The Lucky Heroine's Guide to Becoming the White Moonlight

Let the story end at the moment closest to happiness.

A first attempt at writing an emotional story. If you're interested, check out my upcoming novel next door, Late Jade: a laid-back antique shop owner / clever princess x a foxlike, sweet-faced but black-hearted imperial tutor. The blurb is at the bottom.

A cool-headed, powerful noblewoman with a passionate heart x an emperor who pretends to be composed but is truly obsessive and possessive (under mind control)

A young emperor and empress struggle to find their way to each other.

1. When Li Lan opens her eyes again, three years have passed. The past is hazy as smoke, as if it all happened in a previous life.

A noblewoman from a distinguished family, loved by her family, related to the imperial clan, and now becoming a young empress alongside her childhood sweetheart: Li Lan's life had gone smoothly, almost too perfectly to find fault with.

But she has barely had time to settle into her role as empress when the commoner princess who was sent to Xixuan as a political bride eight years ago suddenly returns.

Li Lan: His Majesty has never been given to women. He should make proper arrangements for her, right?

Instead, Li Zhaoqin immediately makes her a consort.

Li Lan: ??? That's how you're making arrangements for her?

The princess has only just returned to her homeland, but seems to bear a grudge against Li Lan by nature. She competes for everything, and with a mere crook of her finger, she can make Li Zhaoqin obey her every word.

With fortune on her side, Li Lan not only learns the secret that the woman came from another timeline, but also discovers that she is destined to die a terrible death.

The events of the future come true one by one, but Li Lan refuses to believe in fate. When did someone else's hands gain the power to crush her, when she was born blessed and fortunate?

With her closest family dead unjustly and the one she loves under mind control, she now carries more than just her own life on her shoulders.

Li Lan grips the poisoned teacup in her hand and thinks: It remains to be seen who will win.

The moment she opens her eyes again, three years later, she knows she's won her bet.

Li Lan looks at the woman before her, who has finally taken the throne of empress. The woman smugly believes she can stay in this world forever, unaware that a campaign to encircle and kill her has only just begun.

Li Lan is no longer a powerless piece on someone else's board. This time, she is the player, holding all the cards.

2. After being reborn, Li Lan can't wait to enter the palace and visit her ex-husband, who has supposedly recovered.

But Li Zhaoqin only looks at her with red-rimmed eyes, holding back his feelings, still unable to say a word as before.

Li Lan: ? Wasn't he supposed to be back to normal?

One evening, Li Lan is admiring flowers in a secluded corner of the imperial garden when she suddenly feels a chill behind her. A tall man presses close like a male ghost and wraps her in a tight embrace.

His familiar voice carries a hint of grievance: "Three years apart, my darling, did you ever think of me?"

Bonus scene:

Li Lan wonders: I thought my ex-husband was the stoic, devoted type. Who is this damp, lovesick ghost of a man behind me?

Li Zhaoqin, contented: A Huang, people change.

And so the two of them begin their life as theatrical spouses, sneaking around for thrilling affairs in private.

Reader's guide: 1. An unconventional transmigration into the past for a supporting character. The male and female leads are natives of the ancient world, and the heroine is reborn three years later.

2. The early and middle sections are fairly bleak, but the later part is wonderfully satisfying. The pace starts slow and then picks up.

3. The heroine has a golden finger, but not much of one.

4. The leads are each other's only partners. The male lead isn't a scumbag, but there is a redemption arc. There is NO romantic storyline with the second female lead!

5. The early part has the feel of an old-school, angst-filled melodrama. Avoid if that's not your thing. Later, the dramatic couple puts on a show wherever they go.

6. That's all. Hope you enjoy the story, and please add it to your collection and leave a comment!

Upcoming novel in my collection, Late Jade, will be my next book. If you're interested, check it out. There are currently four chapters available to sample.

A burned-out, laid-back antique shop owner / clearheaded, straightforward, ambitious princess x a gentle, domestic, sweet-faced but black-hearted imperial tutor

1. Xiao Yue's parents divorced when she was little. After graduating from university, she inherits her grandfather's antique shop and becomes a mediocre owner, spending every day doing nothing.

Just when she thinks she can see the end of her life, Xiao Yue transmigrates into the past and becomes a princess.

When Xiao Yue opens her eyes, she finds herself in a ruined, freezing palace, her body trembling and almost frozen.

Xiao Yue: A disastrous start.

She plans to laze around in the ancient world while figuring out how to get home, but reality won't let her lie flat.

The crown prince stages a coup, a plague ravages Xiangnan, a prince rebels, and the people suffer.

Xiao Yue's memories of this period of history gradually fade. As she lives through it, she feels as if too many people are pushing her forward.

Her younger brother chokes back tears: "Elder sister, I can't be a good emperor."

The empress dowager clutches her hand on her deathbed: "Wan Yu, go forward."

The treacherous imperial tutor from the history books reaches out to her: "Your Highness, I will be right behind you."

She has seen people starve to death in the streets, countless soldiers die in vain, and old ministers plead for justice before the throne, their words soaked in blood. The spirits of these people become a sharp sword in her hands, cleaving the world apart.

She carries the hopes of too many people on her shoulders. She can only press forward without hesitation.

2. His elder brother dies unjustly on the battlefield. His father turns gray overnight, and before dying, says one last thing to He Zhen.

He says, "Qishu, protect the He family. Don't forget your brother."

Dressed in plain mourning clothes, He Zhen walks at the head of the funeral procession.

Later, he takes the imperial examinations for the first time and comes top of the list, making his name overnight.

He becomes the imperial tutor during a time of chaos, but the new emperor is stubborn, timid, and indecisive, making him question his choice again and again.

That is, until he meets the new emperor's elder sister, the princess regent.

At last, his country's fate, his family’s vendetta, and all his sorrows and affections have somewhere to belong.

3. When Xiao Yue first meets He Zhen, she only remembers him as a treacherous minister from the history books. She never expects him to have such a foxlike face.

He Zhen goes to great lengths to attract her attention, then pretends to hesitate before agreeing to work with her. After that, every time they meet, Xiao Yue can practically see his big fox tail wagging behind him.

Xiao Yue: Imperial Tutor, you really do look just like a seductive consort.

At her birthday banquet, she teasingly asks He Zhen, "Imperial Tutor, will you wish me a good husband and a life of luxury?"

To her surprise, He Zhen answers solemnly, "No. I wish Your Highness a kingdom to rule and a place in the history books."

He doesn't just want to be the one in her heart. He wants to be her subject, the sword in her hand, the piece on her board.

Theme: Love can save the person you love, and it can save yourself