Novels by Zhihan Liu

After lunch, Qingyuan returned to Chengqian Palace.No sooner had she stepped into the courtyard than a small figure came hurrying out from under the veranda.“Auntie Qingyuan~!”Xiao Yan ran straight toward her, his face lighting up the moment he saw her, “You’re finally back. I’ve been waiting for you for ages.”Qingyuan’s face softened into a smile as she reached out to receive him: “Why did you come?”Instead of taking her hand, he solemnly held out the scroll he had been carrying.Only then did Qingyuan notice it: “What is this?”Xiao Yan presented it to her with both hands: “I heard you’ve been made Noble Consort, so I came to congratulate you.”He looked down at the scroll: “Gold, silver, jewels—you already have all kinds of treasures in your palace. I couldn’t think of anything you might still need, so I made something myself.”After a brief pause, he added earnestly, “I practiced for a long time.”Qingyuan looked at him, then at the scroll in his hands, and a warm smile slowly

Dawn was just breaking. A veil of mist still clung to the eaves of Chengqian Palace, while the last of the night candles flickered, nearly spent.Xiao Heng rose and donned his court robes. Once everything was in order, he glanced back at Qingyuan, still fast asleep upon the bed. A trace of warmth softened his expression, only to disappear a moment later. He stepped quietly from the room and headed to morning court.An unusual hush settled over the hall the moment he took his seat upon the throne.Only two days earlier, the same hall had rung with heated argument. Officials had fiercely debated the closeness between Prince An’s heir, Xiao Yan, and Su Qingyuan—then only a Noble Lady—citing ancient precedent and court ritual as they questioned whether such intimacy might undermine the Empress’s dignity or set an improper example in the upbringing of an imperial child.Then, yesterday, the imperial edict had come down.Su Qingyuan had been elevated to Noble Consort—the first woman to hold

The curtain had barely fallen before Xiao Heng lowered his head toward her again.Qingyuan immediately placed a hand against his chest: “Wait.”He looked down at her, as though he had just been told something entirely unreasonable: “Wait?”Qingyuan gave him a perfectly serious look: “We haven’t eaten.”For a moment, Xiao Heng simply stared at her. Then the disbelief in his expression gave way to helpless amusement, and he let out a low laugh: “Qingyuan.”“What?”“At a time like this,” He gave the slightest shift of his hips, drawing her a little closer, “you are thinking about dinner?”Qingyuan felt it at once. Her expression flickered, and she shifted away by the smallest degree before pretending nothing had happened: “Of course. I waited for you all afternoon. I am not going to wait for dinner as well.”That silenced him rather effectively.Qingyuan glanced toward the outer hall.Then, as though suddenly remembering something, she added, “Besides, there was supposed to be sweet fish

The last of the evening light lay warm across the courtyard, while dusk had already begun to gather beyond the palace walls.By the time Xiao Heng stepped into Chengqian Palace, Qingyuan had already composed herself.She sat half-reclined against a brocade cushion by the window, the book open once more in her hands, her expression calm and faintly cool.She did not look toward the door. Not even when he entered.Xiao Heng stepped into the hall, his gaze going straight to her.Qingdai hurried forward and curtsied: “This servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”Xiao Heng gave a faint nod in acknowledgment, but his attention never left Qingyuan.His gaze dropped briefly to the book in her hands. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He knew perfectly well she had only just picked it up.Qingyuan was unusually quiet. That alone made Xiao Heng slow to a stop in the middle of the hall.He knew this look far too well—they had grown up together; there were very few of her moods he c

As Qingyuan made her way back to Chengqian Palace, the afternoon sun slanted across the courtyard, warming the blue-gray stone beneath her feet. Everything was much as she had left it. Xiao Heng still had not come. Qingyuan entered the hall and settled into her usual seat by the window. Qingdai followed behind. Before long, fresh tea was brought in. Her fingertips brushed the familiar porcelain cup, only two days ago, Shen Yuyan had remarked on this very tea set. That same evening, Xiao Heng had sat across from her, drinking from one of these cups while their unfinished game of Go remained between them. Yesterday, rumors had filled the harem. Today, she was Noble Consort. For a moment, it seemed as though everything had changed. Yet the cup in her hand was the same, the tea tasted the same, and Chengqian Palace was no different from yesterday. Perhaps only her title had changed. Qingyuan took a small sip and set the cup aside. Then she picked up a book and began to

When Qingyuan finally spoke, one hand was still resting beneath Mingshu’s.“Yes,” she said softly. “You all knew.”Her fingers tightened slightly around the teacup: “But we only thought it was the most natural thing in the world to stay by each other’s side, year after year, for the rest of our lives.”Mingshu caught the faraway look in her eyes and knew she was thinking of those years again.Qingyuan stayed lost in thought for a moment longer before turning her attention back to Mingshu.“And then, without warning, His late Majesty decreed your marriage to him.”Her fingers worried at the edge of her handkerchief, “Everyone said it was a perfect match. I thought I should have been happy.”A faint, almost self-conscious smile touched her lips: “You were my sister. He was the person I trusted most.”Her fingers tightened slightly, “But I wasn’t. I felt unbearably sad, without even understanding why.” Mingshu did not interrupt.Qingyuan knew there was little here that her sister had not