My upcoming book, Painted Skin, is listed in my author profile.
Blurb:
In the fifth year of Jinghe, Lu Yanqing killed the reigning emperor.
Only General Xiao Yuan knew that the empress had murdered the emperor.
Because he was there that night.
Because she did the killing but left him to deal with the aftermath, letting the court descend into chaos before turning to him with tears in her eyes.
“Brother, are you truly going to abandon A-Yan?”
The word “Brother” felt as distant as another lifetime. He did not answer her.
He only kept a stern face and silently helped her son ascend the throne.
*
At just twenty, Lu Yanqing was honored as empress dowager.
Beyond the curtain of state, in the endless depths of the palace, she longed for someone to keep her company and talk through the long nights.
Her old friend's son, who came to attend the new emperor's enthronement ceremony; the Doctor of the Five Classics she had personally raised up; the younger brother of the Western Garden Dowager Consort, who visited her in the palace from time to time and never forgot to pay his respects...
So many people,
yet not one came to her after nightfall.
Until one day, after putting the young emperor to bed, she returned to her own chambers.
She opened the door and saw a man sitting without a hint of decorum on her bed in the dimly lit room.
She turned to cry out that there was an intruder, but someone covered her mouth from behind.
“It's me.”
It was the ever-disciplined, self-controlled General.
Her Brother.
“The covered walkways in Penglai Palace are winding, and at night they grow dark and secluded. I doubt anyone but me would dare come here.” The young man's scorching breath brushed her ear. “You needn't be afraid, Your Majesty. I'll always be here.”
*
When he was fifteen, the young master of the Xiao family was banished by his clan and nearly died of illness in the borderlands. A girl from the Lu family once gave him a meal out of kindness, and he stayed at her home for a time.
Back then, she was not yet the phoenix who wept blood and rose from the flames in the Daming Palace.
She was a cherished young lady of the Fan Yang Lu clan, living in the northern frontier.
Bold and radiant, bright as fire.
One “Brother” warmed his heart, and one smile lit up his shadowed life.
He had already yearned for her for many years.
Notes:
1. Seven-year age gap. The heroine is the empress in the early part of the story, and the male lead alone is thrown into turmoil.
2. The heroine has had past relationships; the male lead has not. Romance-focused, happy ending. The plot is fairly serious, but at heart this is a love story dressed up in political intrigue.
3. Set in a fictional Sui-Tang-inspired world, with some original elements and historical blending. No need to nitpick the history.
Theme: Though the storm rages dark, the rooster keeps crowing.
Ninefold Spring
Banquet Dawn
Bedfellows and Foes
21+
Support Jade
After Being Pursued by My Aloof Brother-in-Law
After Marrying the Wrong Husband
Hidden Beauty
The Jealous Heir Always Wants to Cuddle
Where Spring Cannot Be Seen
A Thousand Miles from the Capital
Purge the Court of the Emperor’s Traitors
A Lady Official's Survival Guide in the Imperial Court
After I Contract-Married My Nemesis's Brother
The Wrong Catch: A Powerful Minister
Madam, Your Secret Identity Is Showing
The Man I Picked Up Keeps Wanting to Die
The Little Merchant's Daughter
After Being Seized by My Stepson and Older Brother
Spring Rests in the Golden Palace
My Mortal Enemy Keeps Seducing Me Every Day
The last scene is really touching. No matter what happens to the offspring born in the end, will they be stable enough to avoid upheaval? But their fathers and mothers were high-spirited enough to break away from the shackles, and had the courage to fight against the world. Even if they walked into the wind and snow, they would never be easily defeated.
No one can resist loving my daughter; she's so beautiful and stunning, with an incredibly strong inner strength.
What can I say? [Glasses][glasses] Actually, this seems to be a sense of superiority that many men are born with, feeling that their mothers should just be their mothers, unable to have their own feelings, and that they should sacrifice their own feelings for their mothers.
I don't know if I'm overthinking it, but this chapter has so many metaphors. The young emperor keeps saying he needs to follow the rules and that his mother's reputation is important, and then the painting his elder brother drew was ruined in his hands. I always feel like he's an obstacle to their relationship. 💔💔
My brother said he was base, just an ordinary mortal, but I think he was truly remarkable. He succumbed to his basest nature three times: twice he wanted to possess the girl, and once he wanted to kill the emperor, but he restrained himself each time. After the first two acts of restraint, he silently protected her; the last time, he was willing to die himself.
I know [glasses] Something bad is bound to happen before the Dragon Boat Festival [glasses][glasses] Don't ask me how I know [glasses][glasses][glasses] References: "The Beauty's Demise", "Together with You", "Seeing the Moon", "Gazing at the Clouds" 🌈🌈🌈
Sigh, I always knew my brother wanted a child. He's always been alone, lacking parental love growing up, so he probably craves companionship. His relationship with Ayan is just a matter of following the established order. But Ayan definitely doesn't want children; he rationally knows it's impossible—the risks are too great. But actually, I really hope they have a child; they're two such wonderful people.
Ah Yan is the best female lead I've seen this year. She's poised and decisive, yet compassionate and kind; every aspect of her character is portrayed exceptionally well. The new administration has truly had a difficult journey so far.
!! I just saw the author's note, there are still two chapters left! Isn't that a bit too few, teacher? We were just impatient with the pace before, why can't we be together yet?💔 We didn't say we were going to max out the chapter progress together. It seems to me there should be 10086 more chapters of dumpling-making and sweet, happy ending! [Hugging thigh]😣
I'm so heartbroken. This couple is going to dedicate their entire lives to their family, country, and the world. My brother went on and on, but never mentioned what he actually did or sacrificed. 😭😭😭😭