The Tyrant's Beloved Maid

[Updates at midnight]

Shi Chen'an is honest, quiet, and beautiful, so she is assigned to Weiyang Palace to serve the emperor.

The emperor is a notorious tyrant, violent by nature, cruel and unjust. Shi Chen'an believes she doesn't have long to live, and goes about her duties every day with her life hanging by a thread, yet she manages everything in impeccable order.

The one bit of comfort she finds is that she has a good friend in Weiyang Palace, a stunningly handsome young eunuch.

The young eunuch is cold on the outside but kindhearted. After she helps him once, he always remembers to bring her tasty food and warm clothes, listens to her troubles, and is even willing to teach her to read.

Later, other palace servants accuse her of being involved with the eunuch. Shi Chen'an endures every brutal torture without revealing the young eunuch's identity.

Just as she thinks her time has come, the young eunuch kicks open the prison gates. Amid the cries of "Long live the emperor," Shi Chen'an sees the familiar figure she knows so well.

Weiyang Palace runs red with blood because of her.

The emperor's handsome face is spattered with blood, looking like a demon in the lamplight. But when he turns to her, his expression becomes infinitely tender.

He reaches out to her. "I'll carry you. Take care not to get blood on your shoes and socks."

My next story is Raising a Darling. Please add it to your reading list:

Lin Ruzhao is the prime minister's daughter, as fair and lovely as a jade doll. Raised in luxury, she has had everything her heart desired since childhood, and her life has always gone smoothly.

Except for one thing: she has terrible luck when it comes to marriage.

The emperor arranges her marriage to Lu Jin.

Lu Jin is known as "Ghost's Lament." As the name suggests, he is so vicious and cruel that even ghosts would cry at the sight of him.

Before her wedding, Lin Ruzhao sneaks off to see him. He's covered in muscle, with a hard face and a cold heart. He punches a boulder to pieces.

Lin Ruzhao faints from fright.

On her wedding day, the maids weep in the bridal chamber. Anyone who didn't know better would think the Lin family was preparing for Lin Ruzhao's funeral.

Lin Ruzhao thinks she probably won't be far from death herself.

*

The Lu family has served loyally for generations, and Lu Jin is the last of his line. The emperor is concerned that the Lu family will die out, so he asks Lu Jin what kind of woman he likes. He could ask for a princess, and the emperor would arrange the marriage at once.

Lu Jin remembers fragments from a dream and makes his request.

The girl he likes is very fair, as white as snow. She has round eyes like a fawn's. When she smiles, she has two dimples. She's sweet and delicate, and blushes incredibly easily. Just looking at her makes him want to tease her.

In the end, he says that a girl like that is probably a fairy, and that no such person exists in the mortal world.

The emperor gives him a strange look. "There really is one."

Lu Jin: ?

Marriage first, love later. Age gap. Rugged man x delicate lady.

Theme: Prejudice in people's hearts is like a great mountain. We should not let the mountain of rumors keep us from getting to know someone.