Springtime Splendor of the Throne

It's finished! Writing is no easy task. Thank you for supporting the official version.

[Innocent, stunning beauty x powerful prince with authority over all, awkward but effective seduction.]

Zhizhi became the family member of a convicted criminal at fifteen. She was made a government slave and assigned to the Prince Regent's residence, where she served the old madam.

She knew her father had been imprisoned unjustly, and all it would take to reopen his case was a word from the Prince Regent.

When the old madam asked what reward she wanted for doing her job well, Zhizhi worked up her courage and asked for that favor.

But the old madam said Zhizhi would have to get the Prince Regent's permission herself.

Zhaolu, who had once shared a room with her, had told Zhizhi that men would only obey women in one particular matter.

Zhizhi boldly hooked a finger into Xiao Fu's belt.

Xiao Fu, the Prince Regent, was twenty-three and had never married, nor taken a concubine or bedchamber woman. People only said he had a childhood betrothed who had gone missing at two or three years old. But Xiao Fu had never broken off the engagement: "If I do, it could damage her reputation."

Zhizhi only found this out after she became his concubine.

Fortunately, Zhizhi was only a servant-concubine.

A servant girl who became a concubine was still a servant-concubine. Of all the ranks of concubines, she was the lowest, no more than a speck of dust.

She posed no threat to his future wife. Zhizhi would be gone before the woman returned.

She warned herself again and again not to fall for him.

No matter how much the Prince Regent liked to torment her, Zhizhi always went along with it.

When Xiao Fu was happy, he promised that if he confirmed Zhizhi's father had been framed, he would raise her to the rank of a proper concubine.

For the daughter of a seventh-rank county magistrate, becoming a proper concubine in the prince's household was already a generous reward.

Zhizhi smiled and agreed, snuggling a little closer to him. Xiao Fu was very pleased with her obedience and contentment.

Even later, when he heard that the top scorer in the imperial examination was Zhizhi's childhood sweetheart, the Prince Regent remained unconcerned. What could that man possibly offer that he couldn't?

"The position of principal wife, an official title, and a lifetime with you alone. No one else."

That is, until he heard the handsome young top scorer say those seductive words to his little girl.

A few notes:

1. Keeping the engagement doesn't mean he has feelings for his fiancée, nor does he plan to take three wives and four concubines. Both leads are virgins / possessive love / groveling pursuit after losing her. But the heroine won't suffer abuse, and overall, it's sweet!

2. This is set in a completely fictional world, so please don't nitpick the history. Constructive criticism and suggestions from readers of the official version are welcome. But if you stir up trouble or make personal attacks, the karma will be yours, not mine.

The cover character art is authorized by Wuyan Shusheng Bingdaojun.

Below is the blurb for my upcoming historical romance, Longing for Spring

The emperor had no children, so he adopted the son of Sang Ruo's older brother, the Prince of Huai, and made him crown prince.

Sang Ruo, the Prince of Huai's adopted daughter, rose in status along with him.

She had a delicate, alluring beauty, and had no idea how tempting she was.

Countless young ladies and noblemen pursued Sang Ruo, but she fell for a sickly scholar.

The first time she saw him, the scholar took a book and half a string of copper coins from his book box and gently handed them to a frightened beggar child.

The scholar lived in a village, farming and studying. Sang Ruo went to see him every day, washing her hands to cook for him and braving the rain to bring him food. Eventually, everyone in the village knew her.

People couldn't understand why a pampered young lady raised in a prince's residence would take on such hard work.

Blushing, Sang Ruo replied, "I might marry into his family someday. I should get used to it."

She never considered asking him to marry into her family, because she knew Xie Wuhui was proud and would never agree to live under someone else's roof with her.

At first, Xie Wuhui was cold to her, disliked her, and ignored her. But she thought he simply hadn't seen how wonderful she was yet.

Eventually, he was indeed moved by her, and Sang Ruo became his bride as she'd wished. Even after their wedding, he remained distant and still disliked her approaching him in public, but Sang Ruo didn't lose heart. Until she discovered his identity was not so simple.

Until... the day Sang Ruo was kidnapped, and Xie Wuhui didn't come to save her.

One day, two days, five days. Sang Ruo comforted herself, thinking that as long as Xie Wuhui came, no matter how late, it would be all right.

But in the end, only his attendant came.

She forced the man to take her to see Xie Wuhui, only to discover that the reason he couldn't get away was that he was looking after a gravely ill woman, someone Sang Ruo knew too.

The attendant even told her not to resent his master.

She didn't hate him, because she had brought this on herself.

She had simply learned that offering someone your whole heart didn't mean you would get theirs in return. If he already loved someone, he should have told her sooner.

*

Later, word spread that the emperor's lost child had been found and acknowledged, and the heir to the throne had been changed.

At a banquet, the refined and dignified crown prince lost control and clung desperately to a woman's sleeve.

No one knew how often, in his long nights of dreams, she stood beneath the apricot blossoms just as she did today, smiling gently:

"Xie Wuhui, I hold no resentment, so don't hate or blame me either. I only hope that you and I will never meet again in this life."

End of the blurb for Longing for Spring, an upcoming historical romance

Theme: Be devoted wholeheartedly, and you will find lasting happiness.