[Historical romance + sweet pampering + a heroine who grows stronger + a doting, fatherly hero + fleeing while pregnant + a husband’s long road to winning her back]
Just as Gu Lianxi comes of age, her father takes her to a summer resort, planning to offer her to a high-ranking official in exchange for a promising future.
But by a twist of fate, she ends up pinned beneath Duan Chengyuan, the Prince Regent.
Not only does this man put his pants back on and pretend nothing happened, he also starts meddling in her marriage prospects.
When she deliberately tries to seduce an elderly man, hoping to gain her freedom as soon as possible, Duan Chengyuan says, “That old goat? I refuse to allow it!”
When a handsome young lord from a marquis’s household wants to take her as a concubine, Duan Chengyuan says, “Becoming someone’s concubine? I refuse to allow it!”
When a deeply devoted prince wants to marry her as his consort, Duan Chengyuan says, “Becoming my nephew’s wife? I refuse to allow it.”
Then one day, Gu Lianxi shyly admits, “Your Highness, there is already a man in my heart. That man… is you.”
Duan Chengyuan coldly rejects her. “My heart belongs to the realm, and there is no room in it for you!”
Later, when Gu Lianxi learns that the grandparents who raised her have long since passed away, she finally comes to her senses.
She will settle every score and repay every grudge.
With no family left in the world, she will have a child by another man.
To restore her family’s fortunes, she returns to her hometown with her maid, opening shops and establishing an academy…
When the man hears that she has left, he breaks down, his eyes red from crying.
“Lian’er, please, come back to me!”
It's very nice, but it would be better if I wrote more about it later.
It's very interesting. It's a pure ancient novel without time travel and rebirth, but I felt that the ending of the bad guy wasn't satisfying enough.