A laid-back, growing little bunny x a scheming, handsome fox who plans several steps ahead
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Xianyue first met Luo Qianzhi during the mourning period after the late emperor's hundredth-day memorial.
At the time, she was fretting over the upcoming selection of imperial consorts, and assumed the visitor was the distant nephew her mother had chosen for her.
Rumor had it in the capital that Luo Qianzhi, the top-ranked palace graduate, had been devoted to officialdom even before the late emperor's death. He was a man of thunderous methods, a solitary ill omen, and surely destined to become a powerful minister.
But when Xianyue met his eyes, she saw curiosity and thoughtfulness in them...
And just the tiniest hint of shyness?!
**
The next time Xianyue saw Luo Qianzhi, he was once again at her home, discussing matters with her father.
Her father's principal wife asked what she thought of this new favorite in the capital.
She thought for a moment, then replied: He seems steady, but not stiff. He's courteous, and not bad-looking. He doesn't seem like the ill omen people describe. He must be a gentleman.
As she spoke, the "gentleman" stood up and walked over. "If you don't want to enter the palace, you could consider me."
Xianyue knew, of course, that he had ulterior motives.
How could love come from meeting only a few times?
But with matters urgent, she carefully weighed the pros and cons. Hearing her father and his principal wife coaxing her again and again, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and marry him.
**
Later on.
An old case was reopened, and the whole court was thrown into an uproar.
Hatred surged, and blood washed over the Jade Terrace.
Being a powerful minister was not easy, and the peaceful life she'd imagined lasted barely a few days.
Xianyue stood by Qianzhi as he went from being framed and imprisoned to bringing down the cabinet. Together, they made their way along a path riddled with pitfalls.
Qianzhi once told her that a quiet heart was hard to come by. Inner peace could make one resilient, a shield that could not be broken, and help one survive when all hope seemed lost.
In truth, whatever the time or place, all Xianyue had ever wanted was a steady, peaceful life.
In the past, that meant enjoying every comfort, eating well and sleeping soundly. Now, it meant clearing her family's name and living free from illness and disaster.
#Her name means moon, and she truly is a bright moon, dispelling his gloom and lighting up his life.
*Some forms of address are drawn from an alternate Ming-Qing setting, with a muddle of dynasties. The historical setting is extremely, extremely, extremely loose!
This has no connection to actual history, and none of the characters are based on real people.
Please don't insist on historical accuracy or pick fights.
*The imperial selection system is entirely made up. Readers who study historical details should proceed with caution.
Reading Guide:
1. One-on-one romance, both leads are each other's first and only, happy ending. An entirely fictional arranged-marriage-to-love story, with many original details. Argumentative readers, stay away.
2. Political intrigue at kindergarten level, serious drama.
3. Plot-focused overall, with a six-year age gap.
4. More details to come.
*Other content warnings: none
[Blurb first written on May 7, 2023; extensively revised on April 5, 2025. Reproduction is prohibited.]
Weibo: Gu Yunyuner
Theme: Life has many hardships, but strive to move forward
