My Childhood Friend Should Be at Court by Now

[The blurb for my upcoming novel, A Guest Behind the Curtain, is below. Please add it to your collections, dear readers! A grateful bow, your support is my motivation.]

Shen Yujiao and her long-suffering childhood friend Jiang Chen transmigrated together, becoming the newlywedded Crown Prince and Crown Princess of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Their lives were suddenly fast-forwarded, and the childhood sweethearts were feeling the pressure.

What? The Crown Prince was taught by the Imperial Tutors of two dynasties from childhood, knew astronomy and geography, and was well versed in Great Xia's laws? Jiang Chen was dumbfounded. But I'm a science student!

What? The Crown Princess inherited her family's Su embroidery skills, excelled at poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and knew the rules of the palace inside and out? Shen Yujiao froze. But I'm a modern person!

They were stunned, helpless, and unequal to the task, but... since they were already here, they had to make it work.

The Crown Prince was a science student who knew nothing about politics or history, and couldn't answer a single question at court? Then Shen Yujiao stayed up late cramming Jiang Chen on the essential knowledge a crown prince needed for court.

The new Crown Princess knew nothing of the imperial family's secrets and became a target as soon as she arrived? This time, Jiang Chen would coach her on how to become a proper Crown Princess.

Their relentless studying soon made both of them sick. When the Emperor and Empress saw them, they decided: This won't do. We need to bring some new women into the Eastern Palace.

Jiang Chen: No! I don't want new people disturbing the Crown Princess.

The Emperor and Empress: The Crown Princess is dignified and virtuous, with an impeccable character. She would never get jealous and compete with concubines.

Jiang Chen: No, I just don't want them taking away the Crown Princess's exclusive favor...

Shen Yujiao: Jiang Xiaochen! Stop making a scene everywhere you go!

Reader's Guide:

1. An imaginary dynasty, with plenty of creative liberties.

2. Daily life after transmigration, with a slower pace.

3. Childhood sweethearts, one-on-one romance, happy ending.

Why I entered this contest: The protagonists, Shen Yujiao and Jiang Chen, accidentally transmigrate to ancient times, going from prospective university students to Crown Prince and Crown Princess. They don't know history, politics, or the intrigues of the palace, and find themselves in difficult circumstances. But they never give up trying to improve. With mutual support and hard work, they put their knowledge to use and make their mark in the past, gradually discovering their true worth. In the end, they turn the tables and become a true Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

Blurb for my next upcoming novel, A Guest Behind the Curtain:

Princess Yuanzhen considered transmigrating into another world a reward.

In her previous life, Pei Jing had spent every day plotting and scheming to protect her family's legacy, exhausting herself for half her life. Then she woke up as a princess with all the comforts she could want, whose only duty was to eat, drink, and enjoy herself.

Pei Jing could even laugh in her sleep.

As the late emperor's most beloved youngest daughter and the current emperor's only younger sister raised in the palace, Pei Jing's status was unshakable. Even the emperor's own daughters had to mind their aunt's mood.

Her extraordinary advantages gave Pei Jing all the confidence she needed. Deciding to make the best of her new life, she lay flat.

To everyone's astonishment, the princess, long coddled in the imperial palace by the emperor, was not a dignified and virtuous lady, well read and proper. She was a wastrel who did nothing but chase cats and dogs and indulge herself.

And... the very first thing Princess Yuanzhen did after establishing her own residence was select male companions!

Pei Jing didn't care about the contemptuous, scornful looks people gave her. She even brought her beloved male companion to palace banquets. Her extravagant, debauched behavior made it plain that she didn't care what anyone thought.

Until her wedding night, when her husband asked with a dark expression, "Does the princess want me, or that pretty boy?"

Beneath the wavering wedding candles, the scorn at the corners of Pei Jing's lips became even more glaring. "Naturally, the one with a sweet face and a docile nature is dearer to me."

*

To earn Princess Yuanzhen's favor, Shi Yun stayed by her side every day. The expressions he saw most often were jealousy and contempt.

They left him unmoved. He only found them ironic.

Everyone assumed he was a pretty face kept as a lover. Not one person recognized him as Xie Jiulang, once the most dazzling young man among the aristocratic clans.

A wrongful case had sent Shi Yun tumbling from the heights of success. To clear his family's name, he had spent years lying low and abandoning his identity. After returning to the capital, he went to great lengths to arrange meetings with Princess Yuanzhen.

He stood like a noble orchid or jade tree, and smiled like moonlight embracing the heart. Unlike any man Pei Jing had ever met, Shi Yun was not only handsome and refined, but also possessed a graceful, charming air. He seemed like an immortal banished to earth, yet born into poverty, making him impossible not to cherish.

He planned every step and took great pains to scheme his way into becoming Princess Yuanzhen's most favored male companion.

According to Shi Yun's original plan, the next step was to use Princess Yuanzhen's status to clear his path and kill his enemies with her as his weapon. Pei Jing would make an excellent blade.

But the wielder of the blade couldn't bear to let it be stained with blood for his sake.

Pei Jing's open favoritism made Shi Yun hesitate. Before he could commit the sin of killing anyone who stood in his way, a god had already bent down to embrace him.

To keep Pei Jing from suffering for his sake, Shi Yun resolved to flee the princess's residence on their wedding night. But before he could step out of the room, he saw the princess in her wedding robes.

"Where do you think you're running? It's only a wedding. Did you think I would abandon you?"

Shi Yun watched Princess Yuanzhen pull the dagger he had hidden inside his robe from one sleeve, then hand him a long sword gleaming with a cold edge. He heard her tease him softly in his ear: "It's only the court, isn't it? I'll help you tear it down. How about that?"

The wedding veil embroidered with golden dragons and phoenixes fell over Shi Yun's head. He heard himself reply, "I beg the princess to forgive me."

"What crime could one of my people possibly have committed?"

[A bold, uninhibited princess x a beautiful, strong, tragic, scheming puppy]

Theme: Even when trapped in adversity, turn the tables against the odds.