My Failed Seduction Backfires

A clumsy, unreliable princess matchmaker × a refined, gentle, darkly scheming madman

Lin Wanqing transmigrated into a book and became a princess of a fallen kingdom.

More precisely, she was a princess one year before the kingdom fell.

In the original story, the princess survived the fall of her kingdom only to be struck by lightning and die while being escorted away. She was a more minor character than minor characters came.

Her only purpose after being transmigrated into the book was to help the second male lead, Wen Chengyi, win the heroine’s heart and marry the younger sister he had secretly loved for years.

Wen Chengyi had been born a beggar. At four, he was adopted by chance by the Marchioness of Yongchang. At five, he earned the title of heir to the marquisate after protecting the newborn princess from an assassin.

Everyone knew that the young Marquis Wen was as elegant as a jade tree and as graceful and composed as an orchid. He was also extremely indulgent toward Wen Wanting, the marquisate’s legitimate daughter. Whatever she asked for, he would give her.

But the love of one was unrequited by the other.

If she could bring about this marriage, it would be a good deed.

But as the story progressed, her target veered wildly off course.

Lin Wanqing placed a hand on Wen Chengyi’s chest and breathed softly, “I only wish for you and the one you love to grow old together, devoted to each other year after year, day after day.”

“As the princess wishes.”

A fierce wind and torrential rain swept the fallen petals across the ground. The rain lasted until sunrise, when the flowers lay scattered and the storm finally passed.

System: [Romance mission failed! You will be trapped in the book’s world and unable to return!]

Lin Wanqing: I still have a mysterious reward I haven’t used. I want to change my mission.

[New mission unlocked: Become the male lead’s empress.]

Lin Wanqing: “The wedding date has been set. Let’s stop entangling ourselves. Can we treat everything that happened between us as a brief, fleeting affair?”

“Are you trying to abandon me and marry someone else?” The man laughed, but his eyes were colder than ice.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint the princess.” Wen Chengyi drew a dagger and held it close to Lin Wanqing’s neck.

“I’m afraid I cannot grant your wish.”

Reader’s Guide:

The male lead and second male lead are blood-related brothers.

The early part of the story is lighthearted and fun, but later the male lead goes mad and steals the heroine away. He is not the usual kind of mad.

The heroine will grow stronger later on.

An alternate-history setting with plenty of authorial liberties.

None of the characters are perfect. Read with care if that bothers you.

The synopsis was conceived in June 2025.

One heroine, two male leads. Both men are virgins. (Pseudo-incest.)

The System doesn’t do much at first, but it will play a major role later.

Logic takes a back seat to the plot.

Theme: Failure is the mother of success