Fragrant Smoke Curls Around the Golden Incense Burner

Ji Xiang was peerlessly beautiful and had been raised by the Empress Dowager from childhood. A single careless mistake led to an attempt on her life in the palace, and she lost consciousness. Fortunately, Situ Zheng, commander of the Eastern Palace Guard, saved her.

He came from an eminent family and was as elegant as an orchid and jade tree, yet he rarely smiled, as aloof and austere as snow on a mountaintop.

But beyond saving her life, Situ Zheng even agreed to help her get revenge.

In a rock garden, beside a hot spring, in a quiet alley, behind a screen, and along the palace garden paths... Ji Xiang met with him in secret again and again, each meeting fraught with danger.

After their long private association, she had fallen deeply for him and wanted to know what they were to each other.

One day, she went into Situ Zheng's residence without announcing herself. Before she could enter, she heard the Crown Prince's voice from the inner room: "What exactly do you feel for Ji Xiang? If you want to marry her, I can help you."

Situ Zheng replied calmly, "It has nothing to do with marriage. It was just a whim, something to amuse myself."

Ji Xiang froze, then let out an almost imperceptible sigh. It had all been a dream, and it was better to wake up in time.

She had spent many years in the palace and seen more than enough scheming. Tired of it all, she took her reward and went to live in seclusion somewhere with beautiful scenery, enjoying a carefree life.

-

Because a revered monk had foretold the Crown Prince's fate, Situ Zheng took his place as a boy and spent five years cultivating in a temple in Jiangnan. He had always been strict with himself and scrupulously proper.

His private relationship with Ji Xiang, who was already promised to him by a verbal betrothal, was the only time in his life he'd ever let himself go.

At first, helping her meant no more than giving a few orders with a wave of his finger. She looked up to him and relied on him as if he were a god. Before he knew it, he had fallen for her, and every smile and frown of hers tugged at his heart.

But then she disappeared without warning, leaving him not even a farewell letter.

He searched for her in vain, heartsick and anguished. Only then did he finally realize how panicked he was, and how genuine his feelings had become through all the time they'd spent together...

At first, he pitied Ji Xiang for her circumstances. Gradually, he became the one who was pitiful and ridiculous.

[Reading Guide]

1. Because of her upbringing, the female lead is sensitive and timid at first, but she grows and builds a career of her own.

2. One-on-one, both chaste. However, this may not suit readers who prefer perfectly chaste leads. Her former fiance touched her face and held her hand, among other things. Everyone listed in the character section except the female lead is one of her admirers. The former fiance is not chaste.

3. Includes mild palace intrigue and struggles among the princes. The plot serves the romance.

Theme: Communication matters