Jade Tablets and Hairpins

Shen Zhiyu's birth mother died young. She is bullied by her stepmother and stepsister, while her father turns a blind eye. She lives with her only maid in the most secluded courtyard and is branded a fool.

Her father wants her to marry an elderly high-ranking official who is already close to death, paving the way for his own career.

Her stepmother covets the generous betrothal gifts, hoping they will improve her daughter's prospects of finding a husband.

Shen Zhiyu only wants to establish a life of her own, with the world between them and no further entanglements.

Everyone is waiting for her to end up homeless and starving, then come crawling back and accept her father's arrangements.

Who could have guessed that in the nameless little courtyard just beyond the wall, Shen Zhiyu would disguise herself as a handsome young man and quietly pass the palace examination as its third-ranked graduate?

*

Chu Che is a prince of the blood, a dissolute wastrel who lives without restraint.

Only Shen Zhiyu knows the boundless tenderness hidden behind his mask.

But how could she let the blood feud she carries stain that carefree heart?

She can only harden her heart and say, "I will only marry a hero in this life. I would never look twice at someone like you, who lives off his ancestors' achievements."

After that, Chu Che leaves for a distant frontier, abandoning a life of luxury and comfort to take root on the dusty battlefield.

Years later, Shen Zhiyu rises to become chancellor, wielding power over the entire court, and reveals that she is a woman. The officials are shaken, but none dares object.

Chu Che marches south with his banner flying and an army at his back, heading straight for the capital. The people fear he is about to start a rebellion and declare himself emperor.

But all he does is remove his armor, kneel beside Shen Zhiyu's bed, and ask with reddened eyes, "Am I worthy now to become Chancellor Shen's favored lover?"

*

"All my life, I've walked on thin ice, never daring to let up, as if life were not worth living without money and power. Many people have tried to curry favor with me, but in their hearts they were only hoping to gain something. Only Chu Che taught me to look forward to the spring flowers blooming and the winter snow falling.

"He led me away from the shifting world of fame and fortune, and brought me into the real, human world."

This novel will go premium on Tuesday, February 20. Chapters 26-72 will become paid chapters, so please don't buy them again if you've already read them. Thank you for all your support, and I hope you'll continue to support my future novels.

Please check out my upcoming novel, "A Country Girl Becomes a Galactic Heiress"~

Wen Yumian has spent eighteen years struggling in a slum on the fringes of the galaxy. Suddenly, she learns she is the long-lost Alpha daughter of a duke's family on Qiongding Star.

At last, she escapes the wilderness and steps into the "civilized" world.

But she has a hard time leaving her country-bumpkin ways behind.

For example, she doesn't know how to use a smart terminal and has never even read a book.

For example, she can't ballroom dance and keeps stepping on her partners' feet, leaving them livid.

For example, she can't pass any of her tests, no matter what she does, and her tutor sighs over and over.

Later, she takes control of the duke's finances, and even prominent politicians treat her with respect.

Of course, she isn't greedy. She is simply working diligently as the backbone of the duke's family.

A cool, aloof scholar lowers himself for her; a domineering CEO willingly takes the submissive role for her; a pure-hearted high school boy offers her his body and soul; a virtuous husband is willing to turn dark for her.

Of course, she isn't fickle. She just wants to give every man in the world a shoulder to cry on.

Some people criticize her for being ruthless and indiscriminate with her affections, saying it doesn't suit her noble status.

But she's clearly just a country bumpkin. What's wrong with being a country bumpkin?

Theme: Your fate is in your own hands.