The Marquis's Heir's Beautiful Concubine

Hui Niang is the daughter of a minor fifth-rank official. Her birth mother died young, and when she was sixteen and marriage talks began, her father, eager to curry favor with the powerful, offered her to Cheng Yan, the heir to a marquis's title, who had been recuperating in Jiangnan and was passing through on his way back to the capital.

Her betrothed, to whom she had been promised as a baby, also came to break off their engagement, saying only that he was not worthy of her.

In tears, Hui Niang climbed into the carriage and followed Cheng Yan back to the capital. She had thought she would become his concubine and asked only for a place to live. But when they arrived, Cheng Yan had a residence set up for her outside his manor.

It turned out she was not even his concubine, merely a woman he kept on the side.

Alone and helpless in the sprawling capital, Hui Niang dared not complain. She spent her days anxiously in that residence, never knowing when she might be given away to someone else.

Cheng Yan treated her well. He came every day, often bringing her all sorts of things to please her, and was careful not to let her suffer the slightest grievance. He never forced her to do anything.

One day, after drinking a little, Cheng Yan told her he ought to marry.

Hui Niang suddenly felt that the moment she had been waiting for had finally come. She knelt before him and begged him to give her the status of a concubine.

Cheng Yan paused, then said he would go back and discuss it before deciding.

Hui Niang smiled bitterly to herself. That was only right. Cheng Yan's future wife would naturally have to be consulted about taking a concubine. Hui Niang only hoped she would be kind and let her have a place to live out her days.

In the first year of being Cheng Yan's concubine, he did not marry.

In the second year of being Cheng Yan's concubine, he did not marry.

In the third year of being Cheng Yan's concubine, Cheng Yan finally could not help asking her,

Why did she not want to be his wife, but wanted to be his concubine?

Reader's note:

I refuse to believe I'm hopeless at writing romance. That's it, I can definitely write a sweet little love story.

Premise: May the world, and you, always be treated with kindness