Splendor

Blurb: The full story is complete. Feel free to binge-read it. If you've purchased the whole book, leave a rating on my profile. New Year's bonus chapters are on the way. In the fourth year of the Dingyuan era, Prince Cheng of Bei Li, Xiao Yu, married Princess Weiyang of Nan Qiong, cementing an alliance between their kingdoms. But the day before the wedding, Princess Weiyang ran away. In their haste, the ruler of Nan Qiong chose a princess from the imperial clan to pose as "Princess Weiyang" and marry into Prince Cheng's residence as his consort. Su Wanyue was that unlucky princess. No one knew that the very next month, she was supposed to become engaged to the second son of the prime minister's family, her childhood sweetheart. After marrying into Prince Cheng's residence, Su Wanyue walked on eggshells every day. She hoped Prince Cheng would soon accomplish great deeds, and that the royal family would find her cousin and set everything right again. Everyone knew that "Prince Cheng and his consort get along well and are deeply devoted to each other." At last, in the sixth year of the Dingyuan era, Xiao Yu was made Crown Prince and appointed regent. Su Wanyue naturally became Crown Princess. But the day before her investiture, her true identity as a princess of the imperial clan was exposed, causing an uproar throughout the court. The Emperor flew into a rage and ordered Crown Prince Xiao Yu to handle the case. Knowing she couldn't escape punishment, Su Wanyue knelt before Xiao Yu, pale but resolute. "I am willing to bear all the consequences myself. Please don't punish anyone else because of me." Xiao Yu suddenly gave a cold laugh. "If I punish you, who will our unborn child call Mother? Or are you waiting for that fiance of yours to come save you?" That night, behind embroidered screens and beneath the bright moon, the aloof, ethereal Crown Prince lowered his head and bit the ear of the woman in his arms. "Tell me, in your heart, who matters more? Me, or your cousin and your fiance?" [1] A substitute bride heroine + an aloof male lead who bends for love. [2] Both leads are virgins. The male lead falls first, and goes crazy after learning the heroine has a fiance and doesn't love him. [3] A sweet romance in an alternate historical setting. Weibo: @Jinjiang Qiao Yan [4] The cast is somewhat of an ensemble. Blurb archived on 2024.11.9. Coming soon: The Boudoir's Tranquility. Please add it to your reading list. Blurb: Shen Zhiyi was born into a distinguished family, blessed with breathtaking beauty. She was made a princess at birth and raised under the care of the Empress, growing up with the Crown Prince as her childhood companion. Everyone knew Shen Zhiyi was destined to become Crown Princess. The Crown Prince treated her with more warmth and closeness than even his own younger sister, Princess Ziyang. Among all the young women in the capital, Shen Zhiyi alone could draw his attention. When she first fell in love, she looked forward to marrying her Crown Prince brother as soon as possible. But in the fourth year of the Zhaohua era, the Duke of Anguo's family was accused of treason. The whole family was thrown in prison, including Shen Zhiyi. The evidence of their rebellion had been presented by the Crown Prince himself. In the fifth year of the Zhaohua era, the Crown Prince personally brought Shen Zhiyi poisoned wine and took her life. That same year, the Crown Prince married and had a child. The entire Duke of Anguo's family was wiped out. When Shen Zhiyi awoke again, she had become a distant cousin of the Duke of Yue's family and the concubine of its eldest son. Qin Heng, eldest son of the Duke of Yue, was born to a noble family and possessed impeccable character. At the age of twenty, he took his distant cousin as a concubine at the command of his elders. Knowing she was timid and easily frightened, he vowed never to take a wife. After she entered his household, he treasured her like a precious jewel. In the spring of the second year of the Zhaoqing era, a strange case occurred in the capital, involving the Crown Prince. The Emperor ordered Qin Heng to investigate. But as he looked into it, the evidence began to point toward... The woman beside him in bed. That night, the main residence of the Duke's mansion was brightly lit. For the first time, the couple, who had always seemed so "loving," dropped their pretenses. [A seemingly delicate, deceptively sweet beauty bent on revenge x an upright gentleman, gifted in both letters and arms, who is only ever taken in by the heroine] Coming soon: The Empress Has the Emperor's Undivided Favor. Please add it to your reading list. Blurb: In the third year of the Jiancheng era, a favored consort appeared in the imperial harem: the fifth daughter of the Marquis of Chengjing. As the Imperial Tutor's daughter, she took charge of the Six Palaces upon entering the palace and was adored by the Emperor. But Su Shining alone knew those favors were just a transaction. Su Shining was frail as a child and was raised at her uncle's home, where spring lasted all year. Her uncle had an adopted son, a brilliant and talented young man as elegant as the moon. He treated Su Shining like a beloved little sister. When they were young, he patiently taught her to write. Once she grew up, he brought her a gift every time he came home. But in the first year of the Jiancheng era, Shen Que came to the capital to sit the imperial examinations and died unexpectedly. The likely culprit was the eldest son of the Imperial Uncle's household, the Empress's own elder brother. But the Imperial Uncle's family was too powerful for an ordinary minister's household to challenge. As fate would have it, the Emperor visited the Marquis of Chengjing's residence that day. A beautiful young woman in a plain dress appeared before him and gave him a graceful curtsy. The Emperor's gaze narrowed slightly. The next day, an edict appointing Su Shining as a consort arrived at the Marquis of Chengjing's residence. The day before her investiture, she made a deal with the Emperor: He would allow her to investigate the truth behind her adopted brother's unexpected death. In exchange, she would balance the interests of the various factions in the imperial harem. He would lavish her with favor throughout the Six Palaces, but he would never love her, much less make her Empress. But the first to break their agreement was the Emperor himself, a diligent ruler who had earned the submission of all his people. When Emperor Jiancheng first met Su Shining, he thought her sly and clever. After she entered the palace, he used her without hesitation. But after favoring her once, he found himself craving her more and more. Later, he was the one who offered to break their agreement and personally placed the throne beside him within her reach. Only then did the Emperor taste regret for the first time. Theme: Plum blossoms may be less white than snow, but snow lacks the plum's fragrance