Long Winds Toward Spring in the Capital

Zhang Hanyu entered government service as a man, manipulated power by controlling the young emperor, and fought her political enemies tooth and nail at court. Then one day, her identity as a woman was exposed, shocking the entire court. Zhang Hanyu was sentenced to palace labor. She thought her crooked path to power was finally over... but the young emperor couldn't bear to let her go and hid her by his side, where she might rise again at any moment. The ministers were stunned! In full view of everyone at the spring banquet, Zhang Hanyu and a court official tumbled into a pond. They emerged soaking wet, holding each other. The elegant official who carried her ashore was none other than her longtime political rival, Ling Fengchi. Unable to withstand the ministers' demands, the young emperor tearfully ordered the two to marry. "I schemed against you. I ruined your future and your reputation. If you hate me..." Ling Fengchi trailed off, lowering his gaze to the dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles. "The past is best left unmentioned, Hanyu. Tonight is the night we become husband and wife." Zhang Hanyu jolted awake just as she was drifting off. What? Who wants to hear a speech on their wedding night? Is that pretty mouth going to kiss me or not? Married life was easy, peaceful, and comfortable. For once, she thought this kind of life wasn't so bad. Her new husband, the celebrated gentleman admired in both capitals, gradually shed his cold reserve after they married, leaving her with much to savor. But after savoring it for a while... why had her good husband stopped coming to see her? Who could put up with living like a widow? I'm out of here. Ling Fengchi treasured talent. But the woman who impressed him most in this life was also the one he pitied most. He watched coldly as she strayed further down the wrong path, until she finally fell. He schemed against her and forced her to become his wife. Watching her weep beneath him, he knew she must hate him with all her heart. His dark desire for her became a thorn lodged deep in the heart of a noble gentleman whose character was pure as the moonlight. He held himself back from visiting her, and let her leave. After she was gone and the rooms stood empty, Ling Fengchi calmly opened the door to clear out their old wedding belongings. By chance, he found a little journal Zhang Hanyu had kept about their married life. "Ten days in a stretch, only twice." "Ten days in a stretch, once." "Not even once." "Who could put up with living like a widow? I'm out of here." Ling Fengchi slowly narrowed his eyes: "..." The male lead thinks he's forcing her into marriage x The female lead: A husband dropped into my lap. Might as well enjoy myself. √ [Reading Guide] 1. [An aloof noble gentleman x a seemingly innocent little fox with a heart of pure sesame paste] 2. A playful, anything-goes story. The female lead doesn't have the highest moral standards, so please skip this one if that bothers you. 3. Happy ending, emphatically so. First draft completed on October 21, 2024. Coming soon: "Do Not Disturb the Lazy Anmeng" Spring: gathering mulberry leaves. A young, sturdy nobleman gets drunk and collapses in a mulberry grove. Nanyang passes by while gathering mulberry leaves and mutters to herself, "You shouldn't pick up men you find on the roadside. They bring bad luck." She dumps a bucket of water over his head and walks away. Three days later: The shy daughter of the town doctor is taken away in a carriage. They say she rescued a nobleman by the roadside and was brought to the capital to live in luxury. Nanyang walks past with a sprig of gardenia, utterly unmoved. Summer: gathering lotus flowers. Nanyang is rowing along a stream, shaking a lotus pod with all her might, when she spots a familiar-looking man lying beneath a mountain stream. Nanyang: "..." You rolled down from the top of a hill and even your horse died. How did you survive? As she rows closer to take a look, the man wakes up. Half-submerged in the water, he stares straight at her with dark eyes. It's terrifying. Nanyang promptly slaps him unconscious, drags him to shore, gathers up an armful of lotus pods, and rows home. Autumn: gathering chrysanthemums. Notices seeking a woman who gathers mulberry leaves or lotus flowers are posted all over the town. She's said to live in the mountains and come and go unpredictably. Nanyang is in the capital. She lives in a secluded compound and can't be bothered with needlework. Her wedding is coming up, and she's about to be married. A concubine-born daughter of a great clan, matched with the son of a minor official. Not as good as the best, but better than most. Winter: gathering... flowers. She's the flower being plucked. On her way to her wedding, someone intercepts her. The man she's met only twice in her life stops her bridal sedan and forces her to marry him. Nanyang: "..." I'm married now. What can I do? I'll just make the best of it. Even if her new husband is a madman, vicious by nature and addicted to killing, and everyone around him dies horribly beneath his blade... I'll live one day at a time, and lie flat whenever I can. No one can stop me from lying flat. Not even my crazy husband. After lying flat for a while... why am I still alive? Theme: Find a firm footing and stop drifting like duckweed.