The Spring Terrace Chronicles

[Simplified Chinese edition signed; follow updates on Weibo: @ShengxiaWanFengx]

[The entire novel has been revised, so pirated versions may not match]

All the highborn young ladies of Shangjing share one beloved ideal: Xie Yun, the Xie family's legitimate son, peerlessly handsome and incomparably refined.

But Sang Yao doesn't like him. It all started when she sprained her ankle beside him one day. He could easily have reached out to catch her, but instead he subtly moved aside and watched her fall, making a complete fool of herself.

Sang Yao: ╰(‵□′)╯

Sang Yao remembered it for a long time. Whenever she passed Xie Yun, she would huff angrily, but he never even glanced at her.

Sang Yao: Now I'm even angrier (`Δ?)!

Then, by pure chance, Sang Yao found Xie Yun's notebook. When she opened it, she discovered that it not only detailed his infatuation with her, but also contained plenty of romantic tales starring the two of them. Most absurd of all, it even included love letters Xie Yun had written to her. The depth of his feelings was simply ridiculous!

Embarrassed and furious, Sang Yao snapped the notebook shut, her pretty face turning bright red.

From then on, she looked at Xie Yun differently.

It was true: even the most outstanding people had their troubles. Xie Yun might seem capable of anything, but in reality he was just a pitiful man who loved her without hope, didn't dare say a word to her in real life, and could only fantasize about her in his dreams every night.

Sang Yao had always been softhearted, so every now and then she would take pity on him and speak to him first.

Xie Yun remained cold.

Sang Yao: He's just shy.

Later, when trouble befell her clan, Sang Yao had no choice but to ask for Xie Yun's help.

To Xie Yun, it was merely a meeting he needed to handle with a few perfunctory words.

His expression icy, he said calmly, “Miss, please leave. This matter is already settled.”

She knew the dog of a man wouldn't agree to help her easily.

Without another word, Sang Yao went up and kissed him. “Stop pretending. There, are you satisfied now?”

…

In the dead silence, their eyes met.

Xie Yun, who had made a name for himself at a young age and was always composed and calm, finally began to take a good look at this audacious young woman.

*

One day, a servant who secretly shipped Sang Yao and Xie Yun noticed that the forbidden romance story he'd painstakingly written about them had gone missing!

Later:

The story was gone, but his obscure ship had actually become canon?!

Later still:

The long-lost story turned up in his wife's hands. She pointed to it and told him,

“Don't be fooled by how proper that little prude looks. He's wild on the inside.”

One-on-one, both leads' first time, happy ending

A chaste, powerful minister x a silly, slightly haughty young lady

1. Readers who hold the heroine to especially high standards of intelligence, character, morality, and everything else, and enjoy judging her by them, please do not read.

2. The plot serves the romance, and the setting is fictional. Please don't take it too seriously.

3. As the blurb makes clear, this is a light comedy, not a serious historical drama.

Coming next: Matchmaking~

Blurb One

Xia Yi was adopted by the imperial family as a child. The emperor took pity on her and bestowed upon her the title of Princess Jiashan.

The little princess was mild-mannered and reserved, and poor at socializing. She rarely appeared in public.

The person she knew best was her Crown Prince brother, who had grown up with her.

At a palace banquet, Xia Yi caught a fleeting glimpse of the dazzling eldest son of the Xie family and fell for him at first sight.

Hearing that her imperial brother was close to him, she hurried to the Eastern Palace for help.

Her brother said, “If you want to win someone over, you should start by seducing him.”

The little princess furrowed her brow and asked earnestly, “What do you mean?”

Her brother considered this for a moment. “Come here. I'll teach you. First, do this. Come over and kiss me.”

The little princess: o.O

Blurb Two

Xie Xu came from a distinguished family and was peerlessly handsome. In all of Shangjing, only the aloof and solitary Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace could rival him.

He and the Crown Prince hit it off at first sight.

Xie Xu had secretly loved Princess Jiashan for years. When he returned to the capital one day and heard that the little princess was very attached to the Crown Prince, he humbly asked for advice on how to win her heart.

When the Crown Prince heard, he took the matter very seriously and offered advice at every turn.

Though little progress was made at first, with the Crown Prince making introductions, surely things would go twice as smoothly.

But gradually, Xie Xu realized he was seeing the little princess less and less.

Then one day, he saw her leaning against the Crown Prince, acting intimately and coquettishly in a soft voice.

The Crown Prince didn't stop her. Instead, he put an arm around her waist.

Furious, Xie Xu rushed to the Eastern Palace.

Leaning back in his chair with an air of leisurely nobility, the Crown Prince calmly reassured him, “Don't worry. Everything is under control.”

Later, Xie Xu really did have nothing to worry about.

After the little princess married into the Eastern Palace in grand style, the Crown Prince stood before him with her, the two of them deeply in love.

The little princess apologized to him. “Lord Xie, I was young and foolish back then, and I caused you a lot of trouble. I hope you won't misunderstand.”

Standing quietly to the side, the Crown Prince shamelessly said, “Don't worry. Zhihuai is broad-minded. He certainly won't hold it against you.”

Xie Xu: .

A socially anxious sweetheart x a cool exterior and a shamelessly flirtatious interior

Theme: Be yourself. The people who love you will keep loving you