The Boy I Picked Up Became a Great General

[My new historical romance, No Husband Is as Handsome, is currently being serialized. The blurb is at the very bottom. Feel free to visit my author page and add it to your reading list.]

[This novel's blurb]

A cool, sickly commandery princess x a devoted younger general

*

Though Xiao Yunyi was a commandery princess, she had been frail and sickly since childhood. Raised in a Taoist temple, she had accepted that she would spend her life beside the green lamps, growing old alone, until she found a boy in the snow.

The boy was named Song Yan. With no parents and no one to rely on, he was utterly alone. Moved by compassion, she took him back to the manor. Seeing how bright he was, she carefully nurtured him until he became a refined young man, accomplished in both letters and arms.

She had no idea that Song Yan's gaze toward her was growing increasingly intense, and even personally sought out a suitable marriage for him.

Then he suddenly left without a word, and all news of him ceased. Xiao Yunyi suppressed the faint, complicated feelings in her heart and refused to hear anything more about him.

But later, Song Yan appeared before her again, now a celebrated young general.

Xiao Yunyi stood on the steps of the Taoist temple and gazed at him in silence.

The young general who could remain composed and answer every question before the emperor was now at a loss for words. After a long pause, he managed only, "Commandery Princess... This subordinate has returned."

*

Song Yan's parents had both died. Living under someone else's roof, he lacked food and clothing and was treated worse than a servant, a burden everyone despised and looked down upon.

Until that bitterly cold winter, when he was clinging to life at death's door. With the last of his strength, he clutched her hem and begged for one merciful glance.

Amid the boundless world, he saw a pair of eyes as calm as still water.

From then on, whether he was an unknown guard in the manor or a great general enjoying the emperor's favor, Song Yan hoped those eyes would see only him.

*

Note:

1. One-on-one romance, happy ending.

2. Set in an imaginary world, with some historical inspiration, but many original details.

[Blurb for No Husband Is as Handsome]

A sweet-talking, cheerful county princess who loves beautiful faces x a handsome, duplicitous nobleman

*

After many years away, Song Yujing returned to the capital with her family. She got lost at her first flower-viewing banquet with her mother, wandered around, and met a young gentleman in a peach grove.

He was peerlessly handsome, unmatched in all the world.

More beautiful than anyone she had ever seen.

...It would have been even better if she hadn't mistaken him for a pretty older girl when she was little, then followed him around calling him "Sister."

Song Yujing: Is it too late to pretend I don't know him?

*

Rong Heng hated being called beautiful more than anything. Only with Song Yujing was he afraid she might think he wasn't.

*

After they married, Song Yujing felt short-handed and hired some young, beautiful maids to stay by her side.

Rong Heng agreed at the time, but later pinned her to the bed, his eyes full of sorrow.

"They say love fades when beauty fades. Do you think other people are prettier than me now, and have you grown tired of me?"

The beauty furrowed his brow, looking utterly pitiful.

Song Yujing blurted out, "No husband is as handsome as you!"

Theme: Stand on your own and walk hand in hand