Folding the Cushion

Pre-publication novel "Xue Lingyi" | faux siblings | cool-headed powerful minister x unruly demon empress | Here's a cute little pitch for you all. Please add it to your favorites!

Blurb:

1.

Li Yin was born in the countryside and made her living gathering medicinal herbs. One day, while collecting herbs, she rescued a noble young man who was gravely wounded. Believing that if you save someone, you should see them through to recovery, she took him home to recuperate.

While he healed, the young nobleman did everything she asked and never refused her. He helped her deal with neighbors who took advantage of her, dry medicinal herbs, and copy medical texts... In the end, he even began taking care of her daily needs.

With both her parents dead and no one to rely on, Li Yin agreed to return to the capital with him so she would have somewhere to live.

But in the wealthy capital, he was the eldest son of an aristocratic family. There would be little room for her by his side.

2.

The Shen family had fallen into decline. To restore it, Shen Muzhi pledged his loyalty to the ambitious Third Prince. While delivering a message, he fell into a trap and was on the brink of death, but Li Yin saved him.

He noticed her affection for him, but felt nothing in return, until he saw the half of a jade pendant she wore. It belonged to her, left by the powerful Duke of Song for his only daughter.

The Lady Song, who had been raised in a Taoist temple to recover from illness, had already been brought back to the Duke's residence and was being pampered like royalty. So who was the woman before him?

With the half-jade pendant as proof, Li Yin found her birth family and returned to the Duke of Song's residence.

But the "Lady Song" who had taken her place by sheer chance had become as close as family to the Duke and his wife. She was unwilling to give back Li Yin's name, and even less willing to give back the affection of her parents.

Though she'd returned to her hometown, Li Yin was like duckweed on the water.

3.

In the eighth year of Chengping, the Third Prince, Xiao Che, ascended the throne. With the new emperor's accession, the Shen family rose to prominence once more.

Because of their old connection and the influence of the Duke of Song's household, Shen Muzhi prepared to marry Li Yin.

Li Yin was strong-willed in every way except when it came to her relationship with him. She always gave way and made herself small. A wife like that wouldn't be so bad to have at home.

But on the day he went to propose, the new emperor's edict arrived first, naming Li Yin empress.

A brother must not take his brother's wife.

The new emperor's first act after ascending the throne was to take his brother's wife.

On their wedding night, the ever-composed new emperor clasped Li Yin's hand tightly. He smiled, but jealousy burned in his deep eyes.

"My lady, you exchange glances with Brother Shen every day. Have you forgotten that you and I were once engaged?"

4.

Xiao Che had known since childhood that if he became crown prince, Lady Song of the Duke's residence, who was always at odds with him, would be his crown princess.

But a dramatic case of switching a cat for a prince had left the real Lady Song living away from home for years.

He searched to the ends of the earth and finally found her in a mountain village in Qingzhou.

But by then, she and Shen Muzhi had already fallen in love and were discussing marriage.

He would not allow it.

He would have both the crown prince's position that belonged to him and the fiancee who belonged to him.

1. Li Yin (Song Lingjia) x Xiao Che, both inexperienced in love, happy ending.

2. Includes real and fake heiresses, an emperor taking his minister's wife, love without realizing it paired with regret and desperate pursuit, and a rivalry between men.

3. The male lead appears in Chapter 3.

4. Updates follow the rankings before the paid chapters begin, then daily, with new chapters before 10 a.m. Please leave comments and add it to your favorites!

Pre-publication novel "Xue Lingyi"

1.

Before ascending the throne as emperor, Princess Yuanchang, Xue Lingyi, lived for more than ten years in the residence of Minister Xie under the identity of a daughter of the Xie family.

At the time, the Xie family was so powerful that even members of the imperial clan treated them with respect. Scholars from humble families could never hope to approach them.

This was due not only to the wealth amassed by the Xie ancestors, but also to the eldest son of the Xie family, Xie Zhiwei, who had become a marquis and chancellor at a young age.

Those who held high office were cold and dispassionate, treating everyone with the same distant courtesy.

So even though Xue Lingyi lived under the same roof as him as his younger sister for more than ten years, she never glimpsed any deep affection in him.

Throughout the years she hid her true identity, she never doubted that if she made a wrong move, he would kill her with his sword.

2.

In the thirteenth year of Yuanning, Xue Lingyi's identity was revealed to the world, and she ascended the throne.

She faced a dynasty beset by internal strife and external threats, with everything in need of rebuilding. The court was full of officials with ulterior motives, while the borders were under constant attack.

The empress, who had lain low for ten years, refused to be a puppet. She wielded an iron fist, killing gods and Buddhas alike.

Once everything was within her grasp, she turned her gaze toward the person who seemed farthest out of reach.

She would make him bow his head and submit to her rule.

3.

In the third year of Ningchang, an official proposed that His Majesty should fill the imperial harem and ensure the continuation of the royal line.

Xue Lingyi believed Xie Zhiwei would join the other officials in submitting a memorial to denounce her as a woman usurping a man's role and ruining the country with her debauchery. She waited for him to make his move.

But all that came was an offer of himself.

He wore the bamboo-green robe embroidered with gold that he'd worn when they first met, and knelt before her.

Theme: Trust is the foundation of love.