My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin
In the year 824, in the bustling heart of Changan, China, Fei Long returned to his ancestral home, his heart heavy with grief. His father—a respected figure in the Ministry of Works—had passed away, leaving behind a legacy of duty and honor. Ignoring the desperate pleas of his sister Pearl, who sought to escape a prestigious yet oppressive marriage alliance with a fearsome barbarian lord from Khitan decreed by the Emperor, Fei Long was engulfed by a sense of guilt. His father's restless spirit weighed on him, exacerbated by the turmoil surrounding Pearl’s secret elopement with her beloved, Zheng Xie Han.
In desperation, Fei Long decided to recruit Yan Ling, a spirited young woman recently dismissed from her position at a local teahouse. With her wild hair and defiant demeanor, she was hardly the polished substitute he envisioned for his sister; an orphan raised on the streets, she was entirely unaccustomed to the ways of high society.
Determined to transform Yan Ling into a proper lady, Fei Long enlisted the help of his loyal friends, each eager to assist in this unlikely endeavor. Together, they orchestrated a crash course in elegance and decorum, attempting to mold the outspoken urchin into a dignified noblewoman. Inspector Tong, observing from the sidelines, harbored suspicions that Fei Long's plan was merely a ruse. However, as the days passed, Yan Ling began to surprise everyone by adopting the grace and poise of a lady with unexpected ease.
As Fei Long tirelessly dedicated himself to this remarkable transformation, he found himself unexpectedly attracted to Yan Ling’s fiery spirit and genuine heart. In turn, Yan Ling developed feelings for her attentive mentor, creating a complex tapestry of emotions between them.
This enchanting tale is reminiscent of "My Fair Lady," set against the vibrant backdrop of the ninth-century Tang Dynasty, a time teeming with cultural richness and social intricacies. At its core, the story captures the extraordinary bond formed between teacher and pupil, characterized by a delightful clash of intellects and values. Fans are bound to agree that this is undoubtedly Lin's year for remarkable storytelling!
