After the Ghost Marriage

★ Good girl X reckless bad boy

★ Both virgins, face-slapping, romantic rivals, a sweet story of marriage first and love later

Yu Chuxian is the beautiful and dazzling daughter of the Marquis of Chengan's concubine, famous far and wide, yet she isn't even allowed through the gates of the marquis's estate.

Fortunately, her mother loves her, and her childhood sweetheart protects her.

Her life is fairly peaceful.

But when her legitimate elder sister goes missing, the Yu family drives away Yu Chuxian's childhood sweetheart and kills her mother, then abducts her to take her sister's place as the bride, all to preserve their marriage alliance with the Duke of Xing's family.

Unexpectedly, half a month before the wedding, her elder sister returns safely. The whole family celebrates, and the heir to the Duke of Xing is delighted.

No one pays any attention to Yu Chuxian, who is alone, weeping for her deceased mother on the seventh day after her death.

Just like that, Yu Chuxian becomes an unwanted person in the marquis's household, and is sent to the place unwanted people are meant to go: a ghost marriage to Prince Qin's memorial tablet.

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Prince Qin, Jiang Tingyun, is handsome and refined, with a record of outstanding military achievements.

He is the emperor's most beloved son and the dream of every young lady in the capital. When he dies in battle, everyone in the city mourns.

A ghost marriage to him could bring limitless wealth, but it would ruin her life.

On the wedding day,

her stepmother arrives with her elder sister and the heir to the Duke of Xing, ostensibly to see her off, but really to watch her become a laughingstock.

Hugging the memorial tablet, Yu Chuxian is utterly despondent.

She thinks she'll never be able to turn her life around, but just as she is about to bow to Heaven and Earth, a young man in black bursts in. He kicks aside the Yu family's guards, breaks the ribs of the Duke of Xing's servants, and firmly takes her hand.

"Don't be afraid."

His phoenix eyes gaze at her, bright as the sun slowly rising over distant mountains in winter.

Her stepmother and the others are furious, yet can only grit their teeth and kneel before them, bowing humbly.

"We pay our respects to His Highness Prince Qin and Her Highness the Princess Consort."

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[Bonus scene]

Jiang Tingyun returns after faking his death, inexplicably married to a woman who is also the daughter of his enemy.

He doesn't like her. She's so annoying. What a pain.

But considering her tragic background and the fact she has nowhere else to go, letting her stay in the prince's residence isn't out of the question. He just feels sorry that she's so young and already has to live as a widow.

When the emperor worries that she and her childhood sweetheart still have feelings for each other, he remains unmoved.

When his brother-in-law repeatedly tries to court her, he doesn't care at all.

He thinks this is just how things will be between him and Yu Chuxian for the rest of their lives.

Until one day,

the young lady falls into the water, and he has no choice but to hold her in his arms to save her. Her warmth and softness stir his heart...

After she leaves, he remains rooted to the spot for a long time.

Thinking of all those admirers she can never seem to shake, Prince Qin, whose head is now covered in green, scratches his head in a panic.

Just who is the one who's young and already stuck living as a widow?!

(2024.7.19)

Theme: Find contentment in life's small blessings, and let love arrive at the right time.