The Scheming Tyrant Fights to Claim What's His

[Sweet-faced, sharp-minded, gentle schemer and cunning old fox: a true mastermind in a chaotic age VS a beautiful, optimistic orphan who thinks she's a schemer] [Long-laid plans + devoted love + step-by-step schemes + gentle, sweet forced romance + HE]

Jiang Zhiheng's mother was the most beautiful woman of a chaotic age, fought over by countless men. Jiang Zhiheng had plenty of unofficial fathers. The last was Prince Guangping, the overlord of Northern Yan.

And she got a big brother as a bonus.

The heir, Pei Yuzhi, was venomous, hard to kill, and impossible to deal with.

After her mother died of illness, Prince Guangping fell sick, and no one was left to keep Pei Yuzhi in check. Jiang Zhiheng was afraid Pei Yuzhi would drag her into the bridal chamber, and also afraid the princess consort would bundle her off to Liaoguo as a bride. Obviously, running away was her best option.

But Pei Yuzhi kept too close an eye on her.

Just when she needed help, an opportunity fell into her lap.

Meng Jinghe, ruler of Southern Wu, arrived, declaring that he would marry the daughter of the Marquis of Guangping. Jiang Zhiheng dreamed of escaping, but she didn't dare make a deal with a tiger.

By a twist of fate, though, she kept stumbling onto his secrets.

He had come alone into Prince Guangping's territory, yet dared brazenly bribe the marquis's retainers, plant spies, and incite everyone to rebel. And... he was impotent...

He wasn't flustered or ashamed, nor did he show any murderous intent to silence her. Instead, he was frank and courteous, smiling gently. "I beg you to keep this confidential, Miss Jiang. In return, I can grant one wish of yours."

Her greatest wish, of course, was to escape Pei Yuzhi's clutches.

She'd met plenty of men, and they all wanted the same thing in the bedchamber. This man seemed like a refined gentleman, and he was impotent. It looked as though Heaven was finally on her side. But who knew what schemes he was cooking up?

Jiang Zhiheng was wary by nature, but fortune kept lending her a hand. By sheer chance, she got hold of Meng Jinghe's most dangerous secret!

The cautious hunter Jiang Zhiheng smiled. "Young Master Meng, I can help you get what you want. In exchange, you help me leave Prince Guangping's estate."

Meng Jinghe wore a moon-white robe, gentle and refined as jade. He smiled too, seeming even more certain of victory than she was.

"It's a deal. I'll pretend to marry you and make sure you leave Bianjing openly and honorably."

With ten miles of wedding finery and gongs and drums filling the air, they arrived in his territory, Jiangning. Jiang Zhiheng packed her things and politely said goodbye. Meng Jinghe approached at an unhurried pace, backing her onto the crimson wedding bed. Their shadows entwined on the wall. Still smiling warmly, he looked down at her, his voice gentle but his oppressive presence impossible to ignore.

"I only agreed to take you out of Bianjing. I never agreed to let you leave Jiangning."

Oh no.

Meng Jinghe was even harder to handle than Pei Yuzhi!

Meng Jinghe: I laid a vast net, all for you.

Reader's Guide:

A gentle, sweet forced romance. The male lead starts off soft, tricking her into coming home with him, then later keeps her by force. Even a gentle forced romance is still forced romance! Forced romance!

An alternate ancient setting, with official systems drawing on the Tang, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, Song, and Ming.

The male lead is not impotent. The heroine, male lead, and second male lead are all sexually inexperienced.

Theme: Beauty is not a crime