The Bewitching Widow Cries Her Eyes Red, and the Mad Marquis Holds Her Close and Comforts Her

[Cool, self-possessed noblewoman vs. dark, unhinged young marquis] [Young widow of a marquis's household + one-on-one + possessive, forced love + household intrigue + dark, love-obsessed male lead + exemplary graduate of the School of Proper Conduct for Men] To honor a betrothal, Meng Wan brought a generous dowry into the Zhongyong Marquis household to marry its eldest son and bring him good fortune. But on their wedding day, her husband suddenly died, and the household regarded her as a harbinger of bad luck. Her mother-in-law treated her harshly, her sisters-in-law were cruel, and everyone said that a young widow in a marquis's household wouldn't be able to keep to the rules of propriety. What they didn't know was that ever since Meng Wan entered the household, a man had tormented her in her dreams every night, like a nightmare she couldn't escape. She thought she simply had too many romantic dreams. But when the young marquis Pei Qingli, long presumed dead, returned victorious with military honors, her dreams and reality collided. Pei Qingli was known throughout Kunjing as a madman no one dared provoke. He had vanished for five years as a child, with no one knowing whether he was alive or dead, but he'd joined the army, fought in battle, and earned great military honors. Life in the army was harsh, and he couldn't even catch sight of a female mosquito, yet every night he dreamed of a delicate, soft young woman sobbing prettily in his arms. After returning home victorious, he learned that his elder brother had died suddenly on his wedding day, leaving his new wife a widow. He spotted his widowed sister-in-law in the main hall. Her features were gentle and lovely. The moment their eyes met, he saw the panic, suspicion, and shame in the young woman's gaze. That night, he trapped her on the bed, his gaze cold and wicked. “Didn't you say, Wanwan, that you'd marry me when I returned victorious?” Meng Wan, who had always strictly observed the rules of proper conduct for women, panicked. “Second Brother, that was a dream. You can't take things said in a dream seriously...”