Humiliating the Foxlike Taoist Priest

A beautiful, flirtatious, lovesick Daoist priest x a noblewoman adored by all

Pursuing his wife / lovesick / taboo romance

Lin Feiyu hates being pressured to marry, so she flees from a matchmaking banquet.

She happens upon a Daoist priest, who smiles as he lifts the curtain of her carriage. “Your fate is missing me.”

Lin Feiyu thinks it’s absurd, but when she looks up and sees his exquisite face, her heart gives an unexpected flutter.

Perhaps she should take him home. That would be one way to fend off the matchmaking pressure.

Yes, just to fend it off.

But she soon realizes that Ruan Qifeng is rather strange.

For instance, his collar always falls just right, revealing his elegant collarbones as he gazes at her with a seductive look in his eyes.

He’s all smiles and charm when he’s trying to please her, yet when his mind wanders, he’s serene and otherworldly, like an immortal.

Unable to see through Ruan Qifeng, she finds herself drawn closer to him, little by little.

Closer, until she forgets the shackles of propriety, and propriety falls apart.

With her temples damp, she strokes Ruan Qifeng’s flushed brows and eyes. “After a little while, you can marry into my family.”

*

The political situation in the capital takes a sudden turn, and as a stopgap measure, Lin Feiyu becomes engaged to the Second Prince.

The Second Prince is unfailingly gentle, making her feel as if she’s basking in the spring breeze.

In the dead of night, while the Second Prince sleeps beside her,

someone seizes her waist, hot breath brushing her neck.

The forbidden temptation makes her fall.

Once her breathing settles, she presses her lips together. “Go back. Don’t come again.”

Ruan Qifeng acts as if he hasn’t heard her. Instead, he becomes even more brazen, clinging to her day and night.

Lin Feiyu: …

She thinks Ruan Qifeng has no sense of what’s appropriate and suggests they part ways.

On the day the betrothal gifts arrive, a ten-mile procession of red wedding finery stretches out before them.

But, strangely, the Second Prince has disappeared.

As Lin Feiyu grows increasingly anxious, someone wraps an arm around her waist. A taunting voice murmurs in her ear:

“Who are you waiting for, Miss? Surely you don’t really want to marry the Second Prince and live happily ever after?”

Lin Feiyu struggles violently, only to see amusement and madness in Ruan Qifeng’s dark eyes.

“Now you have two choices, Miss. You can wear mourning, or…”

“Marry me.”

1. The male lead has a hidden identity that will be revealed, and he has ulterior motives for approaching the female lead.

2. Most of the story features humiliation and torment; the male lead’s lovesick breakdown later leads to a groveling redemption arc.

3. Includes various kinds of taboo relationships.

4. Both leads are sexually inexperienced; happy ending.

My next planned novel is Confessing to Him, Getting Rejected, Then Kissing His Arch-Rival. Please add it to your reading list!

Bright and straightforward adopted daughter x reserved, proper adoptive father x arrogant, scheming powerful official. 200,000 words already drafted, coming soon.

The powerful official Shen Tingyun is aloof and self-possessed. He raised Shen Zhiyi with his own hands.

He taught her manners and morals, right from wrong, and the proper bonds between people. The flowers he carefully cultivated have now come of age.

But that night, he hears Shen Zhiyi’s soft voice by his ear:

“Tingyun, I don’t want to be your daughter anymore. I want…”

*

At first, Shen Zhiyi never meant to confess her feelings to Shen Tingyun.

But she called him Tingyun, and he never stopped her. She thought it was a special name shared only between them.

Until she sees Shen Tingyun entering and leaving a teahouse with a woman, who affectionately calls him “Tingyun.”

Shen Zhiyi realizes that Shen Tingyun is already twenty-eight, and there’s nothing unusual about him taking a wife.

On the day she comes of age, she can no longer hold back.

But when she looks up, her heart full of hope, his disgust and icy stare cut her to the quick.

“Shen Zhiyi, you’re drunk. Don’t ever let me hear you say that again.”

*

Shen Zhiyi’s heart turns to ash, and from that day on, Shen Tingyun avoids her.

Unable to bear watching Shen Tingyun marry, Shen Zhiyi decides to marry someone else first.

She sets her sights on Shen Tingyun’s political rival, Xie Yu.

Xie Yu, Minister of Justice, is at daggers drawn with Shen Tingyun, but has always treated her well.

That night, Shen Zhiyi stops Xie Yu’s carriage.

“Lord Xie, if you’re still unmarried, would you consider me?”

Xie Yu lifts the carriage curtain and replies gently, “Do you know what you’re doing, Zhiyi?”

At the entrance to the Shen residence, inside Xie Yu’s carriage, she sits in his lap.

Xie Yu gently wipes her tears. “Have you finished crying? Should you go home now? Hmm? Don’t be impulsive.”

Shen Zhiyi looks at Xie Yu, so close to her, and suddenly her heart races. Nervously, she leans in and kisses him.

Xie Yu pauses, then gently caresses her face and patiently guides her along.

“Good girl. Open your mouth a little more and relax.”

But then the carriage curtain blows open, revealing Shen Tingyun’s cold, grim face.

He reaches out to her, his voice sharp. “Shen Zhiyi, come here.”

Shen Zhiyi’s back goes numb, but defiance makes her cling to Xie Yu.

“Brother Yu and I have known each other for a long time. We have a lot to talk about. Father, go home first.”

Not Tingyun, but Father, just as Shen Tingyun wanted.

Yet Shen Tingyun’s fingertips turn white, and he cannot bring himself to ask the question.

…Don’t you like me? Why, now…?

*

Shen Zhiyi and Xie Yu obtain an imperial decree and marry that very day. Gradually, she stops staying overnight at the Shen residence.

On the rare occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Shen Tingyun finally gets her to stay for dinner at the Shen residence.

He calmly reminds her, “You’re not married yet. You should be sleeping at home.”

“No, Father. Brother Yu is waiting for me.”

She turns to leave, but he grabs her by the wrist.

“Waiting for you? What for, to kiss you? Hold you? What else? Shen Zhiyi, have you no shame? Is this what I taught you?!”

Shen Tingyun stares at her, his gaze lingering on her lips.

He cups Shen Zhiyi’s face and closes his eyes, trembling.

“…Shen Zhiyi, don’t go. I’ll teach you.”

The age gaps are thirteen and ten years. Please don’t read if that bothers you.

The leads are not related by blood.

All the male leads are sexually inexperienced.

Theme: You are not a fish, so how can you know the joy of fish?