I Still Haven't Managed to Become the Princess's Consort

Corruption arc × mildly coercive romance × locked-room play

[A flighty princess who never keeps her word × a purehearted, highly skilled puppy who turns dark]

Zhu Jinzhao is a princess of the dynasty, with countless male favorites in her household.

War forces her to hide her identity among the common people, where she meets Jiang Duzhou.

He is a highly skilled swordsman, sincere and gentle,

so inexperienced that he doesn't even realize he's fallen for her. Blushing, he can only ask in confusion whether his racing heart means he's sick.

And more importantly, he's handsome too, which makes Zhu Jinzhao a little tempted.

So when he confesses his feelings, she gladly accepts.

She loves how he never hides the affection in his gaze when he looks at her,

and how he always goes along with whatever she wants.

When their love is at its most passionate, he holds her close and tells her over and over how much he loves her.

When peace returns to the land, she takes him back to the Princess's Estate, and everything goes back to normal.

The only problem is that Jiang Duzhou is greedy. He keeps wanting to marry her.

His status is too low for him to be a consort. She has already dismissed most of her male favorites, so why is he still dissatisfied?

The young man who used to obey her in everything grows more and more defiant, until he dares to kidnap her right out of the estate.

He has trained in martial arts since childhood and is highly skilled. No one can stop him.

Armed with nothing but a single blade, he takes down every guard in the Princess's Estate.

When Zhu Jinzhao wakes again, all around her is pitch-black,

and all she can feel is his body heat slowly drawing closer.

For a long while, nothing happens. Then all she hears beside her ear is a choked voice saying:

“I only want us to be a real married couple.”

*

The first time Jiang Duzhou sees her, his heart won't stop pounding. He learns that she's a wealthy young lady.

As they spend more time together, Jiang Duzhou realizes he's fallen for her.

One night, the young lady takes the initiative and kisses him. Jiang Duzhou panics and jumps out the window to escape.

He spends the whole night outside thinking it over. They've been intimate, so they ought to get married.

The next day, they formally confess their feelings, and the young lady agrees to marry him.

She even says he's the one she loves most.

When peace returns, they begin making wedding preparations.

But on the eve of their wedding, she suddenly asks him, “Jiang Duzhou, would you come back with me?”

He has no idea what she means, until he sees the Imperial Guards enter the courtyard and kneel at her feet, calling her Princess.

Naturally, their wedding is called off.

After returning with Zhu Jinzhao, Jiang Duzhou discovers the men in her household.

He agonizes over it, but remembering all the sweet things she said to him, he decides to stay. At least they love each other.

It's just that all those flashy men have to go.

Then one day, he accidentally catches her being intimate with another man.

Only then does he understand the difference between being someone's favorite and being their only one,

and realize that she has never kept her word.

Since that's how it is, he'll have to use other means to teach her to be faithful.

*

[Short version]

Jiang Duzhou wants to become the princess's consort.

Zhu Jinzhao says, “You're the only man in my household. What more could you want?”

Zhu Jinzhao also says, “Your status is too low for you to be my consort.”

Zhu Jinzhao says again, “I won't marry anyone anyway. So what if I keep male favorites? You're the only one I have.”

Jiang Duzhou seems convinced.

Later, he can't figure out why she never follows through on anything she says.

BG romance, female lead has prior sexual experience, male lead is chaste

Reader's Guide

1. The story begins when the leads meet. The male lead falls for her almost at first sight.

2. The female lead has prior sexual experience, while the male lead is chaste!!! After they confess their feelings, she will also be intimate with other male characters.

The heroine is easily swayed by good looks, and she's a very fickle young woman.

3. Everything serves the plot. The setting is very loose, with countless original details.

4. This is mainly for readers who enjoy loyal dogs driven mad, dark turns, and confinement romance.

5. Both leads have flaws. Neither is perfect.

6. This is a romance-focused story, not a plot-focused one, and the heroine is not strong.

Qi Chu was once a poor scholar in Qingshui County.

He and Yu Zhiyue were in love. Though they lived in poverty, they were happy, and he was content.

He just couldn't bear to let Yu Zhiyue suffer with him.

Holding her hand, he said, “Once I pass the autumn provincial exams, we'll get married.”

But before the exams even came around, Yu Zhiyue disappeared.

He tried searching for her and asking people for help. A poor scholar tried every way he could, but all his efforts came to nothing.

Later, he climbed the ranks, entering officialdom from a humble background and rising rapidly. By the age of thirty, he had become the dynasty's chief minister, with a dark and unpredictable temperament.

That year, a major case involving the Huabei salt administration came to light, implicating Lu Zhao, the military governor of Huabei.

Lu Zhao arrived at his door bearing lavish gifts and asked for an audience. He was turned away three times. On the fourth attempt, he finally knelt before Qi Chu, bringing his wife with him.

Qi Chu sat in the seat of honor, looking down at them. His gaze swept casually across the room, then suddenly stopped.

He saw the woman behind Lu Zhao.

Her head was bowed. She was much thinner, and her face had lost the fullness of her girlhood, but he recognized her at a glance. Eight years had passed, yet he could still recognize the sound of her breathing.

Yu Zhiyue.

He held his temper in check and patiently waited for Lu Zhao to finish pleading.

“Helping you out wouldn't be difficult, Lord Lu.”

He looked up, staring directly at the clueless Yu Zhiyue behind Lu Zhao.

“Give me your wife.”

Yu Zhiyue stayed at Qi Chu's residence for a long time,

and at last she received word that her husband was safe and sound.

Over dinner, she asked cautiously, “Lord Qi, may I go home now?”

“You still want to go back?!” Qi Chu crushed the bowl and chopsticks in his hand.

The female lead has prior sexual experience; the male lead is chaste.

The Xie and Qiao families have been close for generations,

so Xie Hui and Qiao Shuyao naturally grew up together.

After sixteen years as childhood sweethearts,

Xie Hui thought they'd keep bickering and teasing each other for the rest of their lives.

Qiao Shuyao had to like him too. They were in love with each other,

and surely they were a match made in heaven.

He planned to propose in early spring, and had already revised the list of betrothal gifts four times.

Afraid it wasn't complete enough, he kept adding more and more.

Everything was ready. All he needed was Qiao Shuyao's consent.

He picked an auspicious date and went to propose in person,

bringing not only a generous selection of gifts, but also Qiao Shuyao's favorite pastries.

But she wasn't there.

The gatekeeper said awkwardly, “The young lady went out with the new top scholar, Master Shen.”

Xie Hui went straight to the place where they were spending the day.

Under a peach tree, he saw Qiao Shuyao standing with Shen Qinghuai.

She stumbled slightly, and Shen Qinghuai reached out to steady her. She looked up at him and smiled,

and the two of them looked just like a happily married couple.

Xie Hui stood to one side, clenching his hand until the pastries were crushed beyond recognition.

Weren't we in love with each other?

But Shuyao, how could you fall for someone else?

How could you change your heart?

People who change their hearts must be punished.

Theme: Love can overcome anything.