Springtime Excitement

Prince Jin is the sixth son, born to a concubine. He marries the daughter of a low-ranking sixth-grade official, also born to a concubine. Her family background is so humble it’s hardly worth mentioning. But being a prince’s son is no use when he won’t inherit the title. Zhuang Jiaojiao is extremely pleased with the marriage. She won’t have to run the household, deal with her in-laws, or shoulder the family’s responsibilities. There’s enough money to spend and enough time to sleep. Her husband is handsome, and the concubines are... Well, the concubines are a handful, but they’re hardly going to turn the world upside down. She’ll have two children, and life will go on just like this. The couple are much of one mind: they can just coast through life. But who could have guessed that the emperor would fall gravely ill, and the crown prince would be even more anxious than he was? Father and son both die, leaving no one in line ahead of Prince Jin. Well, then, Prince Jin has to take the throne. Oh dear, her father-in-law has become the emperor. Her husband has become a prince... Her good days are well and truly over. Since they’re over anyway, she might as well stir things up. Spring is in full bloom, so she may as well enjoy herself.