A Beauty Hidden by My Side

★ Advance notice: My upcoming novel, Her Majesty's Favor and Grace, is available for free first. Thank you for understanding. The blurb for this novel is below.

The Shunchang Marquis household is gradually declining. To preserve her family's honor, Ji Fuqing enters the palace through the selection and becomes a Talented Lady of the Ji clan.

The newly arrived consorts use every means at their disposal to vie for favor, but Ji Fuqing simply stays quietly in the palace, her jade fingers plucking the strings of an ancient zither, day after day.

Until one day, Ning Zhaoyuan happens to hear the sound of a zither. His arrival startles the person playing. Her eyes shimmer like spring water, and she hurriedly leaves with the instrument in her arms.

That night, Ning Zhaoyuan summons Ji Fuqing to his chambers. He had thought she was just like all the other women in the harem, but the more he has her, the more he craves her, until he can no longer forget her.

Amid the intrigue and treachery of the imperial harem, only Ji Fuqing keeps herself clear of trouble. She is the emperor's most favored consort.

Everyone says Ji Fuqing is delicate and alluring, yet she has managed to outshine the Noble Consort, who has enjoyed the emperor's favor for years. The newcomers imitate her one after another, but not one succeeds.

When Ji Fuqing hears this, she merely smiles faintly. Beneath every frown, smile, joy, and flash of anger lies a streak of calculation and ruthlessness. As for the idea that a newcomer can surpass those who came before, it is only because she has yet to make her appearance.

"A Beauty Hidden by His Pillow"

Because of a power struggle at court, Su Yuan is forced to marry Lu Yanjin, the regent of the current dynasty.

Everyone says she is no more than the daughter of a concubine, and that marrying Lu Yanjin is luck she could only have gained over three lifetimes.

At first, she does not think so. But later, after experiencing Lu Yanjin's kindness toward her, she foolishly develops feelings she should never have had.

After entering the prince's residence, Su Yuan attends to her mother-in-law each morning and evening. Even when she suffers humiliation after humiliation, she never shows the slightest resentment.

But one day, when she invites Lu Yanjin to dine in the courtyard as usual, someone plots against her.

Waking on the bed, Su Yuan cannot forget the look in Lu Yanjin's eyes.

The disgust and suspicion in them are unmistakable.

Su Yuan understands: he has never loved her.

Those rare moments of tenderness were nothing more than the refinement expected of a young master from a distinguished family.

Su Yuan is confined to the courtyard, hoping that one day, when she sees Lu Yanjin, she can explain everything to him.

But all she sees is him bringing back a woman who looks just like her. She also catches sight of the painting in his study, concealing the countless feelings in his heart.

At last, Su Yuan understands. The moment she plunges into the icy river, a sharp cramp twists through her abdomen.

She thinks, I don't want to love him anymore.

Lu Yanjin finally uncovers the truth and wants to bring her back, but all he sees is the river's still, unruffled surface. Clutching the plain hairpin she loved most, his eyes redden and his voice catches in his throat.

Theme: Break through the brambles and wait for the clouds to part.