After Marrying the Short-Lived Prince, I Became Weak in the Knees

[Widowhood Dreams Shattered + Soft-Waisted Romance + Mad King’s Devotion + Face-Slapping the Entire Court]

>Everyone in the capital bet that Jun Jiu Chen wouldn't survive the winter. Su Qing Shu was overjoyed to take her sister's place as the bride and bring good fortune to him: become a widow! Inherit the prince's estate! Buy handsome men! Reach the peak of life!

>On their wedding night, she pretended to cry. "My lord, take care..." Beneath the veil, the man coughed as if his lungs would give out, but after nightfall, he pulled her into the wedding bedding. "Bringing good fortune means doing it like this."

>Three months later, rumors exploded.

So much for being sickly and short-lived! She rubbed her aching waist and burst into tears. "Liar! This princess wants a divorce!"

Instead, he dragged her back to the estate right off the street. Jun Jiu Chen bit her neck. "Does my princess think her husband is 'short-lived'? Let's put that to the test today!" She curled up under the covers, trembling like a quail. This wasn't how it went in the book!

Later, she understood:

The emperor bestowed poisoned wine? She snatched the cup and gulped it down. "The inheritance is mine!" He slaughtered his way through the golden hall, eyes bloodshot with fury. "If Shu Shu dies, the whole city will be buried with her!"

>Political enemies kidnapped her? He crushed the enemy's throat and chuckled. "Run again, and I'll chain you to the bed for the rest of your life."

>She was pregnant and mocked as carrying a posthumous child? He pointed his sword at the court officials. "He's my child. What gives you mangy dogs the right to bark?"

>The day the palace was consumed by the great fire from the original story...

She shoved the baby into his bloodstained armor. "Take our son and go!" But he cleaved through the flames and held her tight. "Without you, what the hell is this empire worth?"

The court historian denounced her:

"The demon empress brought ruin to the nation with her soft waist! She sits behind the curtain sneaking candied fruit, and dozes on the dragon throne..."

>The new emperor added a note in vermilion ink: "The empress's health is precious. I alone permitted her to attend court lying down."

>Su Qing Shu kicked over the history books. "What happened to the short-lived prince?"

>The white-haired emperor bit her fingertip. "With Shu Shu here, even the King of Hell wouldn't dare take me."