Peerless Splendor

The blurb is the premise. Romance-focused, slow burn, with a small ensemble cast. The male lead is an heir to a noble title.

Chi Yu was an orphan of war. Clinging to life, she crawled out of a mountain of corpses and was taken in by a monk.

The monk gave her a name, taught her poetry and books, and instructed her in strategy. For seven years, she sat before the Buddha with him, chanting sutras and striking the wooden fish drum.

Later, the Crown Prince of Northern Liang rebelled. The monk transformed into Gu Yuan, the new master of the Eastern Palace, and Chi Yu moved into the gilded palace with him, becoming its mistress alongside the Crown Prince.

After all those years together, Chi Yu thought she and Gu Yuan were in love. That was until she heard the Crown Prince ask for the Chancellor’s legitimate daughter’s hand in marriage and saw the wedding procession, stretching for miles, with its lavish dowry and splendid bridal robes.

Chi Yu understood.

Perhaps there was affection between them, just not much.

So when a man dared to ask for her hand, she accepted, even though he was Northern Liang’s most notorious rake.

When Chi Yu knelt before Gu Yuan, holding the “token of love” she had exchanged with another man, and forced him to give his blessing, Gu Yuan’s refined, noble facade instantly crumbled. His face darkened, and he ground his teeth as though he wanted to tear her to pieces.

“Fine. Very well.”

-

On the night Chi Yu married Chu Wennian, the man was dead drunk and couldn’t recognize anyone.

As Chi Yu helped him out of his clothes, he suddenly seized her wrist.

Their foreheads touched, their breaths mingling.

Chi Yu heard him murmur, “A Qing.”

As the words fell, a scorching tear landed on Chi Yu’s cheek, burning like fire.

Chi Yu couldn’t help sighing. Her romantic luck must have been dead and buried in this life.

And yet, Chi Yu had forgotten that her original name was Fu Youqing.

[Reader’s Guide]

* Major warning: the heroine is a frail beauty who can make poison, but she is no pushover at any point!

* The heroine has had previous partners; the hero has not.

* Set in an alternate history. No need to nitpick the details.

* Heir to a noble title x orphan girl

* Everyone has their own tastes. If you don’t like it, please don’t hurt anyone. Peace and love, and have a lovely time. Kisses, kisses!

* Blurb screenshotted on September 8, 2022, revised on November 4, 2023.

Theme: Cherish the people in your life.