After I Was Widowed, My Late Husband’s Younger Brother Claimed Me by Force

【The first five chapters have been extensively revised. If you've read them before, please take the time to start from the beginning again.】 【Honest, widowed farmwoman × brooding, obsessive younger brother-in-law】 Because of a marriage contract, Meng He became the wife of the Xue family's eldest son. She had been a country girl, but overnight found herself married into a prominent household. But her husband was frail, and before they had even been married for two years, he fell ill and died, leaving Meng He widowed at a young age. On the day of the funeral, her mother-in-law handed her divorce papers. Meng He refused to leave, begging desperately to stay with the Xue family and live out her days in a secluded courtyard. Then, a year later, an imperial edict arrived. The Xue family was sentenced to execution in its entirety for crimes including salt smuggling and human trafficking. When Meng He opened her eyes again, she had returned to her husband's funeral. The incense was still burning. Her mother-in-law was pointing at her and cursing her for bringing her husband to an early grave, then slapped divorce papers down in front of her. Without a word, Meng He picked up a brush and signed. But the Xue family still held the indenture of Yingge, her maid and dearest friend. Just as she was at a loss, Xue Wangyan spoke in a mild voice, his expression composed. "Sister-in-law, you have nowhere to go. Would you be willing to come live with me? I'll get your maid's contract back for you." With nowhere else to turn, Meng He agreed. Little did she know that her small nod was like letting a wolf into the house. From then on, she had stepped into the vast cage he had carefully prepared for her. - Xue Wangyan, the youngest son of a concubine in the Xue family, had been sent to the border town to be raised from childhood, forgotten by everyone. Others thought him gentle, kind, respectful, and thrifty, but in truth his nature had long since twisted into obsession. He spent ten years studying for the imperial examinations. No one knew that he had passed the highest level and become a powerful minister with authority to conduct secret investigations and direct access to the emperor. He settled his widowed sister-in-law under his roof, living alongside her day and night in the same courtyard, watching as she, so gentle and obedient, remained trapped in his grasp. They were together from morning to night, with warmth and fragrance lingering everywhere. Each time she crossed a line, Meng He tossed and turned, filled with regret. But Xue Wangyan was like a ghost clinging to her bones, wrapping her in tenderness as he tightened his hold step by step. He beguiled her without a word, quietly encroaching on her, leaving her no way out and trapping her firmly in the little world he had made for them. He had coveted his elder brother's marriage contract for a long time. He was determined to claim his elder brother's widow. Reader's guide 1. The female lead is not a virgin; the male lead is. Happy ending. Please don't read if that bothers you. 2. The male lead is an obsessive, deranged, lovesick man desperate to be loved. He's an imperfect character and a bad person. 3. An imagined setting. The later plot includes the male lead chasing after his wife, running away while pregnant, and other melodramatic tropes involving an entire cast of villains. There's a strong sense of forbidden romance, so please don't read if that bothers you. 4. Planning to start posting around September. The entire story is written in advance; I won't abandon it. I take every story seriously, and I hope you enjoy reading. Theme: Everyone must bear the consequences of their actions.