I've Desired the Empress for Years

[Charming, clever, and forthright young lady vs. scheming, two-faced young general] The author's first book. The plot and pacing aren't great, so proceed with caution. Please come check out my other books: The Empress Dowager Only Wants to Rule the Court is already underway, as is the groveling romance The Bodhisattva's Barbarian. And a recommendation for my friend Yan Xingze's book, Wanton Joy. Pei Shirong was picked up by Xie Guiyi on the roadside. Back then, he was still called Pei Shisan. He would cling to her sleeve only on stormy nights, whimpering, "Sister, it's thundering. I'm scared..." But a few months later, she was the one in desperate straits. Faced with the chaos in the city, she had no choice but to use herself as a bargaining chip and visit the young general, renowned for his ruthless and unrestrained nature, in the dead of night. He regarded Xie Guiyi at his leisure and asked, "What? Has your Prince of Xiangyang really left you in such dire straits?" A flash of panic crossed Xie Guiyi's eyes. Then he strode toward her, like a hungry wolf, and whispered in her ear, "But if you spend the night with me, I might consider it." "I have a terrible reputation, and I wouldn't mind forcing myself on you. Think carefully." * One day, when a subordinate went to ask his lord about the matter of declaring himself emperor, he witnessed a scene that left him dumbstruck. His lord had an arm wrapped around Madam Xie's slender waist, rubbing himself against her shamelessly. "No. I want you to stay here with me." Madam Xie tried to push his hand away, but he held on tight, his voice full of grievance. "Sister, are you going to abandon me too?" Madam Xie looked mortified. After struggling in vain, she had no choice but to give in. "All right, all right. I promise." His lord still wouldn't let go. "One more hug. Just one more." * [Bonus Scene] Pei Shirong staggered into Guiyi's room, his eyes bloodshot and his collar half undone. All the brutality he showed before others had vanished. Guiyi was just about to pour him some tea when he grabbed her wrist. "I think someone set me up..." Guiyi instinctively stepped back, but he pressed closer again, his presence bearing down on her. "I'm so hot..." The room was dimly lit. Through the half-closed bed curtains, all one could see was a sash being pulled loose, followed by a muffled groan. How could Guiyi have known he'd done it on purpose? [Reading Guide] 1. One-on-one romance, both leads' first partners, happy ending! Happy ending! Happy ending! 2. The setting is loosely based on the Southern Dynasties. It's fictional, so don't overanalyze it. 3. Older woman, younger man. The male lead is a young wolf-dog. 4. The male lead says one thing and means another. He starts out very sharp-tongued, but he won't stay that way. 5. The male lead is reborn. He'll have to grovel to win her back. Launching at the beginning of December. False Ambitious Grand Tutor vs. True Ruthless Empress Dowager [Two formidable leads / love and hate / childhood sweethearts / political intrigue] In the ninth year of Jianyuan, the emperor fell gravely ill. As empress, Li Huiyi attended to him, and her power grew day by day. When she learned that the emperor intended to kill the mother after securing the child, she decided to strike first. But the emperor had not named an heir, so she had to approach Shen Zhuo, a close imperial aide and tutor to the princes. "What deal does Your Highness want to make with me?" Shen Zhuo stood in the snow with a bamboo umbrella, his features refined and handsome. Li Huiyi parted her red lips. "Forge an imperial edict." She had to become empress dowager if she wanted to survive. Shen Zhuo raised an eyebrow. "What do I get in return?" "What do you want?" Li Huiyi asked calmly. After all, as far as she was concerned, there was nothing she couldn't give him except the throne. Shen Zhuo's lips curved into a smile, but he said nothing. * Li Huiyi schemed and planned at every turn before finally putting her son, the emperor's second prince, on the throne. But Shen Zhuo, the reclusive scholar from Zhongnan who had "never shown himself" throughout the succession struggle, was appointed Grand Tutor. At court, Shen Zhuo wielded absolute power, turning the world upside down with a flick of his hand. Yet with Li Huiyi alone, he was unfailingly courteous, addressing her again and again as "Your Highness." But lift the pearl curtain, and you'd find him sitting languidly on the edge of the bed, one arm around the empress dowager while the other smoothed rouge over her lips. His eyes were full of longing, and his throat bobbed. "When will you give me what I want, Your Highness?" * Li Huiyi used Shen Zhuo to keep the great clans in check, while applying pressure on him in subtle ways. She had thought things would continue like this until Shen Zhuo had no value left to her. She never expected that the powerful minister of the court was her childhood sweetheart, whom she had thought dead for many years. The man sitting across from Li Huiyi clasped her hand, his gaze burning as he called her by her childhood name in a hoarse voice: "Songyue." Someone asked Shen Zhuo if he couldn't see that the empress dowager was using him. A smile rippled in his eyes. "I'm willing to let her use me." He couldn't help it. He had chosen her when they were young. [Reading Guide] 1. One-on-one romance, happy ending! Happy ending! Happy ending! The female lead has previous partners; the male lead is a virgin. 2. Fictional dynasty, no real-life inspiration or stand-ins! 3. The effect of "bone-changing" described in ancient books is not this powerful. It has been exaggerated and fictionalized. 4. There are no good people in political intrigue stories. Don't expect too much from the leads' morals. [Please Note] [Simultaneous Project] [Stepmother Romance] Mad, ruthless, vicious-dog Crown Prince vs. scheming princess sent to marry abroad [Madness vs. madness] Zhu Hengzhi was beautiful and graceful, with a delicate mouth and slender waist, radiant as a lotus in bloom. After losing the people she relied on at a young age, she had been cautious and discreet for years, but still couldn't escape others' jealousy. At the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, she was falsely accused of having an affair with her younger sister's betrothed, and became the target of everyone's scorn overnight. So she volunteered to marry abroad. She sat in her palanquin from noon until dusk before she finally saw a dim light. The biting northern wind filled her sleeves and fluttered the hair at her temples. Nearly frozen unconscious, she instinctively grabbed the robe of the person who lifted the curtain. It was the Prince of Yan, a celebrated and ruthless crown prince with countless military victories. As the rumors had it, he showed her no mercy, gripping her chin. "Don't look at me like that. You're marrying my father." Tears welled in her eyes. She wanted to speak, but his grip hurt too much. "Do you really think you can seduce me?" Her shoulders trembled, but in her heart she felt no fear. As Qin Que turned away, she lowered her eyes and let the corner of her mouth curl up. "We'll see about that." * A brocade screen divided the room, and the bed curtains were half drawn. Qin Que gripped her waist and pulled Zhu Hengzhi into his arms. "Are you crazy? I'm your stepmother!" She said the words, but made no move to struggle. Qin Que looked at her through half-lidded eyes, his fingers threading through her silky hair. "My stepmother? I don't have one who's younger than me." "If you come with me, you'll still be Empress of Great Yan." Qin Que's thumb brushed over her delicate collarbone, his breath warm against her skin. "What could I possibly do to my stepmother?" [Reading Guide] 1. One-on-one romance, both leads' first partners, happy ending, happy ending, happy ending! 2. Their relationship is revealed in the blurb. Proceed with caution if that bothers you. 3. The male lead does terrible things. He's a complete beast and won't be redeemed. 4. The female lead only seems weak at first. Deep down, she's a scheming black lotus! 5. This is purely an over-the-top, emotion-driven romance, with a very loose setting. Please don't overanalyze it! Theme: Love life