Caged Swallow

Headstrong, resilient little ray of sunshine x fake gentleman, domineering patriarch

Di Feiyan was the most radiant and carefree girl in all of Daqing.

Her father was a powerful chancellor who held sway over the court.

Her eldest sister was the emperor’s favored consort.

Her second brother was a great general guarding the frontier.

Growing up, she always got whatever she wanted. Even when she ran away from home disguised as a boy to study at an academy, her family turned a blind eye and quietly arranged everything for her.

Even the man she fell for when she first came of age returned her feelings. He only needed to earn the title of jinshi before he could come ask for her hand.

The only thing that displeased her was that the current emperor, Liang Zhao, was always summoning her to the palace to check her schoolwork, asking about her daily whereabouts, and making her wear the latest palace fashions... He was more controlling than her father. Then, after her elder sister persuaded her to drink, she grew tipsy, and the emperor carried her to his bedchamber in front of everyone. When she awoke, Di Feiyan finally understood why the emperor always looked at her as though his eyes were an abyss, as though he meant to drown her in them.

“But I already have someone I love.”

“I only want to be his wife.”

She tried to reason with the emperor as she always had.

“Yanyan, you still don’t understand what power means.”

Power meant that if he wanted something, everyone would rush to offer it to him. Anyone who stood in the way of the emperor getting what he wanted would meet a crushing end.

Her beloved father and elder sister, the people who cared for Di Feiyan most, knelt at the foot of the steps, accused of witchcraft. Her brother was accused of colluding with the enemy. And her beloved...

Held in someone’s arms, she felt the heat of his body and couldn’t help shivering. The spoiled Yan-Yan began to cry, but lifted her head and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Yan-Yan knows she was wrong.”

“Good Yanyan, what should you call me?”

“M-Master.”

“No. Husband. Call me your husband.”

-

Di Feiyan told her new friends, “The emperor and the empress dowager really like me. They often summon me to the palace for a chat. If anyone picks on me, I’ll report them to the palace!”

At the time, her new friends thought she was bragging.

Di Yanyan herself only thought that the emperor and empress dowager simply liked her.

It was only later, dressed in the empress’s ceremonial robes and watching her father lead the officials in bowing before her, that she understood their affection had always been special.

Theme: Happiness is what you manage to hold in your own hands.