[Fox-and-dog couple | Fake marriage, real intimacy | Marriage first, love later | Search for her father and solve a case + court intrigue]
The impulsive, sincere streetwise puppy Shen Hezhao x the cunning, patient, smiling fox Song Yilan
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Shen Hezhao, young owner of the Spring Breeze Tends Tea House in Kaifeng, sneaks into the bridal chamber under the pretext of delivering tea for the wedding of Song Yilang, the second son of the Kaifeng Prefecture's assistant magistrate. She wants to catch a glimpse of a jade pendant connected to her missing father.
Before she can get her hands on the pendant, the bride-to-be dies.
Shen Hezhao: ...
She only came to deliver tea for the wedding banquet. How did she end up a murder suspect the moment she looked up?
The groom, Song Yilan, stands before her in his wedding robes, his features gentle, but his words leave no room for mercy:
"You killed her. The evidence is conclusive."
Shen Hezhao, frantic and furious: "I didn't! I only came to look for a jade pendant!"
Song Yilan runs his fingertips over the white jade pendant and looks her up and down. Then he suddenly smiles.
"If this pendant is connected to your father, then you have all the more reason not to leave."
Thinking of the turbulent undercurrents of the court swirling through the wedding banquet, he leans closer and lowers his voice:
"How about a deal? Pretend to be my bride and complete the wedding rites with me. In return, I'll investigate what happened to your father. What do you say?"
Shen Hezhao's eyes light up.
She can avoid jail and look for her father. What a bargain!
/
Later, one is looking for the bride, the other for her father, and together they investigate the heretical rebels of Huayangji. The conspiracy behind the bride's death gradually comes to light, implicating the court.
Song Yilan takes a knife meant for her, his clothes stained with blood.
Shen Hezhao stays by his bedside, frantic, her eyes red. She brews medicine, changes his bandages, and waits on him hand and foot, bringing every caregiving skill she's ever learned to bear.
When Song Yilan wakes and sees her, he lowers his eyes and smiles.
Shen Hezhao: ...
For some reason, she feels uneasy.
Weren't they supposed to be pretending to be husband and wife? Why does something feel off?
/
The search for her father is full of hidden dangers, but at last she gets a lead on his whereabouts.
Shen Hezhao breathes a sigh of relief. It's time to divorce a certain someone and call it even.
Song Yilan: No.
Shen Hezhao furrows her little brows. "Husband, weren't we only pretending to get married?"
Song Yilan gives her a leisurely glance. "Who said I was pretending to marry you? We completed the wedding rites, drank from the nuptial cups, and tied our hair together. Heaven and earth witnessed it all. You can't run away."
Shen Hezhao: ...
Has she gotten herself aboard a pirate ship?
Can she still escape?
[Reader's Guide]
1. One-on-one romance, happy ending, sweet story. The heroine isn't a meek noblewoman. She's a streetwise, fearless go-getter with her wits about her. The hero is a cunning, smiling fox. Marriage first, love later.
2. Searching for her father, solving a case, and fighting for power at court: three plotlines run in parallel, with constant twists.
3. There are domestic conflicts and second male lead and female supporting character arcs. This isn't a pure, mindless fluff story. Later chapters include court intrigue and battle scenes. This is a new author with a new book. Thank you for your support! Chapter comments are open. Please bookmark and join the discussion!
Theme: A pure and earnest heart will be rewarded in the end.
Thank you to heaven, thank you to earth, thank you for your hard work~
Wow, this subject matter is very novel. I really like reading it.
The writing is good and easy to read, 😚😚 keep up the good work, looking forward to you!