Peace and Prosperity Through the Years

Jiang Suisui and Xie Qingli rely on each other for survival in the Cold Palace, like two little bitter gourds growing on the same vine.

Jiang Suisui is the daughter of a princess, while Xie Qingli is the son of a deposed crown prince. Their parents committed the grave crime of treason years ago and were executed along with their entire clans. Only the two of them survived, being of imperial blood and still very young.

Xie Qingli was traumatized as a child and became somewhat dull-witted, with little understanding of social niceties. But he would save the scarce ingredients he could find in the Cold Palace and cook for Jiang Suisui on her birthday.

Jiang Suisui isn't very clever, but whenever Xie Qingli smiles at her, she's happy. He is breathtakingly handsome, with bones like pure jade and skin like snow. His lips are thin, his eyes phoenix-shaped, and when he smiles, it's like moonlight reflected in a cold pool: refined and elegant.

While he was feeding her longevity noodles, she secretly kissed his cheek. His chopsticks fell to the ground, and she bashfully hid her face behind her sleeve.

Born into hardship, they mistook even the smallest kindness for happiness.

But those in power had no intention of letting their simple happiness last. On New Year's Eve, the Empress Dowager sent them fine wine. Only after drinking it did they realize it was a potent aphrodisiac.

Jiang Suisui kept crying. Xie Qingli could only clumsily kiss her hair and eyes over and over again. On New Year's Eve, while families gathered all around, the two of them could only hold each other close.

Jiang Suisui's belly began to swell, and the two of them slowly realized that something had changed.

Xie Qingli knew the baby was his and Jiang Suisui's, but he couldn't express his feelings in beautiful words. So he simply treated her even better, and at night, he would secretly rest his head on her belly and grin for no reason.

Until the day Jiang Suisui gave birth. Rain poured down, just as it had on the night their families were destroyed years ago. After the birth, Jiang Suisui was terribly weak, and the Empress Dowager sent her a cup of poisoned wine.

She lay there, pale and beautiful, but utterly still. Xie Qingli's whole body shook violently as the baby in his arms wailed.

He had wanted to pick a little flower in secret and give it to someone. But she was gone. He touched his eyelids, and felt tears of bright red blood.

He wondered what meaning the world could possibly have now.

Written purely for self-indulgence. Childhood sweethearts, mutual salvation, the best ever. Revenge fantasy in the middle and later sections. The male lead will recover.

Cover art: Working Robot

Theme: .