Spring Suits the Heart

My next book is Green Clouds, Raised in Comfort, about a Fallen Young Lady and the Servant Who Appeared Out of Nowhere. The blurb is at the very bottom.

A straightforward woman who never gets trapped in her own head X a restrained, tangled-up man who is warm on the outside and cool within

[Blurb]

At a palace banquet, Ge Chunyi fell into a lotus pond in the icy chill of early spring.

She swam through the freezing water and climbed ashore, shivering uncontrollably. Just then, a warm cloak was held out before her. It belonged to the young general renowned throughout the capital. He was as refined and reserved as the rumors claimed, and he comforted her gently, protected her reputation, and handled the aftermath without asking for anything in return.

Their families were worlds apart, and she thought they would never meet again.

But an imperial decree unexpectedly bestowed a marriage alliance upon them.

After their wedding, he remained as considerate and attentive as he had been at first. Grateful for his kindness, Ge Chunyi was willing to become a loving couple who played in perfect harmony.

But gradually, she discovered that gentleness and good manners were only his outer shell.

He was aloof and sparing with words, keeping everyone at arm's length, like a stone that could never be warmed.

Pei Xulin had long been accustomed to planning three steps ahead.

Looking back afterward, he could no longer tell whether his request for the marriage decree had been a calculated decision or the result of selfish feelings.

He remained composed and restrained, thinking himself a clear-eyed observer.

In truth...

Begging for reconciliation, feigning illness, seducing her, pleading for her affection: his actions had long since given him away completely.

[Extra Scene]

Much later, when they spoke of their first meeting, Ge Chunyi leaned against him and laughed at how disheveled she had been. Pei Xulin smiled too, then kissed the corner of her mouth.

He went on to tell her how, as a boy, he used to ride and practice archery in the outskirts of the capital. Once, while washing his face by a stream, he had been startled by a girl suddenly popping up from the water.

The girl's eyes had sparkled. She held a fish thicker than his arm and smiled more dazzlingly than the sunlight overhead.

Before he could finish, the woman in his arms threw herself at him, her eyes shining as she pressed him for more details. They were still those same bright, clear eyes, now filled with delight and love.

The story of when they were nine stayed in that spring. Luckily, from now on, every day would feel like spring.

(The extra scene is not part of the main story.)

[Reading Guide]

1. The official system is modeled on the Tang dynasty, with some author-created details for the plot. Please don't nitpick the historical accuracy.

2. The court intrigue is handled lightly. At heart, this is a sweet story of love after marriage.

3. The title comes from "Willow Tips Green" by Zhao Shixia of the Song dynasty: "People thrive in spring, and spring suits them well."

4. One couple, both each other's first, happy ending.

Coming soon: Green Clouds, Raised in Comfort. Visit my author page to save it to your list (:3)

Green Clouds, Raised in Comfort

After her grandfather is convicted of a crime, the Shen family falls from power, and everyone avoids them. In an instant, Luyun goes from a pampered young lady surrounded by luxuries to someone cast down from her lofty perch.

Their home is sealed, their wealth confiscated, and Luyun has almost nowhere to go.

Fortunately, a scholar in green robes offers to help. He claims to be one of her grandfather's former students and says he wishes to repay his kindness by finding her a place to stay.

The scholar lives simply, wearing coarse clothes and eating plain meals of vegetables and rice.

Though her new life is a far cry from the feasts and luxuries she once knew, Luyun never complains. She even learns to do what she can to help.

The scholar is gentle and quiet, always looking after her without a word and showing up just when she needs him.

She considers the matter, then turns around again and, sure enough, catches the man watching her before he can look away.

Luyun understands. She sizes up his tall, handsome figure and thinks that, although the scholar is poor, he treats her with care and devotion. Perhaps she could accept him...

*

Zhou Bing'an watched coldly for several days. The pampered Miss Shen, who could neither do housework nor tell one grain from another, had suddenly fallen on hard times. She wasn't wailing and sobbing, but she was even more delicate than he had expected.

She swept and wiped the tables carelessly, doing everything by halves.

She dropped the bucket while fetching water and nearly set the house on fire while lighting the stove.

As he cleaned up her messes, Zhou Bing'an finally lost patience. He had approached the Shen family to investigate an old matter, but now the former chief minister was imprisoned, and his only granddaughter couldn't muster a single scheme. He had done more than enough and wanted nothing more to do with her.

But whenever she got into trouble, she would put on a pitiful face and look at him with tearful, tender eyes, as if she had something to say but couldn't bring herself to say it.

Zhou Bing'an kept his face cold... and decided he might as well do one last good deed.

*

Things started to go wrong when Luyun accidentally caught Zhou Bing'an painting.

She knew he sold paintings to help cover their expenses.

But she never imagined that the mild-mannered scholar would paint something so indecent. Blushing furiously, she scolded him for being shameless.

Later, Luyun learned that he had lied about his identity and had ulterior motives.

Clutching a letter from an old acquaintance, she tried to leave, only to be caught red-handed by the man waiting to ambush her.

"Shen Luyun, did you really think I was your servant, to be summoned when you wanted and dismissed when you didn't?" His hot breath wound around her neck, his dry lips brushing the corner of her mouth. His gaze was dangerous. "You can't just decide to leave whenever you please."

Theme: Don't let your heart be weighed down, and don't let your actions be constrained.