The Deposed Empress Was the Grand Tutor's One True Love

[Revising; slowly resuming updates]

A well-behaved girl who looks sweet × a dashing young man / sweet on the outside, dark within × carefree and unruly

In her previous life, Ming Shu was dependent on others from childhood and was sent as a pawn to the third prince, Xiao Lin. She thought she had married a good man, never knowing that the man beside her in bed loved someone else.

She abandoned her fantasies and lived on cautiously. But after a lifetime of exhausting herself with worry and care, she met a tragic end in the Cold Palace.

After her death, her burial was delayed. The Grand Tutor, Xie Xuanjing, whom she had regarded as a thorn in her side, went mad overnight. He stole her coffin, killed the consorts who had harmed her, and seized the throne from the emperor who had betrayed her.

*

Reborn in a single moment, Ming Shu became an orphan of the Ming family once more, living a poor but carefree life.

To avoid repeating her former fate, Ming Shu struck first and cut off the tragedy at its source. When her adoptive mother from her previous life came to visit, she resolutely disfigured herself and escaped disaster.

Unexpectedly, Xie Xuanjing, the powerful minister who had been her sworn enemy in her previous life, saw it all.

Xie Xuanjing narrowed his amorous, peach-blossom eyes and said, his meaning unclear, "The Ming family's little sister really is ruthless."

*

As a youth, Xie Xuanjing was wild and unrestrained, proud of his talent.

One careless remark brought disaster upon his entire family. The men were exiled, and the women became slaves.

When he was being scorned and kicked while down, the young lady he had once teased secretly slipped him a bag of valuables.

Later, after the new emperor ascended the throne and issued a general amnesty, Xie Xuanjing, who had entered the Buddhist clergy, planned to spend the rest of his life before a lamp and Buddha, seeking redemption for his sins.

The new emperor invited him to enter public service and expand the realm for the court.

Ming Shu, his fellow townsman, became the persuader. The refusal that had reached his lips became an agreement.

Xie Xuanjing had intended to watch over her happiness from beyond the mortal world, but he never expected her to die tragically in the imperial harem.

The love he could never confess burst its banks. He repaid those who had hurt and harmed her many times over.

"I had meant to watch over you from beyond the mortal world. I never expected that a world without you would be so dull and wretched."

Reading Guide:

1. Her appearance was not permanently damaged and can recover.

2. The romance develops slowly, with domestic squabbles and a low-key, everyday-life feel.

3. No romantic feelings are depicted while the characters are minors.

4. One-on-one romance, with an age gap.

5. The characters are not perfect and each has flaws. Readers who are extreme fans of any one character should read with caution.

6. The plot mainly serves to develop the protagonists' relationship. It has no logic, so please do not overanalyze it.

7. The story includes many flashbacks to the previous life. Read with caution if that bothers you.

* An important supporting character transmigrates into a book, so the story uses the transmigration-into-a-book tag and is categorized under ancient times transmigration.

* Blurb recorded on 2022.10.19

Ancient-times transmigration upcoming novel: Please Enter the Bed Curtains

A resilient, carefree, eccentric girl × a proud, tragic prince who bears his humiliation

Self-proclaimed dramatic actress × career-obsessed hopeless romantic

After falling from a building while filming, popular actress Luo Liyu transmigrates into the body of a concubine planted by the empress beside Prince Jin.

The empress wants her to seduce Prince Jin, make him lose his senses over a woman and become addicted to pleasure, and steal his secrets when necessary.

Luo Liyu answers timidly: Risking my life to act doesn't seem worth it...

The empress promises to spare her life and send her out of the palace once the task is complete.

Then, just before she goes, she even makes her swallow a pill.

Luo Liyu: Your Majesty, that's not playing fair! (ノД`)

Luo, the spy, Li, the professional actress, Yu: Acting? That's what I do best!

*

Luo Liyu uses all her skills, acting gentle and considerate, getting jealous, and even risking her life to save Prince Jin. She acts so convincingly that even the empress, her employer, worries she has fallen for him and warns her several times.

Even the target, who was originally cold and distant toward her, believes she is deeply in love with him and becomes increasingly unable to bear her absence.

After completing her mission, Luo Liyu seems to pass through a field of flowers without a petal touching her, faking her death and leaving the palace in carefree style.

She just never expected there to be a baby in her belly.

Luo Liyu: Damn it! (ノД`)

What the hell is this melodramatic run-away-with-the-baby plot!

*

Prince Jin had a tragic past. From being bullied by everyone, he climbed step by step to the heights of power, gaining authority in his hands and becoming cold-hearted and unfeeling. He had seen every kind of trick. Facing Luo Liyu's false sincerity and honeyed words, he could play along with even such clumsy acting, treating her like a pretty cat to tease from time to time when he needed amusement.

He thought he could calmly handle her occasional affectation and feigned complaints, never realizing that a beauty's tender embrace was a hero's grave.

He used himself as bait to lure her deeper, believing everything was under his control.

It was only when she would rather die than return to his side that he tasted the agony of a shattered heart and a soul torn apart. Only then did he realize that he was the only one caught up in the act, driven mad by it.

"You set the stage, and I played my part."

"From beginning to end, I was your plaything, manipulated in the palm of your hand. And I was willing to have it so."

Premise: What is never forgotten can never truly be left behind.