Returning Moon

Liu Zhaoyue was reborn.

In her previous life, she was forced into the palace as a consort. Her life was one of humiliation and hardship, and she finally died on the day the rebel Xiao Yanzhou breached the imperial city.

Liu Zhaoyue had never met Xiao Yanzhou, but she had heard that the emperor’s younger brother was ruthless and had spent years plotting rebellion. When he finally raised his troops, he personally led an elite force to conquer several provinces, sending shockwaves through the court.

Given another life, she sought him out and struck a deal: a marriage contract for three years.

He laid down the rules. “This is nothing but an act between us. If I wish to take a woman I love as a concubine, you must not compete with her or make trouble. When our three years are up, you must not cling to me.”

Liu Zhaoyue readily agreed.

With their three years nearly over, Liu Zhaoyue concealed her pregnancy, bowed, and asked him to write her a divorce agreement.

But Xiao Yanzhou stopped her.

“The three years aren’t up. You’re still my wife. Why are you in such a hurry? Who are you doing this for?”

Liu Zhaoyue answered calmly, “Your Highness is about to ascend the throne. There’s no need for you to concern yourself with my affairs.”

-

In early spring in Yangzhou, misty rain blurred the world.

Xiao Yanzhou, now the emperor, wore an ordinary ink-black robe. Dusty from the road, he reined in his horse outside a small courtyard with green-tiled roofs and gazed at the familiar figure within.

Liu Zhaoyue was pruning a peony, her expression calm, as if the turmoil of the world had nothing to do with her.

He walked up and spoke in a low voice. “Liu Zhaoyue, would you come back to the capital with me?”

Reader Advisory:

1. One-on-one romance / both leads are virgins / happy ending.

2. Cool and refined noblewoman x treasonous rebel.

3. The heroine seems cool and gentle but is strong-willed. Both leads grow, and neither is perfect.

4. The setting is fictional, with plenty of original worldbuilding.

My next historical romance, The Young Lord Only Loves to Tease Me, is open for follows:

Marriage first, love later | Scheming young lord forces his love | Sweet married life

Gu Shuyun, the young lady of the Duke’s manor, grew up doted on by everyone. Spoiled and innocent, she enjoyed a carefree life every day.

Her only trouble was the young lord next door, Xie Ziheng.

Their grudges included, but were not limited to, the following: She raised a bird, so the next day he had someone bring her a cat. She raised a dog, so he had someone cut a dog door into her courtyard wall. At the academy, he tattled that she had fallen asleep in class, so she exposed him for faking an illness to skip lessons. In the end, they were both punished by their teacher.

When she came of age and began discussing marriage, Gu Shuyun set her sights on the young marquis of the Jiang family.

He was not only handsome and talented, but also as gentle as jade. He could put up with her bad temper, and most importantly, the Jiang family’s estate was across the city from the Xie family’s, at opposite ends.

Who could have guessed that the emperor would suddenly arrange a marriage, matching her with Xie Ziheng on a whim?

Gu Shuyun hid in her courtyard, sobbing so hard her tears streaked her makeup. “I thought the emperor was swamped with state affairs. How does he have time to meddle in my marriage? Waaaah, my young Lord Jiang…”

She didn’t realize someone had overheard her.

Under the hazy moonlight, Xie Ziheng lounged on a roof beam, one knee bent. He had just traded his military achievements for an imperial edict arranging their marriage.

“Gu Shuyun, crying like this over a man named Jiang…” He looked down at her, one brow lifting. “Aren’t you worried your future husband will be jealous?”

“Then I hope you die of jealousy!”

Gu Shuyun flung her handkerchief at him with all her might. Unfortunately, it floated through the air, spun around, and landed without even brushing his sleeve.

“When I’m widowed, I’ll make sure to cry my heart out for you!”

Later, on the night before Xie Ziheng left for battle…

Gu Shuyun curled up in his arms. Usually, she bossed him around without a second thought, but after crying, her voice was soft and weak. “You have to come back alive. Otherwise, I won’t stay a widow for you…”

“Want to marry someone else?” He looked down at her, smiling. “Gu Shuyun, when have I ever given anyone else a chance?”

Theme: Always strive to improve.