The Elder Brother's Wife

(Polished after completion; pirated copies are incomplete~)

[Honest, Kind Wife & Powerful Male Ghost]

White mourning curtains hung low in the funeral hall. The coffin of the Pei family's eldest legitimate son stood in the center as guests came to pay their respects.

A servant announced from the gate: Pei Ji, Right Vice Director of the Chancellery, had arrived.

The guests fell abruptly silent, both respectful and apprehensive.

No one had ever expected that the Pei family's illegitimate son would rise to such a position. His methods were ruthless, and he held power over the entire court.

Pei Ji strode into the funeral hall. Ignoring the guests bowing on either side, he went straight to the coffin.

Ji Lanshu, the Pei family's eldest daughter-in-law, knelt before the coffin, her expression numb, seemingly mourning her late husband.

Pei Ji bent down and personally helped his widowed sister-in-law to her feet.

"Sister-in-law, please accept my condolences." Pei Ji stared at her and spoke slowly.

With her back to the crowd, Ji Lanshu nervously pushed his hand away and lowered her eyes. "Thank you for your concern, Uncle."

Night fell. Rain pattered outside, and the bedroom door was shut tight.

Ji Lanshu was cornered, her cheeks faintly flushed as she glared at the unwelcome visitor before her.

"Weren't you quite happy with me last night, Lan-niang? Why are you so distant today?" He rubbed her wrist, smiling.

"You promised me... every other day." Ji Lanshu frowned, then added in a quiet voice, "You shouldn't have come today."

"Lan-niang." He pressed his forehead against the hollow of her neck and drew in a deep breath. "It's raining so hard. Where do you expect me to go?"

Reader's Guide:

1. Older man and younger woman. The heroine has had previous partners; the hero is a virgin. The heroine is 19 and the hero is 26.

2. The heroine is not strong or an empowered female lead. She is very honest and simple. There are other male supporting characters, and the hero has poor morals.

3. The marriage contract between the heroine and the husband mentioned in the blurb is fake and has no legal effect. Under the ancient marriage customs, they are not actually husband and wife.

---Coming Soon: My Nephew's Bride---

[Gentle, Honest Farm Girl & Hypocritical, Vicious Man in Power]

Born into the Qinghe Cui clan, Cui Yanzhi was a born favorite of heaven. His elders placed great hopes in him, his official career went smoothly, and being sent away to gain experience was merely icing on the cake.

But on the day he returned to the capital, he brought back a country girl named A Luo.

"A Luo and I are in love, and we have pledged ourselves to each other. Now that we're back in the capital, we'll complete the traditional betrothal rites and marry," Cui Yanzhi said.

The whole hall erupted. His parents and elders naturally refused. How could the legitimate son of the Cui family marry a farm girl?

Cui Yanzhi turned to seek the support of his uncle, the Marquis of Dingxiang. His uncle was powerful and influential, and the elder he had been closest to since childhood. Surely he would support him.

Sure enough, his uncle agreed, and no one else in the Cui family dared object.

Cui Yanzhi was deeply grateful. He brought his fiancée, A Luo, to pay his uncle a visit. When the marquis met A Luo, he greeted her warmly and wished the couple a lifetime together.

Everything went perfectly.

Until the eve of the wedding, when his uncle suddenly changed his mind, claiming their birth charts were incompatible and calling off the marriage.

A Luo was sent away. His uncle personally promised to find her a good husband.

Not long afterward, Cui Yanzhi received a wedding invitation from the marquis's residence.

The Marquis of Dingxiang was taking a wife, and officials throughout the court sent their congratulations. At the wedding feast, red candles blazed. Sitting among the guests, Cui Yanzhi watched the bride slowly emerge in her brilliant red wedding gown, her hair ornaments swaying lightly.

It was A Luo!

Shen Luo was born to a farming family and was skilled at everything from growing vegetables to spinning and weaving.

Since following Cui Yanzhi to the capital, she had felt completely out of place. The people here were complicated, the rules endless, and even getting married had brought obstacle after obstacle.

Cui Yanzhi comforted her, saying his uncle would help them.

But was that really true?

Imprisoned in the marquis's residence, Shen Luo looked up at the culprit. "Didn't you say you'd let me go and find me a good husband?"

"Marrying me is the best life you could have." He approached step by step, blocking out the last glimmer of daylight.

"I hate you, Cui Xuan," she said.

"You should call me your husband." Cui Xuan lowered his head and kissed her.

Theme: Love turns a cliff into level ground