Trapped by a Seductive Courtesan

Shang Wu, Jiangzhou’s top courtesan, was sent as a gift to a powerful figure.

She changed behind a screen, then turned around to discover that her host was a young girl with delicate, innocent features.

Shang Wu’s fingers trembled, then she smiled.

So what if she was a woman? Any branch worth climbing was a good branch.

Lu Xuanli, the only daughter of the regent, had seen plenty of people grovel for her favor, but never anyone staring at her so boldly.

The courtesan’s eyes glittered as her voice grew as soft as honey:

“My lady… would you teach me what it means to ‘attend’ to someone?”

Later, Shang Wu lured Lu Xuanli step by step into a gentle trap.

Lu Xuanli thought she had tamed a caged bird.

Little did she know the bird had chosen its perch long ago.

“Climbing onto my branch comes at a price.”

[Reader’s Guide]

1. They’re both versatile, but Lu takes the lead more often.

2. 1v1, each other’s first love, both virgins, mutual salvation, HE! They only ever belong to each other, body and soul.

3. Set in a fictional dynasty, with plenty of invented details. The political intrigue exists to serve the romance and sexual tension, so please don’t overthink the historical accuracy.

Coming next: The Sweet-Hearted Schemer Childhood Friend Keeps Trying to Lure Me

[Blurb]

Qi Ran had disliked her older brother ever since she was little.

There was a simple reason.

He’d stolen Jiang Zhiwu, the childhood-friend big sister she’d been glued to since they were kids!

She and Jiang Zhiwu were only three years apart, and she was the one who followed Jiang Zhiwu around every day. So why, just because their families arranged a marriage, did Jiang Zhiwu become her future sister-in-law?

The worst part was that at every family gathering, her cold older brother would flash her a “provocative” smile.

Her brother’s thoughts: My little sister is looking at me again today. I should smile and show her a little brotherly affection.

Qi Ran’s thoughts: He’s making fun of me! He’s definitely provoking me! I’m furious. One day I’ll kick him out of the house!

Then, on the eve of the engagement party, her brother suddenly bought a standing-room train ticket and ran away overnight.

The family descended into chaos. In a moment of impulse, Qi Ran thumped her chest and shouted, “One of the Qi family’s men has run off, but there’s still a Qi family woman! I’ll take his place in the engagement!”

She expected Jiang Zhiwu to resist and burst into tears.

Instead, her usually poised and gentle childhood friend smiled, hooked an arm around her neck, and whispered in her ear, “All right. You’d better keep your word, little sister.”

It was only after they got married that Qi Ran stumbled upon the truth.

The chat history between her brother and Jiang Zhiwu was suspiciously clean. Their messages were all along these lines:

Brother: Got the plane ticket. Cover for me tonight.

Jiang Zhiwu: Okay, good luck eloping.

So they’d both been putting on an act. Her brother had someone he liked all along, and she was the only one who’d been genuinely jealous!

Late one night.

Wearing a silk slip, Jiang Zhiwu backed Qi Ran into the corner of the sofa. She gently tipped Qi Ran’s chin up with a fingertip, her eyes sparkling and her voice alluring. “You’re always so protective of me around other people. Why are you hiding so far away now? You can’t even bring yourself to call me big sister?”

Qi Ran blushed and swallowed, her legs going a little weak, but her words stayed defiant. “Who says I can’t? Fine, I’ll call you!”

After they were married.

Qi Ran was always careful around Jiang Zhiwu, since Jiang had once said she only saw her as a little sister. To avoid annoying her, Qi Ran acted like a perfect gentleman every day and slept so close to the edge of the bed she might as well have fallen off.

Until one stormy night.

Her poised, gentle childhood friend from the daytime, dressed in a thin nightshirt obviously two sizes too big, squirmed into her arms like a boneless cat.

Qi Ran went rigid, not daring to move.

But the woman in her arms pushed her luck, deliberately breathing warmly against her neck, her voice so alluring it was irresistible:

“Little sister, when are you going to fulfill your duties as a wife?”

Theme: Women should stand on their own