(My next book. Please add it to your collection!)
Pristine, aloof noblewoman x remnant of the former dynasty who becomes the new emperor
Bright moon x a ditch the moon never shines upon
Abduction by force / forced love / reversal of power
No one knows that her soul comes from another world. They only know her as the legitimate daughter of a centuries-old clan, a refined noble raised among poetry, books, and courtly families, who furrows her brow at even a speck of dust on her sleeve.
No one knows that he is a remnant of the former dynasty. They only know him as the rebel leader who clawed his way up from among the refugees, smelling of blood and rust, his canine teeth white as blades when he smiles.
A million troops are camped outside the capital. The rebels send a message:
"We will take the capital within ten days! If the legitimate daughter of the Ling family is alive, we will spare the city."
The people within the city run about, crying out. The Grand Tutor's residence is besieged, and everyone begs one thing of her:
To stay alive.
On the night the city falls, he kicks open her boudoir door, only to find her sitting before a mirror, calmly burning a volume of Buddhist scripture.
Flames lick her jade-white fingers. She looks up, her eyes full of scorn. "If you're going to kill me or disgrace me, get on with it. I'm in a hurry to be reincarnated."
He grabs her wrist. "What's the rush?"
Then he glances at a page in the brazier that has yet to burn to ash. "Why burn the scriptures? If it were those bones of yours... they'd look lovely on fire."
She had never once looked him in the eye. When he pushed her too far and tormented her cruelly, she would only blink her clear, bright eyes and call him a "madman."
She was clearly the weaker one, yet carried herself with such an air of superiority, as if he were some disgusting, nauseating thing.
Whenever she provoked him, he pretended not to care. "Why put on airs? Does he know how much more interesting you are when you tremble... compared to all those people who beg for mercy?"
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Reader's guide:
1. One-on-one, both leads' first time; abduction by force.
2. The female lead has physical and psychological cleanliness obsessions. She detests physical filth and dark, twisted minds. The male lead may be physically clean, but his mind is dark, alas.
3. The female lead has a fiance who is as pure and aloof as she is. Their temperaments are a perfect match, and that is the male lead's greatest agony.
4. The female lead is an art student.
5. The female lead's nickname is A Shao, and her courtesy name is Mingzhao. Shao is an old word for trumpet vine: "The beauty glimmers, her face like trumpet vine in bloom."
6. The setting is a fictionalized Northern and Southern Dynasties.
7. Apologies for disappointing everyone. On July 2, I decided not to launch it yet. I have too few chapters saved up; even now, I only have 60,000 words, just enough to qualify for paid serialization. The writing flowed so easily at first that I thought I could do it again and got carried away. I couldn't wait to let everyone read it, but I can't. I know myself too well! I've turned over a new leaf, and I absolutely must not go on hiatus again. If I force this book out, it may end up following the same path as Pond Fish after it goes paid. The outline suggests that Lingxiao will be about the same length as Pond Fish. I'll wait until I've saved up half the book, a full 300,000 words, before launching it. This is a niche-taste novel, so please don't leave me. Written on 2026.06.19. Wishing you a peaceful Dragon Boat Festival.+++
(More to be added...)
Advance blurb posted on 2025.05.21 (screenshot saved)
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One-line summary: I resent the moon hanging high above, shining on everyone but me.
Theme: Though born behind vermilion gates, my heart dwells among the clouds. I will not be confined.
