An Adopted Son Wreaks Havoc in Spring

[A parallel universe to the previous novel, 1v1, happy ending.]

During the emperor's autumn hunt, Consort Qin Banruo was poisoned to death by the emperor.

When she opened her eyes again, she had become the third young lady of the Jiangning Marquis' legitimate line.

Qin Banruo: No big deal. There's nothing in this world that can't be solved.

And sure enough.

In less than a month, the Ninth Prince she had raised herself ascended the throne.

What a twist of fate! There was always a way forward.

But just two days into celebrating, she discovered that this new emperor, so obedient and wise... had hidden a corpse in his bedchamber and slept beside it every night.

Then came something even more horrifying.

The corpse was her.

This is truly... a sin beyond all measure!!!

Qin Banruo immediately submitted her resignation to the emperor and hurried back to the marquis' residence.

Get married! Find someone to marry, right now!!

Yet as the wedding drew closer, the new emperor's gaze grew more and more hostile.

Until one day, deep in the night as rain poured down,

she was trapped in the palace.

The halls were deep and dim, scented with incense.

The new emperor clung to the woman from behind and pleaded hoarsely, "Break off the engagement, Imperial Consort Mother."

Complete: Many Ministers Beneath Her Skirt

Qin Banruo weathered eleven years of upheaval in the harem, finally becoming the most exalted empress dowager in the empire at the age of twenty-five.

The new emperor was obedient and dutiful, paying his respects every day and treating her with all due honor and respect.

The handsome young monk who had recently come to chant sutras was also useful, easing the nightmares that plagued her through the long nights.

But those happy days didn't last. She awoke one morning to the ringing of nine bells.

The new emperor sat on the edge of her bed, his eyes dark and gloomy, silently laying bare everything he felt.

Qin Banruo stared for a long moment, her voice turning hoarse. "This is absurd."

"Absurd?" the man repeated. His gaze slowly traveled down from her face, sharp as a knife, as if it could cut her open.

At last, it settled on the gleaming white of her lower leg exposed beneath her disheveled clothes. He asked softly, "How is it absurd?"

He seemed to smile. His fingers lightly touched her, stroking up and down again and again. His movements were impossibly gentle, his tone so casual it was almost careless. "Is there anything more absurd than having a mother like you?"

Theme: Believe, and keep moving forward with courage.