After her older sister passed away, Lin Qi’s father, eager to advance his career, tried to use his past kindness as leverage and force her into the Duke’s residence once again.
When Lin Qi learned she was to marry her former brother-in-law, Pei Che, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, she simply couldn’t accept it.
So she made a decision that defied her ancestors: she would elope with her cousin Yu.
Unexpectedly, she awoke to her past life on the way.
Her cousin turned out to be a terrible man. In the end, he sold her to a brothel, and she died after smashing her head against a pillar rather than endure the humiliation.
When she woke up, she killed him without hesitation.
She thought that marrying into the Duke’s residence would mean spending her whole life walking on eggshells, but instead, he protected her at every turn and spoiled her rotten.
Bonus scene:
Lin Qi stopped teasing him and drew back her amused gaze. She looked at him quietly for a moment, then suddenly asked in a soft voice, “Husband, who hurt you?”
The man in the silver mask visibly froze, and the knife in his hand loosened slightly. “Do you make a habit of calling any man your husband, miss? I’m not your husband.”
Lin Qi only smiled. She reached out and lowered the knife pressed to her neck, then gently wrapped her arms around his waist. She blew against his reddened ear, rose onto her tiptoes, and planted a kiss on the cheek visible at the edge of his mask.
“Since you’re not my husband, then... you must be a lecher.” Her voice was soft and teasing. Then she kissed the exposed part of his neck above his night clothes. “Still won’t admit it? What sort of play are you trying to get me to do this time?”
Bondage play? How interesting. She was in.
One-on-one romance, both leads have no prior partners. There’s a hidden plotline, and the story is told in third person.
