The Noble Consort Returns

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he arranged for Wei Hua, the former Crown Prince's consort and his childhood sweetheart, to live in the imperial harem. His principal wife, Cheng Ying, was made Noble Consort.

Everyone speculated that the new emperor intended to reserve the empress's throne for Wei Hua, and pitied Cheng Ying.

Cheng Ying thought so too.

Later, the loyal Cheng clan was falsely accused of treason, and the entire family was executed.

On the seventh day after her father and brothers' deaths, Cheng Ying stood atop the palace wall and poured wine in their memory. Looking at the splendor all around her, she felt there was nothing left to live for. So she leapt from the high palace wall.

When she opened her eyes again, five years had passed. Cheng Ying had become Xu Ying, the daughter of the magistrate of Quyang County. Xu Ying was one of the young women about to be selected for the palace.

Xu Ying was chosen and entered the palace. From low-ranking consort to Noble Consort, she enjoyed the emperor's favor without interruption. He called her by the childhood nickname she had in her previous life, "Yuanyuan," delighted in seeing her wear the clothes she had loved before, and let her live in the palace where she had once resided. Xu Ying played along, acting coy and charming, and imitated her former self in every expression and gesture.

Later, when the emperor fell gravely ill, Xu Ying, now empress, sat beside his bed and silently watched as he took her hand. His gaze at her flickered, as if his love for her were too deep to last.

Reader's guide: 1. A satisfying revenge story. 2. The emperor pursues his wife through a fiery gauntlet, a real one. 3. The heroine has a golden finger, and a whole lot of them.

Theme: Not yet available