The Powerful Minister’s Secret Mistress

[Upcoming historical romance, The Powerful Family’s Little Companion, blurb below]

Blurb for this novel

That was the first time Xu Yu met Nie Huiming.

Amid swirling snow, he approached beneath an umbrella, took off his cloak, and draped it over her snow-covered shoulders.

One glance was enough for her to realize that this distinguished gentleman looked at her differently.

But she also knew that, unless by sheer coincidence, a man of such power and status would never have anything to do with her, much less marry a lowly country girl like her.

Everything in Cangzhou had been nothing but a beautiful dream.

On the day Nie Huiming left Cangzhou, she cried her heart out, then sold everything he had given her and left town overnight with her whole family.

The money would be enough to support them all for the rest of their lives. They could start over.

-

Nie Huiming was proper and courteous, gentle and modest, but he never let anyone question his decisions. In all his years as an official, he had never made a single mistake. The only exception was the young woman in Cangzhou.

On the first day after leaving Cangzhou, Nie Huiming thought of his little Yu.

The weather was getting colder. The chilblains on her hands were so deep and severe. The pain must be unbearable.

On the second day after leaving Cangzhou, Nie Huiming missed his little Yu even more.

She was too stingy to use good charcoal. Would the smoke choke her?

After an unknown number of days away from Cangzhou, Nie Huiming could no longer sit still.

His little Yu was always so fond of crying. What if she waited and waited for him to return, cried her eyes out, and ruined her sight?

As soon as his official business was done, he immediately rode back to Cangzhou at full speed.

He would take her with him to the capital.

Where was his little Yu?

Gentle, refined older man × innocent, fragile country girl

Note:

One couple, both virgins

Fifteen-year age gap

The hero is very much a typical man of power beneath the surface, with an intensely controlling nature

The heroine is very, very, very fragile

-

[Upcoming historical romance: The Powerful Family’s Little Companion]

Zaner was bought by her young mistress to take her place as the young master’s bedchamber companion.

The young mistress was in love with someone else and refused to serve her husband, so she pushed Zaner into his arms. Later, she changed her mind and decided to marry Zaner off instead.

That day, the young master was reviewing official documents. Without even looking up, he gave a faint reply.

Zaner had signed a lifetime service contract and had been cautious from a young age. She didn’t dare complain.

She thought life as a farmer’s wife wouldn’t be so bad. If she could free herself from servitude, serving just one person for the rest of her life would be better than being a slave.

On her wedding night, the courtyard gate was suddenly slammed open. The young master of the Zhou household burst in.

-

Zhou Zicheng had been domineering and arrogant since childhood, looking down on everyone.

He knew his wife had no feelings for him, but he had never cared.

It was only a political marriage, after all. Even dull official business mattered more to him.

The only one he found interesting was the little bedchamber companion who had come with his bride. Quiet and obedient, she was like a silly little rabbit that didn’t know to seek shelter from the rain. Even soaked through, she would only blink at him in a daze. There was something amusing about her.

That day, in a rush to leave the residence on a work trip, he heard his wife say something to that thin little figure outside the gate. His thoughts were in disarray, and he didn’t listen closely.

When he finished his business and returned, the courtyard was quiet and empty. Everyone was gone.

He chased after her without a second thought, galloping on horseback. He kicked open the bridal chamber door and, amid the room’s festive red decorations, pulled the small woman into his arms, his heart aching. “Did that woman force you? I’ll set things right for you.”

For the first time, the usually obedient little companion pushed him away and stammered, “M-Master Zhou… I-I’m no longer a slave… You can’t force a free woman into marriage… That’s not, not legal…”

“Good. Very good.” Zhou Zicheng stared at her in disbelief, gritting his teeth as he bent down and gripped her chin. His thumb pressed against her lips, painted with red rouge, and he curled his mouth into a smile. “You want to talk about the law with me? In this part of the world, I am the law.”

One couple, both virgins

Coercive romance

Theme: A little fish leaping free of duckweed