Snatching the Sparrow

Meng Lanru travels a thousand miles in search of her fiancé, and finally finds him in a temple. He refuses to acknowledge her, but she pours all her heart into persuading him to leave the monastery and honor their engagement. After many twists and turns, his heart is finally moved.

By day, he is a dignified, solemn monk. By night, he is a wanton creature who follows desire as his path.

He holds her beside the Buddhist shrine and chuckles in her ear, "Look, even the Buddha has closed his eyes for us."

*

Murong Xuan is imprisoned in a temple. Once a prince, he is now confined to a tiny space, surrounded by a dim lamp and ancient Buddha statues, with nothing but desolation in sight.

One day, a young woman rushes in, crying her eyes out. She claims to be the woman betrothed to him since childhood. He finds the idea laughable.

Her eyes are red-rimmed from crying, and she looks like a soggy little sparrow that has flown into a cage by mistake. Watching her, he can't help feeling like teasing her, so he simply lets her stay.

She doesn't know the truth and thinks he is her beloved. Every day, she carefully attends to him at his side. He knows she has mistaken him for someone else, but says nothing. Night after night, he slips into her bedchamber.

He takes the throne as Crown Prince... and the timid little sparrow runs away.

He searches for her, turning the place upside down, but can't find a trace of her. Could a frail young woman really have turned into a sparrow and flown beyond the heavens?

*

His younger sister wants to marry a general who already has a wife. "If he has a wife, then he can just divorce her."

He rebukes her in a low voice. "Nonsense!"

Then he sees the general's so-called plain and devoted wife, and realizes she is none other than the little sparrow who flew out of his grasp.

His expression darkens by the moment, until at last it is cold enough to freeze. "They must divorce. They have to!"

Reader's Guide: Both leads are virgins, one-on-one romance, the second male lead is one in name only.

Blurb written October 27, 2024, revised April 2, 2026

Please follow my upcoming novel, I Became the Beloved Consort of Qin After He Read My Mind

The tyrannical, capricious emperor of all time x a lustful agricultural science student

Inside Zhangtai Palace, the young King of Qin leans against a desk, his hawk-like gaze fixed on Zhao Zhitong.

The good news: After transmigrating, she has finally landed a stable job as a palace maid in Xianyang Palace.

The bad news: She's been assigned to serve the King Zheng of Qin, described in the historical records as having "a bee-like nose, long eyes, and a jackal's voice, with little kindness."

Zhao Zhitong's mind is racing: [Help! The First Tyrant in History is actually a guy with gorgeous eyelashes!]

Ying Zheng's hand pauses as he toys with the imperial jade seal.

[That collarbone could keep me entertained for a year. Too bad I'll probably lose my head any minute...]

Ying Zheng's knuckles crack.

[No wonder this handsome guy has a sword that's 1.6 meters long. That waist, those long legs...]

A soft laugh comes from above her.

Zhao Zhitong freezes. "Was that... the tyrant laughing?"

She sneaks a glance at him. [The phrase "love at first sight" was made for him. My charming ancestor!]

Ying Zheng runs his fingers over the bamboo slips, finding this palace maid who can hear people's thoughts rather interesting...

Zhao Zhitong thinks she's survived thanks to her extensive modern agricultural knowledge, and that she's doing better and better. She doesn't notice Ying Zheng's gaze growing increasingly ambiguous.

Later, she finally realizes Ying Zheng likes her. Turning down a handsome man when there's a chance to take advantage? That's not how she wants to live.

Later still, Ying Zheng seeks immortality.

In the great hall, Xu Fu bows and says, "Your servant is willing to lead young men and women out to sea to seek an elixir of immortality for Your Majesty!"

Zhao Zhitong, standing nearby, lights up. [This is my chance! Why not hop on a ship and make my escape?]

Zhao Zhitong clasps her hands and says, "Your Majesty! An immortal has appeared in my dreams since childhood and told me I have a destined connection to the immortals! If you let me go to sea with Lord Xu, I'm sure I can help him find the elixir!"

The King of Qin raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so?"

Zhao Zhitong nods vigorously. "It is."

Ying Zheng chuckles and slowly walks up to her, his low voice pressing in on her. "But why do I hear you thinking about escaping the palace as soon as possible and finding a cute younger guy to try something new with?"

Zhao Zhitong turns pale with shock. "You can read minds?!"

Reader's Guide: 1. One-on-one romance, both leads are virgins, sweet pampering. 2. The heroine transmigrates, and the hero can read minds. 3. No historical accuracy enthusiasts, this is full of original settings. A slow-burn romance, and all that matters is that it's sweet.

June 14, 2025, revised November 17

After I Humiliated the Down-and-Out Prince

Vicious woman vs. dark, brooding male ghost

When other palace maids are mistreated, they put up with it. Shen Wu is different. She has her own special way to vent: she goes to the Cold Palace and takes it out on the Sixth Prince, whom the whole world has forgotten.

The man is silent and patient. He lets her beat him to vent her anger, and even lets her do as she pleases beneath the moonlight.

He's a cripple, after all. He'll never leave the Cold Palace in his whole life. What is there to fear?

At twenty-five, Shen Wu leaves the palace. She quickly takes the gold, silver, and valuables she's saved and invests in a penniless scholar.

The scholar is devoted to her. In the blink of an eye, he passes the imperial examinations and comes first in the palace exam!

Shen Wu is so thrilled that tears fill her eyes. I've made it! The good life as the wife of a top scholar is finally here!

At the Qionglin Banquet, she enters the palace with her husband to give thanks.

Shen Wu takes a deep breath, puts on her most dignified air, and gracefully bows before the throne of the Son of Heaven.

But then the young emperor steps down from the golden stairs and lifts her chin with the very hand she once bit hard.

Beneath his imperial robes, the marks she left on his collarbone still ache faintly.

The man chuckles, his voice both icy and scorching. "Shen Wu, my bed is a lot more comfortable than that lousy wooden couch in the Cold Palace."

Reader's Guide:

The heroine has had previous partners, while the hero has not. The heroine is a bad woman.

June 20, 2026

Theme: Know right from wrong