A Sparrow Bearing a Branch

[My next book, Help! Immortal Lord, Please Calm Down, is coming soon. Thanks for adding it to your collection!] Princess Yuhua, Yu Wei, was separated from her family and grew up wandering from place to place. She was not found and brought back to the palace until she was fifteen. Later, after being framed for plotting against the crown prince, the emperor sent her to Lianzhou. The princess, who had never been valued in the first place, then vanished without a trace. Years later, war was about to break out, and trouble stirred once more. Someone secretly sowed discord and manipulated events, nearly cutting off Lianzhou's lifeline. With supplies exhausted, the battle hung by a thread. To find the person behind it all, Yu Wei followed the clues, step by step, until they led to the Jiang family of Quping. She returned to the public eye once more. She regained the emperor's favor, took charge of the government, quelled rebellions, purged corrupt officials, and set the court back in order. For a time, she was unstoppable, her name known throughout the realm. When Yu Wei first arrived in Quping, revisiting her old home stirred her emotions. She only wanted to finish what she had to do, then return to her carefree life as a princess. But, by a twist of fate, she was reunited with someone from her past. It was Jiang Yanxing, the young master of the Jiang family who had saved her when she was living among commoners. He was now the Eastern Palace's tutor. He still looked like a noble orchid tree, refined and cool as frost, unchanged from years ago. Only his eyes held emotions Yu Wei could not decipher. Yu Wei had never imagined that the two of them, once so close, would end up on opposite sides, cold and distant. And the feelings they had once secretly harbored had long since turned to ashes. Yu Wei had never imagined that, after she became engaged to someone else, the brilliant and elegant Lord Jiang would become so hopelessly entangled in his feelings for her. He traveled hundreds of miles, played the game of power, and fought desperately when cornered. His heart held only her, and he did everything for her. In the end, he willingly helped her claim everything and ascend to the highest position. The palace banquet roared with life nearby, yet no one noticed that the Grand Princess and the Imperial Tutor had disappeared together. In the empty Sparrow Terrace, Jiang Yanxing lowered his head and softly asked her, “Do you really not want me anymore?” Reader's Guide: 1. The story focuses on political intrigue, with a 60/40 split between plot and romance. 2. The handsome male lead would rather be her kept man than break up with her. He won her over with his looks and is insecure. Opposing sides are no problem; he'll switch sides himself. 4. Both leads are sexually inexperienced, one-on-one romance, happy ending, set in an imaginary Ming dynasty with many original settings. Blurb first posted on February 25, 2023. Details have since been revised, and screenshots have been saved as proof. Theme: Break free of your cocoon and become a butterfly.