My Cousin Luoying

In the twenty-fourth year of the Jinghe era, war ravaged the northwest. The people were displaced and endured unbearable hardship.

A war took the lives of both parents of Liu Luoying, the only daughter of the Liu family.

When Madam Xu Wanxin of the Duke of Dingguo heard the news, she quickly arranged for someone to bring the poor child to the capital.

Seeing the little girl, so thin and timid, Xu Wanxin burst into tears before she could say a word.

That year, Luoying was ten.

In the twenty-ninth year of the Jinghe era, Liu Luoying met Zhou Yanqi, who had just returned to the capital, at the New Year's Eve family banquet.

Zhou Yanqi wore black robes. He was breathtakingly handsome, imposing, and dashing. Liu Luoying couldn't help sneaking a second glance.

Noticing her gaze, Zhou Yanqi turned and smiled at her roguishly.

Liu Luoying's face immediately flushed. She curtsied and softly said, "Greetings, Cousin Yanqi."

That year, Luoying was fifteen.

The emperor passed away, and a nine-year-old succeeded him to the throne.

The young emperor was narrow-minded, sensitive, and suspicious. He eliminated his rivals, distrusted his close ministers, and feared the powerful noble families. Even the Duke of Dingguo's household, loyal for generations, could not escape his suspicions.

To protect the duke's household, the duke came up with the idea of withdrawing from public life.

His first step was to break off Zhou Yanqi's betrothal to the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an and force him to marry Liu Luoying, who had lost both parents and could offer the Zhou family no advantage.

That year, Luoying was seventeen.

Zhou Yanqi, heir to the Duke of Dingguo, had been sent by the duke to train with the army when he was young.

He had seen all kinds of people and situations, and could not stand those who fawned and pretended to be something they weren't,

like his distant cousin, who was skilled at currying favor and flattering people to please his mother.

So when his father forced him to marry his cousin Luoying, he was a thousand times unwilling.

He didn't know that Luoying didn't want this marriage either.

Reading Guide:

* The story of a young orphan's struggle to survive.

* Only one love interest, body and soul.

* Slow burn, ensemble cast, domestic family life, with a touch of political intrigue.

* Marriage first, love later, from disliking each other to supporting one another.

Theme: Treasure the present and live well