Plucking the Fragrant Bough

★Jade Courtyard Spring, ongoing / See the comments for the announcement about my upcoming novel 🔗

[Usurping, sinister emperor x illegitimate princess of the previous dynasty]

Ji Zhiyao had been an insignificant nobody since the day she was born, someone anyone could trample on. She was so insignificant that when the previous dynasty fell and the palace servants fled, they did not even take her with them.

The palace maids who stayed behind told her the new emperor was sinister and cruel. He spent just one night in the palace, yet not a single attendant in the imperial gardens survived. They all died horribly.

She kept her head down and lived in constant fear, but still could not escape being taken to the Taiji Palace to serve as a maid.

*

Life was chaotic. The new dynasty had been established for only a few months when it was once again on the verge of collapse. Ji Zhiyao had no choice but to leave the palace with him and live under an assumed name.

One day, while she was caught off guard, a gang of thugs stormed into the courtyard. They dragged her around, intent on taking her away. She had learned a few rudimentary self-defense moves, but she could not take on so many people.

Just as she was about to despair, someone pushed open the courtyard gate from outside. A gust of cold wind swept in, reaching every corner of the palace. The imperial guards sealed off the vast courtyard, blocking every possible escape route.

The gang watched as a man in a black dragon robe strode unhurriedly toward her and dropped a long sword at her feet.

It hit the ground with a bang. Everyone in the courtyard fell to their knees in terror, trembling as they looked at the token that marked the bearer as the supreme ruler.

But Ji Zhiyao had no idea what he would do. They had had a terrible argument the night before, and she figured he would be happy to see her dead.

After a brief, deathly silence, everyone waited to see what would happen next. Instead, he crouched down to meet the red-eyed woman's gaze, spoke gently, and took her hand, closing it around the sword's hilt.

"Today, I will teach you how to kill."

◎Reading Guide

Sinister and inscrutable x stoic woman with an iron will

Happy ending | Both leads are sexually inexperienced | Female supporting character included for plot purposes

Forced possession, with a touch of melodrama. Alternate universe with plenty of original worldbuilding.

[The male lead is obsessive. The only thing certain is that he will not harm the female lead. He may attack anyone else indiscriminately, so please stop reading if that bothers you! The male lead is no good! Really, he is not a good person!!]

If it's not your thing, just click X and drop it. No need to tell me, thank you!

80% advance reader copy protection | Latest version screenshotted on 2023.10.21

Theme: Love conquers all