A Sweet Young Cousin Comes to the General’s Residence

Jiang Linbei, the eldest legitimate son of the Grand General of the Cavalry’s household, returned to the capital after three years of war, laden with glory and military honors.

Rumor had it he was as refined as an orchid and jade tree, aloof and abstinent, yet possessed a compassionate heart. He was especially considerate toward his impoverished cousin who came begging for help: he bought her rouge and had clothes made for her.

Ji Yanli, taken into his household, was deeply grateful. Their affectionate bond as brother and sister became a celebrated story.

But no one knew that this seemingly delicate cousin was anything but harmless!

On her very first night in the manor, she drugged him and climbed into his bed. After making Jiang Linbei hunger for her, she cast him aside like a worn-out shoe.

Jiang Linbei tried to let go of his obsession and treat Ji Yanli as a true cousin, only to discover that this cousin was not the cousin he thought she was!

“Tell me! Why did you enter the general’s manor and do everything you could to seduce me? What are you after?”

Instead, the woman’s lovely eyes shimmered as her fingertip traced up the back of his hand to his Adam’s apple. Her breath was sweet as orchids. “Seduce you? What makes you say that? Everyone knows I’m to be engaged to the new top scholar tomorrow!”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Cousin, within three days, bring me the head of your fiancée as an offering to the spirits of the 130 members of my family who died! Otherwise, someone else will be spending every night singing with me!”

The man seized her slender waist with one hand and grasped her chin with the other, unable to hide his smile.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll offer you my kingdom as a bride price and marry you with a grand procession stretching ten miles. From then on, all the power in the realm will be in your hands. You can kill whoever you want!”

A year later, Jiang Linbei rebelled. On that same day, the emperor and empress were wed.