The Proud Maiden

The Proud Maiden is a long ancient-setting romance (a time-travel tale) by Ye Huimei, a contracted author of Yuewen Group. Serialization began in December 2014 on platforms including Xiaoxiang Academy and concluded in October 2015, running 278 chapters and roughly 1.12 million characters. The story is set in the fictional Western Qin dynasty. At the dawn of the realm, with a golden age returning, the noble maidens of the capital gather to display their talents and beauty at banquets and within the inner quarters. The heroine, Mo Xinyi (nicknamed A-Jiu), is the daughter of Mo Guanjie, education commissioner of Jiangnan. When she is ten, her father is arrested by imperial decree and taken to the capital by Lu Tianyang, Right Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and from then on she is drawn into court intrigue and family upheaval. Precocious and sharp-witted, with a photographic memory, she pays particular attention to the Qin Code, account books, and land deeds, and she holds her ground through inner-quarter scheming, the ordeals of the imperial prison, and disputes over the family estate. During a snowy-night escort she also forms an inextricable bond with Lu Tianyang. The book follows a young lady's growth into a woman who can shoulder responsibility, blending household intrigue, court power struggles, and sweet romance. The author describes her style as "sweet romance, cool and satisfying," deliberately reducing the number of mindless female rivals; even supporting characters have their own schemes and loyalties, and relationships are complex yet never heavy. In the later stages the conflicts escalate: Lu Tianyang locks horns with political enemies, and at a critical moment A-Jiu declares her stance with the blunt line "Beat him. If anything happens, I'll answer for it," setting the emotional tone of mutual understanding and protection. Overall, this is a long ancient-setting romance grounded in female growth, legal justice, and the ethics of power, with a generous helping of sweet romance.