Every Protagonist Has a Villain's Tongue

The main story is complete, with revisions and bonus chapters in progress.

1.

Zhang Qiyu was traveling with her best friend when a car accident caused her to transmigrate into the body of the legitimate second daughter of the Grand General Who Guards the Nation. Nineteen years later, she returned to the capital with her father for the first time. As it happened, it was the night of the Mid-Autumn banquet. First, the Crown Prince publicly rejected her marriage proposal. Then she crossed paths with a strange young man and became his enemy, soon finding herself caught up in the capital's gossip.

Three days later, she received an invitation from the woman the Crown Prince loved. She went to the banquet unruffled, then took a closer look. Wasn't this the best friend who'd been hit by the car along with her?

After an affectionate exchange of greetings, her friend took her hand and said, "There aren't many good men in the capital. How about becoming my sister-in-law?"

"Sure, sure! Is your brother handsome?"

Her friend pointed with her little hand. "There, that one."

Zhang Qiyu smiled as she looked over, then froze as if struck by lightning. Good grief, wasn't that the bastard she'd had a huge argument with in the imperial garden that day?

Her friend asked, "Well? Is he acceptable?"

Zhang Qiyu's face darkened. "No. Not even if I die!"

Unfortunately, from that day on, the bastard wouldn't leave her alone.

Fortunately, the idle young playboy was soon sent off to fight on the front lines!

She set off firecrackers all night to celebrate, never knowing that before setting out, the only imperial favor he had asked the Emperor for was her.

2.

Lu Jinye, heir to the Duke Who Protects the Nation, was born with the looks of an immortal and a clever, delicate heart. His pair of bewitching peach-blossom eyes had countless young ladies vying to pick flowers for him.

Except that around Zhang Qiyu, he suddenly developed a venomous tongue.

Yet this woman looked at him like he was a pebble by the roadside, not even bothering to lift her eyelids.

He insisted on running headlong into this brick wall.

"In three days, I'm leaving for the northwest." He blocked her path.

Zhang Qiyu gave a graceful smile. "I wish you victory, Heir Lu. By the time you return, you might even make it in time to drink at my wedding."

Lu Jinye's expression darkened, and he swept away.

That night, a roomful of teaware was smashed at the Duke Who Protects the Nation's estate.

The next morning, an imperial edict arrived at the Zhang residence:

"Zhang Qiyu, legitimate daughter of the Zhang family, is well-versed in military strategy and exceptionally intelligent. She is hereby ordered to accompany the army and depart immediately!"

Zhang Qiyu clutched the edict, her fingertips turning white. A quiet laugh came from atop the wall.

Lu Jinye vaulted through the window in the morning light. The tips of his ears were red, and he forced his voice to sound as cocky as ever.

"Miss Zhang, I'm afraid you'll have to drink your wedding wine in my military tent."

3.

Zhang Qiyu was convinced that she and Lu Jinye simply couldn't get along peacefully.

Until she was captured while trying to save someone, and Lu Jinye defied military orders to go rescue her alone. The two of them found a remote cave to hide in while they evaded their pursuers.

In the dim cave, the faint firelight fell across Lu Jinye's pale, handsome face, giving him a fragile beauty that was hard to describe.

He murmured, "Water..."

...Well, since he'd risked his life to come save her, she supposed she could indulge him this once.

Lu Jinye jolted awake inside the cave. The cold emptiness beside him made his heart clench. He forced himself to sit up despite the stabbing pain, just in time to see Zhang Qiyu returning from outside.

"Miss Zhang, don't leave me..."

The words caught in his throat. Lu Jinye felt something soft touch his lips, and water flowed into his mouth from there. It was cool and soothing.

Lu Jinye raised a hand and clasped the back of Zhang Qiyu's neck, drinking every last drop of the clear spring water before taking the initiative and parting her lips with his tongue.

Trapped in that tiny space between them, Zhang Qiyu let out a broken whimper through her lips. "W-wait, there's... there's no more water."

Lu Jinye released her by half an inch and whispered hoarsely:

"Not enough."

"Your mouth is too small..."

One-on-one romance, both leads are each other's first, happy ending.

---Coming soon---

"The Regent's Secret Ailment, Cured"

Coming next!

A tough, clueless commoner heroine x a dignified, self-controlled Regent who gradually goes crazy

In the seventh year of Yuanping, the emperor died suddenly in the prime of his life. The regional lords each harbored ambitions for the throne. The late emperor's eleventh son went to the capital to rescue the court and took the position of Regent, taking charge of the government.

But rather than "the Regent," people were more accustomed to calling the eleventh prince the "Ghost-Faced King."

Hua Fuling wandered alone through the streets and alleys. Whenever she heard rumors, she always wanted to speak up in his defense. But as a country doctor with no standing or influence, she could only keep quiet in the end.

The Regent was elegant, powerful, and influential at court, with an imposing presence that could silence any opposition. There was no need for a nobody like her to speak up in his defense.

Until one day, Hua Fuling happened to meet a strange man who told her she was born with the destiny of a phoenix and was fated to become the mother of the nation.

Hua Fuling tapped her own head and honestly waved him off. "You have a stubborn ailment in your head. I'm afraid I can't help you."

Who knew the man wouldn't take no for an answer? During their tussle, she accidentally pulled down the recruitment notice seeking a doctor that had been posted around the city.

And so, by a twist of fate, Hua Fuling ended up in the Regent's residence.

Everyone said the Regent was cruel and moody because he'd suffered from a secret ailment since childhood.

Only after entering the residence did Hua Fuling realize that every rumor she'd heard was true!

He was not only impossible to read, but his thoughts often seemed jumbled when he spoke, making him hard to understand.

"My sixteenth younger brother went to so much trouble to send you here, and this is all he taught you?"

The Regent casually straightened his nightclothes. The icy hilt of his sword lifted her chin, and his eyes held a trace of murderous intent.

Hua Fuling raised her head, cheeks flushed and eyes moist, her thoughts in a jumble:

So fragrant, so pale, so handsome... so pitiful.

Looking at the terrible scars crisscrossing his body, Hua Fuling resolved to cure his secret ailment.

-

Within a year, the Regent had fully recovered from his long illness. Hua Fuling's standing in the residence grew ever more impressive. Everyone there said she was about to rise to great heights, and even the Empress Dowager planned to summon her in person, intending to arrange a marriage for her.

Who could have guessed that after drinking, she would let slip the secret of the Regent's ailment? The court was thrown into turmoil, and rumors ran wild among the people.

Knowing she'd caused a terrible disaster and feeling that she'd repaid her debt of gratitude, Hua Fuling realized she was no longer needed at the residence. So, amid the chaos, she fled the capital.

She never imagined that after she left, the usually calm and restrained Regent would cast aside all his dignity and self-control, search the entire world, and forcibly bring her back to his side.

"Didn't you say you wanted to repay me?" His scorching breath brushed her ear, and Hua Fuling shivered all over.

"I believe the best way to repay me is to give yourself to me."

Bonus scene:

On their wedding night, Hua Fuling was tightly pinned down on the bed. Only then did she realize in horror that the secret ailment he'd suffered from for years had never healed.

She trembled and stammered in panic, "Y-Your Highness, did you not take your medicine on time?"

The Regent paused slightly, then murmured, "Medicine?"

He leaned closer, his heavy breath washing over her. "You are my medicine."

Theme: Love and courage can transcend time and space.