Year: 2024

Shifu They call Jingyuan’s reign the gilded age of the great Huaxia Dynasty. Jingyuan has been the emperor for five years officially, but he was handling the previous emperor’s duties long before taking the dragon throne. His inherent leadership abilities, unmistakable since childhood, make him a quintessential example of a born ruler. His intelligence is […]

Date Night Everything is terribly ceremonial with us. Rigid rituals and formal etiquette define palace life. Every move, from casual family dinners with Haoyu to our monthly full moon bedding, is precisely arranged step by step leaving no room for spontaneity. I can’t recall him or I ever acting on a whim until now. Tonight […]

Beautiful Dream But Impossible Dream It used to be effortless, a mere administrative duty, like assigning new servants to different residences. The carefree days of approaching this part of my life with indifference, merely linking names to satisfy his sexual needs and conceive his offspring, are gone. This newfound romance with the emperor is now […]

Slow Burn   She sets her brush down across the ornate bronze phoenix-shaped inkwell. Out of her many talents, Min Qian Ju’s calligraphy is exquisite. Even the emperor, who seldom gives such recognition; Jingyuan publicly described her writing as works of art. The receiving room, suffused with warmth from the many braziers, is enveloped in […]

I Dive In Jingyuan~ “Emperor, Crown Prince Haoyu is waiting outside.” I motion to let Haoyu in as a welcoming break. Jinghua and I are painstakingly reviewing current tax reports from all the prefectures. While I possess a keen eye for detail, Jinghua’s exceptional strength to detect irregularities surpasses mine. Like a hawk spotting a […]

Ex Wive’s Club “Meimie,” Min Qian Ju asks, her voice is affectionate with sisterly warmth, “how long do you plan to elude the emperor?” With nimble fingers, she carefully chooses and peels a mandarin sent by Ming’s mother. When I was young, his mother would chase me away from her fruit trees with a broom, […]

If She Only Knew Jingyuan~ In the quiet courtyard, the stillness, the devoid of any sound, is disconcerting. All her devoted servants, including Little Min, are bowing in front of the entry of Yueli’s palace. They kneel on the ground, heads deferred and gazes lowered. Many are unabashedly crying, their tears reflect their concerns and […]

Comfortably Numb Bobo~ The emperor forcefully closes the red silk-bound document. It has the names of the newest harem members chosen by the empress to serve him. He tosses it aside, sighing exasperated. “Bobo?” he asks. “Yes, emperor, do you need something?” I reply and await his order. The emperor leans back from his desk, […]

Once Burned, Twice Shy Little Min~ My empress has returned to her clamorous world. Though her inner turmoil had subsided, the battle between her logic and emotions has begun again. When we returned to the palace, she dismissed everyone. She requested that I be her sole server this evening and keep her mansion dim. She […]

Fàng kāi wǒ wǒ fàng kāi nǐ Eunuch Bo~ “Bobo?” With my hands folded in the center of my robe, I cautiously approach the emperor’s desk, waiting for his orders. “Yes, emperor?” I respond with deference. The emperor lifts his brush off the document and taps it against the edge of the inkwell. As always, […]

The Imperfect Empress   When I married Jingyuan and became his Princess Consort; I thought I would have ample time to understand the intricate workings of the inner palace, but after only three months, we were crowned Emperor and Empress. My naivete got the best of me. Perhaps I was overly sincere and hopeful. The […]

Crown Prince A-li Third Prince Duke Lian Song~ Most immortals, even those highly cultivated, would have died or been permanently disabled by half a dozen celestial lightning rods. However, A-li walked away from the punishment platform instead of being carried off. Though birthed from Bai Qian’s mortal body, what can one expect from Ye Hua’s […]

History Repeats Itself Zhe Yan~ With my phoenix containment spell in effect, the disciples have set up another magical sealing formation outside Mo Yuan’s secluded area as an additional safety measure. One can’t be too careful when dealing with a demon. The Demon Queen’s spirit is stuck inside, unable to pass the secure boundary. However, […]

First Prince Hàoyú Mount Kunlun~ Mo Yuan’s students are nervously pacing and waiting for me. I haven’t been here in ages. Nothing has changed, but then this is Mount Kunlun, the ancient and majestic mountain that has been home to the prominent mountain top school in the clouds since established by the creator of all […]