Caressing the Tender Spring

*New novel: Painted Swallows on the Beam. Blurb at the end. [Domination and Conquest + The Chase After the Breakup] [Beautiful, spoiled noblewoman x A damp, sinister emperor pretending to be gentle] In the first year of Zhaowu, Xue Rou met Xie Lingyu for the first time. The newly enthroned emperor was still young, with refined features and few words. Only when he smiled faintly and called her A Yin did the gloom between his brows lift a little. At the time, her aunt was the Empress Dowager Regent, with power over the entire court. The young emperor on the throne was little more than a puppet. All the eligible Xue daughters entered the palace to attend the Empress Dowager. Unless something unexpected happened, the one who won her greatest favor would become the next empress. But Xue Rou had been spoiled since birth, and had no interest in the gloomy, taciturn youth on the throne. She repeatedly acted out of line, letting the rumors that the Xue family's legitimate daughter was fickle and flirtatious grow ever wilder. In the year she came of age, the emperor left the palace and personally visited the Xue residence to congratulate her. Before everyone's eyes, the emperor, now even more reserved and stern, let go of his imposing air and revealed a smile that could almost be called gentle. "A Yin, don't keep company with nobodies just to avoid me." "I will never force you to do anything." The youth's voice rang like struck jade, and she believed him. In the twelfth year of Zhaowu, Empress Dowager Xiaozhen died. The first thing the young emperor did after taking power was purge his maternal relatives and the Xue faction. The city of Luoyang was swept by rumors and turmoil, but overnight the skies cleared, all because a beauty like a celestial consort had appeared in the palace. In the newly built Baoyue Pavilion, Xue Rou pushed away the man kneeling before her and spoke coldly. "Your Majesty has gone back on your word." Xie Lingyu said, "I never wanted things to come to this." While leading a campaign in person despite his frail health, Xie Lingyu received a piece of news. Empress Xue had disgraced the palace with her debauchery. He sat alone in his tent until dawn. In a single night, silver strands appeared at his temples. His trusted aide couldn't bear it and urged him to let her go. Xie Lingyu lowered his eyes. Back then, she had no feelings for him, so she should have kept her distance. Instead, she had to provoke him. The mighty imperial authority would not tolerate her wanton trampling. She deserved to spend the rest of her life confined in the palace, repaying the emperor's favor bit by bit. Why should he let her go? In this life and the next, he and Xue Rou would share a bed in life and a tomb in death. Note: Both leads are each other's first and only partner. The male lead has no harem. The dynasty is an amalgam of fictional eras. Please don't scrutinize the history. Painted Swallows on the Beam When Yan Heng first met Ji Mingyi, she was fighting wild dogs for scraps. He was the celebrated Young Master Jiyue, a powerful minister of Jin. His white robes were immaculate, and he seemed like an immortal descended to save her from misery. He held out a hand and said, "From now on, you'll come with me." With those words, she went from a beggar to the daughter of the Jin chancellor, living in luxury and splendor. Ji Mingyi treated her wonderfully. Like any elder who lovingly teaches a child, he personally taught her poetry, books, and proper conduct. In the year she came of age, Ji Mingyi chose a husband for her. They were all princes from various states, the best of the best. Yan Heng summoned all her courage and refused. "All the men in the world together can't match a third of your grace. If I'm to marry, it will only be if you marry me." He was unmoved, his expression indifferent as he replied slowly, "I indulged you too much and failed to raise you properly, allowing you to make this grave mistake and disregard the proper order of kinship." Not long after, an envoy from Yan arrived in the Jin capital, claiming that the chancellor's daughter was descended from the late ruler and demanding that Yan Heng return to Jicheng. Perhaps Ji Mingyi had always despised her. Otherwise, how could he fail to show his face on the day she left the capital? She thought that once she left, she would never return, and they would never meet again. * The ruler of Yan welcomed the princess only to marry her off to Guo. The first time Yan Heng saw her husband, she thought of the youth who had held out a hand to her on a moonlit night many years ago. After three years of a loving marriage, Ji Mingyi became a beautiful dream long past. Until the new ruler of Jin brought his army to the city gates. During the negotiations, Ji Mingyi smiled warmly. "I lack a queen. I've come to claim you." She steadied her trembling hands and personally poured him a drink. "To me, the King of Jin is like a father and an elder brother. I feel only filial affection for you. How could I disregard the proper order of kinship?" That night, the moon was a disk of ice, and the state of Guo fell. The candles in the King of Jin's tent burned all night. At dawn, in the thin mist, Yan Heng wrapped herself in a large cloak and prepared to sneak away, only for him to seize her by the waist and drag her back onto the bed. The man's fingers slowly stroked her abdomen. "Once A Heng gives birth to the crown prince, I'll let you reunite with your husband." Theme: Love is precious, but freedom is worth more.