The Fallen Marquis Keeps Slapping Himself in the Face

Hui Lan was born in the countryside. She had endured hardship and toil, but fortunately, the older brother who had promised to marry her when they were children made good on his word after rising to prominence, bringing her to the capital to enjoy a life of wealth and luxury.

After years apart, he had grown fair-skinned and pampered, with a spoiled temper. He was often sharp-tongued and always arrogant toward others. In bed, he was insatiable, indulging himself night after night and behaving atrociously.

Hui Lan loved him with all her heart, so she bore it all and never held back when it came to sweet words.

As time passed, the husband she had been separated from in their youth and reunited with after so many years softened toward her and bowed his head to her. He took meticulous care of every aspect of her life, from what she ate and wore to where she lived, asking after each detail.

Her husband worked for the Jiangyin Marquis. Hui Lan had no idea that the marquis was a living King of Hell who killed without batting an eye. All she knew was that her husband was the marquis's trusted aide, so she respected the marquis and was grateful that he placed his faith in her husband and gave them a life of wealth and luxury.

Then one day, her husband failed to return late at night. Filled with worry, Hui Lan learned that he had gone to a banquet with the marquis and went to ask after him. She never expected that this honored nobleman would humiliate her and leave marks all over her body.

Worried about her husband and mother, she dared not say a word. He only grew bolder. Hui Lan could barely endure it, but as the days wore on, she gradually uncovered a terrifying truth.

The husband she trusted without a doubt was the very beast in human clothing who took pleasure in degrading her through the vilest means.

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Yan Chen was ambushed on his way back to the capital. At the brink of life and death, his loyal bodyguard gave him a jade pendant he wore close to his body. He explained that his family was in a village a hundred li away and offered to draw the enemy off, asking only that Yan Chen look after his mother.

Carrying the token, Yan Chen went to seek shelter, never imagining that his family would consist not only of a mother but also of a crude, overbearing fiancée.

The huntress's daughter forced him to bow before the wedding altar and consummate the marriage. She mocked his fair skin and tender flesh, saying he was even better than a young chicken. Furious, he swore to himself that once he regained his identity, he would make her pay dearly!

Who could have guessed that years later Yan Chen would have forgotten all those humiliations? When an arrow pierced his shoulder bone and blood poured from the wound, he still refused to let go. He knelt beside her, begging only for her to look at him one more time.

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One-on-one, both leads are each other's only partner. A gentle, harmless female lead who seems meek but is resilient, paired with a male lead who is cruel and twisted beneath a polished exterior.

He falls hard for her + marriage first, love later + the husband chases his wife to the crematorium

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Here's a recommendation for another one-on-one, crematorium-style story currently open for advance reservation:

The Widow

Thanks to Madam's arrangements, Pang Xiangzhen was fortunate enough to marry a gentleman who could read and write and was well versed in books. Though her husband did not love her and was somewhat distant, he never spoke harshly to her, and she was quite content. Sadly, it was a time of chaos, and he died among the refugees.

Daring not to linger, she assumed another person's identity and took the man she had rescued to Qinzhou. At last she escaped the mire, found work as a maid, and secured food and shelter. The man was handsome and strong, and even though he was simple-minded, he treated Pang Xiangzhen as the person closest to him and cared for her tenderly. She began to consider marrying again...

But she never expected that the first thing the man who had been by her side for so long would do after regaining his memory was betray her. He exposed her as a runaway slave, and the family hosting him in Qinzhou seized her and dragged her back. She became a prisoner alongside the illegitimate child in her womb.

Even more astonishing, the important man whom the hosts treated with obsequious smiles had the exact same face as the husband whose body had never been found.

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A little extra scene:

One night, years later, the drunk Zhuang Hua was sound asleep, unaware of anything. Zhao Jin, travel-worn and arriving under cover of night, took her hand and coaxed her: