and the new emperor had similar eyes and brows. Xiao Yi's heart stirred slightly. He gently stroked the child's hair, but his gaze subtly followed the woman as she hurriedly stood up, as if he were deep in thought. Pressing for Marriage The Duke of Dingguo's household is a top aristocratic family with a lineage stretching back generations. Its heir, Lu Heng, is of noble birth and distinguished bearing. He is known in his family as a jade among the sons of noble houses, and is the most sought-after husband among aristocratic young ladies. One day, an unexpected guest arrives at the estate. A frail sixteen-year-old girl claims to be Lu Heng's fiancee, producing a letter written in the late duke's own hand and demanding that the family arrange the wedding. The girl is exceptionally beautiful and alluring, and repeatedly makes advances toward the heir. She is certainly not a suitable match. Fortunately, the heir is dignified and self-possessed, and remains unmoved by her. ** Jiang Yu lost both her parents when she was young and was raised in her uncle's household. Before her uncle died, he gave her a letter and instructed her to take her aunt and cousin to the capital and seek help from the Duke of Dingguo's family. The Lu family only acknowledges the engagement to protect its reputation, so Jiang Yu goes along with their wishes and settles in as a young lady of the household. But Lu Heng, whose status is so exalted, was never her goal. She gives way to him as a way of advancing her own interests, hoping to make the Lu family feel a little guilty and let her choose another match. The second branch's son, Lu Xu, is gentle and considerate, and better suited to be her husband. Sure enough, seeing that she is willing to compromise, the Lu family agrees to arrange her marriage to Lu Xu. Jiang Yu happily prepares to move out of the duke's residence and await her wedding. On the night before she leaves, she has packed her bags and is about to put out the lamp when a tall figure silently enters her room. Lu Heng, newly returned from a long journey, grips her wrist. His eyes bloodshot, he asks hoarsely, "A Yu, who are you going to marry?" 1. This is a fictional setting. The worldbuilding and logic serve the story, so please don't nitpick historical details. 2. Content warning: The male lead has concubines early on and does not favor the heroine exclusively. Later, the relationship is one-to-one. Theme: Resist fate and never give up.