[Spoiled Young Lady vs. Cool, Steadfast Eldest Brother / Untamable Hound]
After Cui Lingyu was thrown from her horse, she had a nightmare.
In her dream, the Cui household was seized, and the troops leading the raid were commanded by her eldest brother, Cui Jue.
Her father was imprisoned, the women of the household confined to the estate, and a loyal servant risked his life to help her escape.
The once-arrogant young lady fell into the mud overnight. Everyone who had once respected and fawned over her was now eager to kick her while she was down.
Some even taunted her, saying in a mocking tone that she should beg Cui Jue. Surely he would grant her a chance to live.
But Cui Lingyu was stubborn to the core and intended to go to the capital alone to plead her case.
The times were turbulent. She encountered bandits on the road, and as she hid in a panic, a young general in gleaming silver armor swept his spear forward and knocked the bandit leader from his horse.
He reined in his horse and turned. Cui Lingyu saw his face clearly.
It was the horse slave she'd once humiliated at will!
Ling Qi saw her too.
He slowly curled his lips, his voice cruel. "Kill them all. Leave no one alive."
Cui Lingyu woke with a start.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a man kneeling on the ground, covered in whip marks.
His dark eyes lifted. It was Ling Qi.
The young lady of the Cui family had been in danger and rescued by a lowly horse slave, ruining her reputation.
Cui Lingyu was spoiled and willful, and had whipped him until his skin was torn and bleeding.
Now, seeing his handsome, sharp-featured face again and remembering how ruthlessly he'd pierced someone's throat with a spear in her dream, she shuddered and asked in a trembling voice:
"Does it hurt?"
●
Cui Jue had been away from the estate for several days. When he returned, he noticed that the younger sister who had clung to him since childhood had begun avoiding him.
Worse still, a lowly horse slave had sullied her.
He'd intended to execute the slave, but then he saw his sister had taken a liking to him, smiling coyly at the man.
His sister had been led astray. It was her elder brother's failure to discipline her.
Cui Jue arranged a suitable match for her, hoping to bring her back to the right path.
But Cui Lingyu was far too unruly to tame. Before the wedding, she eloped with the horse slave. When Cui Jue caught up with them, he saw the slave pinning Cui Lingyu against a wall and kissing her.
His sister's cheeks were flushed from the savage horse slave's kisses. She had never looked so lovely.
Cui Jue rarely lost his temper, but he drew his own bow and shot an arrow at the horse slave.
Cui Lingyu was taken back and placed under guard.
That night, the door opened. Cui Jue's figure was shrouded in the dim darkness, his expression inscrutable.
He slowly slipped the Buddhist prayer beads from his wrist, his voice so calm it made the heart tremble.
"I gave you a choice: remain my sister, or become my wife.
Since you no longer wish to call me your elder brother, then become my wife."
●
Ling Qi had once been a lowly horse slave.
His young lady was a nasty little fool, but she was so beautiful, especially when she cried.
When her whip came down, her fragrance reached him before the pain did.
He watched her from the shadows, hoping Cui Lingyu would treat him even worse. Then, when he finally bullied her back, he wouldn't go soft, no matter how beautifully she cried.
Reader's Guide: 1. The heroine has no sexual experience, and both male leads do. Both male leads have plenty of scenes.
2. The confiscation of the family estate has another reason behind it. The adoptive brother and the heroine have no blood feud and are not related by blood.
3. Contains plenty of melodramatic fetishes. The male leads are all bad people, and the story includes forced-love elements. There is no endorsement of these themes. Please don't apply the story's values to real life. No writing advice, please.
Blurb written on July 24, 2026. Screenshot saved.
Theme: Stay strong and persevere, even in adversity.
