The Emperor Regrets It When Spring Returns

As the top dancer at Chunfeng House, Liu Wanwan danced with dazzling grace. The Prince of Ling took a liking to her and wanted to bring her into the palace as a maid.

In full view of everyone, Liu Wanwan summoned her courage and pointed to one of the attendants beside the Prince of Ling. "I am lowly and dare not presume. Since Your Highness favors me, I willingly ask to serve in Young Master Xie's residence."

Xie Qingwei's soft, charming smile darkened at her words. His jade-like fingers tightened around his fan.

The Prince of Ling looked over. Xie Qingwei lowered his voice and smiled. "Your servant is acquainted with this woman. I humbly ask Your Highness to let me have her. I will devote myself to serving Your Highness."

And so Liu Wanwan entered Xie Qingwei's residence.

When they were alone, Xie Qingwei held a dagger to her throat and asked softly, "Who sent you?"

Terrified, Liu Wanwan sank to the floor, half her robe slipping off her shoulders. "This servant... has simply admired Young Master for a long time."

Xie Qingwei raised an eyebrow.

*

Liu Wanwan once dreamed that the future ruler of the realm would not be the Prince of Ling, who currently dominated one corner of the land, but his trusted adviser, Xie Qingwei.

Xie Qingwei was renowned for his womanizing ways, riding horseback beneath a slanted bridge as women beckoned from every floor of the tower. In this chaotic age, women struggled to survive. In his residence, she acted gentle and obedient day after day, waiting for the day he ascended the throne. Once she'd saved enough money, she'd run away.

One day, Xie Qingwei was to marry a princess of a neighboring kingdom for political gain.

After agreeing to the marriage contract, he caged a yellow oriole. He toyed with Liu Wanwan's sash and leaned against her shoulder, intimately close, his gentle voice coaxing her. "Give it a name."

Liu Wanwan's voice trembled. "Why don't we... call it Yingwan?"

He bit her earlobe and sighed with a smile. "Good girl."

Liu Wanwan knew there was only hatred in his heart. He had no need for anyone's love. She was just a caged bird. She watched him marry, stayed by his side as he climbed higher and higher, and finally waited for a coup. In the chaos, she escaped.

*

Liu Wanwan got her wish and married a merchant. She had no worries about money and no parents-in-law to serve, so she was content with her freedom.

Her freedom ended when the emperor summoned her merchant husband to the palace.

Before everyone, the man on the throne, wearing a crown with hanging beads, pointed at Liu Wanwan from afar. "Keep her."

Liu Wanwan wanted no part of living cautiously again. She was just figuring out how to escape when Xie Qingwei, now a man of immense status, knelt before her.

He said he regretted it.

Synopsis first written on October 3, 2023, revised on June 9, 2024.

1. A somewhat realistic ancient setting. Neither lead is sexually inexperienced. Happy ending.

2. The heroine only wants to survive. She's a little cunning but pretends to be an innocent, sweet girl. The hero is a brooding warlord in a chaotic age who climbs the ranks step by step and will do anything for power.

3. A fictional, war-torn setting.

Theme: Cherish sincerity