Shen Yuewei is peerlessly beautiful. Born the legitimate daughter of Suzhou's richest family, she was widowed at a young age, and her doting father brought her back to the Shen family.
But after her father suddenly died, people accused her of bringing misfortune to her husband and father. Her uncles set their sights on the family's vast estate, while her two half-sisters each made their own plans and chose a scholar-official and a military man as their live-in husbands.
She, however, set her sights on the monk who led the scriptures.
He had alluring features and an air of natural elegance. One glance was all it took for her to fall for him.
During the seven days of religious rites, the monk recited scriptures and worshipped Buddha every day, seeming utterly detached from worldly concerns and impeccably well-behaved. He had no memory, no support behind him, and no tangled family connections.
Shen Yuewei thought that a monk would make the perfect live-in son-in-law.
She began to flirt with him.
As she handed him tea, her fingertips brushed the back of his hand. While he recited the scriptures, she deliberately sat very close. After bathing, she let her wet hair fall loose and went to his meditation room to "ask about Buddhist teachings."
He always lowered his eyes and murmured, "Amitabha," not daring to meet her gaze. "Laywoman, please show some self-respect."
But his prayer beads turned more and more slowly, and his Adam's apple bobbed faster and faster.
That night, she pushed open the door with her clothes half removed. Her fingertips hooked into his collar, and the half-mouthful of wine she held passed easily into his mouth.
He closed his eyes, veins showing at his temples, and his prayer beads snapped with a sharp crack.
She knew it was hard for him to hold back, but she loved seeing him like this.
Later, she went to meet another potential match. While they were being lovey-dovey, the monk's eyes turned red.
She smiled and placed his hand over her heart, then hooked her slender leg around him. "Master, shall we break the precept against lust too?"
The next moment, he pulled her into his arms.
Later, she saw with her own eyes that this man, who constantly said "Amitabha," could wield a sharp sword and kill more than ten people in an instant with a single strike to the throat.
Blood splashed onto his kasaya. He wiped the blood from his blade, and when he looked up, his eyes met her shocked gaze.
Xie Yun Zhao curled his lips. "I forgot to tell you, I've remembered everything. My lady... you really do have a fearsome amount of nerve."
Reader advisory:
The heroine has had previous partners, while the hero has not. The heroine is clever and gentle. After losing his memory, the hero is a disciplined, self-controlled monk. Once his memories return, he becomes a scheming, doting husband.
(New blurb posted on October 16, with a screenshot saved as proof.)
Theme: If you like someone, go after them
