Candles Shine South of Heaven

[Announcement]: This story will be complete and switch to paid chapters on July 2.

My upcoming story, "Sparrow Entangled in Spring," is open for pre-collection. The blurb is below.

I always finish what I start~ There may be extra updates from time to time. If you're passing by, please add it to your collection. Please~ Comments are welcome!)

This story: Devoted, sweet-natured nobleman X beautiful yet tragic princess

Princess Leng Mingzhu of Zhaohua was born to the empress. Her beauty was peerless, and with a prophecy of divine destiny on her side, she had enjoyed a life of glory since childhood, growing up spoiled, domineering, and looking down on everyone.

Just as she was living as freely as she pleased, her elder brother, the crown prince, died young. Her maternal family, renowned for their military achievements, fell from power. Then the empress, the mother who loved her most, died as well.

How could so much happen by chance?

Her lofty status and glory had been nothing but one enormous joke!

Everyone around her turned out to be a traitor.

Then a young guard knelt at her feet and swore he would never betray her.

Would Leng Mingzhu be moved?

She tempted him, used him, teased him, then comforted him. She peeled back every layer of his skin and flesh to probe his heart, and the young guard endured it all.

The elegant tip of her shoe pressed beneath the young man's chin and slowly lifted it. With his long hair tied high and his strikingly handsome features, he tenderly straightened the hem of the princess's dress, keeping her free of dust. "I will serve Your Highness unto death. I have no regrets, in life or death, and ask for nothing in return."

The young man's sincere, burning desire swept her along, pulling her toward the edge of an even deeper precipice.

Just as she was about to lose herself, she suddenly discovered that the obedient little guard's identity was a disguise!

Leng Mingzhu thought: He approached me because he covets power, just like everyone else...

Whoever believes in so-called sincerity is a fool!

*

Xu Jingchi, the young master of the Jingbei Marquis's household, was brilliantly gifted. Following his father's teachings, he was ruthless and strategic, shedding blood on the battlefield. Everyone in the eastern lands praised him as the Third Young Master.

Who would have thought that the only time he ever stepped out of line would be for a princess?

Hearing that Princess Zhaohua adored obedient, beautiful men, Xu Jingchi concealed his murderous aura and transformed himself into a guileless, simple-minded young guard, deliberately approaching her and luring her in, one step at a time.

Before long, everyone in the capital knew that Princess Zhaohua had a stunningly beautiful favorite by her side.

The day Xu Jingchi's identity was exposed, Leng Mingzhu sat in a place of honor, calmly and unhurriedly playing with the pearls and hairpins in her hair.

But only he knew of the madness and murderous intent hidden beneath her beautiful facade.

And wasn't that exactly what he wanted?

Reading guide:

1. They are three years apart and are step-siblings. One-on-one romance, both are virgins, happy ending.

2. Fictional setting, not based on history. The court intrigue is just for fun and serves the romance.

3. The hero's disguise is very convincing early on, so the story is told mainly from the heroine's perspective.

[Blurb for upcoming story, "Sparrow Entangled in Spring"]

Clever, sweet, and beautiful woman X ruthless, scheming prince in power

Abduction, self-delusion, clear-eyed heroine, feigned obedience, and a long road to win her back

When Qi Jingmu, the Great Ye dynasty's God of War, returned victorious, the whole city was in an uproar.

All because he'd brought a woman back with him.

She had skin as smooth as jade and a beauty that could outshine the moon. She was truly a bewitching creature of celestial grace.

Qi Jingmu called her "Little Sparrow."

He kept his distance from women and had no one in his household, yet somehow he'd taken a fancy to her.

By day, he made her work as his serving girl. By moonrise, he demanded that she charm and please him.

At first, he only wanted to see the celestial beauty fall into the mortal world, her pride crushed as she became someone else's servant.

Later, he wanted to see her disheveled and sobbing beside him, her hair damp against her temples.

Yin Que was soft-bodied and sweet-voiced, with eyes like clear pools. He grew more and more obsessed with her, night after night.

If only she would give him one truly sincere smile, he would be willing to die for her!

Time and again, he told himself and forced himself to believe that she loved him!

Before setting out, Qi Jingmu's brow glistened with sweat, and his normally inscrutable eyes were full of tenderness.

Leaning against Yin Que's neck, he murmured, "Little Sparrow... when the war is over, we'll retreat to the mountains and live in bliss, farming and weaving together. It'll be just you and me... only you and me. All right?"

"All right? Answer me, please. Just answer me..."

Yin Que came back to herself and tilted her head to look at him, but said nothing.

To survive at the hands of the mad God of War, Yin Que had to obey him in everything. She went from a servant girl doing chores to the woman in his bed.

Sometimes he was gentle, considerate, and attentive to every detail. Other times he was mad and cruel, treating her like an enemy. She couldn't tell which was the real Qi Jingmu.

Qi Jingmu was still trapped in a nightmare. His iron grip closed around her fragile throat as he demanded over and over, "Why did you crush my leg with your own foot back then?"

Yin Que was frightened and shocked, but had no strength to fight back. She could only choke back a sob and smile at him. "My lord, I'm Yin Que. I didn't..."

*

Qi Jingmu was sent to the state of Zhao as a hostage when he was young. Ye was weak at the time, and he was looked down on, trampled, and bullied because of it.

It was Princess Yin An, doted on by everyone, who showed him kindness and concern.

When someone held him by the throat and shoved him into muddy, filthy water, the little princess stepped forward in her elaborate skirts and ordered them to stop. Then she came close and carefully wiped the blood from his face with her own handkerchief.

But that same fairy was also the one who pushed him into the abyss with her own hands.

Before everyone's eyes, the princess looked down coldly at Qi Jingmu, fallen to the ground and covered in dust. Then she laughed, mounted her tall horse, and trampled his left leg, crushing it before everyone!

Why?

Theme: Fate cannot hold me back.