The Linxian Decree

The story is complete. My next novel is *After the Bitter Couple Is Reborn*: a calculating madman versus a roguish, morally ambiguous charmer | a love born of hatred. Fu Xianhao was born into a distinguished family. At the age of eleven, she was sent to serve as a hostage in the empress’s household and became her personal lady-in-waiting. From then on, everyone watched her every move. She had to tread carefully with every step, because one mistake would bring disaster not only upon her, but upon the entire Fu family. Under the agreement between the Fu family and the empress, she would be allowed to leave the palace once she turned eighteen. Day after day, Fu Xianhao counted down the years. At eighteen, she said goodbye to the bedridden empress, packed her belongings, and left the cage that had held her for so long. As soon as she stepped out of the empress’s palace, she ran into the crown prince, Xiao Jincheng. The man whom the court officials praised as noble and radiant raised his fingers slightly and ordered his attendants to take her luggage. Then he brought her to the Eastern Palace and confined her in a side hall. His fingertips slowly traced Fu Xianhao’s chin. A faint smile flickered in his eyes, but his words made her shudder and plunged her into an abyss in an instant. “Did I give you permission to leave?” - From the night Fu Xianhao knocked on the palace gate, Xiao Jincheng never intended to let her go. - From the moment Fu Xianhao boarded Xiao Jincheng’s ship, she never imagined she would lose. * Clever, patient noblewoman x seemingly gentle but secretly ruthless, obsessive crown prince * Fictional setting with extensive original worldbuilding * The main characters aren’t perfect. Feel free to discuss respectfully, but please don’t be abusive. * See the author’s note in chapter one for a detailed reading guide. * Blurb screenshot saved, 2024.06.03 -------Blurb for *After the Bitter Couple Is Reborn*--------- [Calculating madman x morally ambiguous, roguish charmer] In the twenty-sixth year of Yuanhua in the Li dynasty, the land lay desolate and the people were starving. At a time of crisis, Princess Duanyang was ordered to govern the state. But the Li dynasty had long been rotten to its core. On the day the rebels attacked the city, Princess Duanyang, Qiao Yuning, led her troops into battle. Seeing the rebel leader approaching with his army, she faltered for a brief moment. Once, they had been inseparable, sharing a bed and standing by each other. Now they were sworn enemies in the eyes of the world. The city fell, and the throne changed hands. Qiao Yuning received an imperial decree from the new emperor: she was to take her own life. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Cheng Wei’s bare chest. The warmth beneath her hand told Qiao Yuning without a doubt that it was all real. She had returned to the age of seventeen. She was still the powerless Princess Duanyang, and Cheng Wei had yet to become the general who would lead the rebels against her. While Cheng Wei was still weak, Qiao Yuning decided to kill him. She pushed away the man holding her around the waist, got up, and fetched a blade. Just as its sharp edge touched his bare chest, the man opened his eyes. His deep gaze was full of her, tender and affectionate. The blade fell to the ground. Qiao Yuning heard her heart tremble. She told herself to let it go. Before he could rebel, she would put his military talents to use and not waste the gift Heaven had given him. - Getting close to Qiao Yuning was the first step in Cheng Wei’s plan. It took little effort for him to become her lover and the person she trusted most. Killing Qiao Yuning was the second step in Cheng Wei’s plan. The fireworks filling the sky were the people’s grand farewell to Qiao Yuning. As he watched the girl smiling beneath them, his fingers stiffened. He could not move. His subordinate, hidden among the common people, waited and waited for his order. When the fireworks ended, they had no choice but to leave. Later, he tested her many times, but Qiao Yuning never returned his feelings. They had never been on the same side. If they weren’t on the same side, why travel together? * Bitter lovers and sworn enemies, a love born of hatred Theme: Loving yourself is a prerequisite for loving someone else