Springtime Under Lock and Key

Secret affair, possessive pursuit, an aloof beauty descending from on high for love Born into humble circumstances, Yan Rou has skin as white as snow and the beauty of a flower, with a graceful, willowy figure. Because of her extraordinary beauty, her aunt ordered her to seduce her stepson, a paragon of a man and the heir to the Duke's household. Following her aunt's instructions, Yan Rou played the lovesick, obedient girl, bringing the heir soup and pastries, arranging chance encounters, and even falling into the water. In secret, she calmly used her aunt's connections to quickly find herself a husband. Fortunately, the heir was a man of great restraint, an upright gentleman of noble character. He wasn't taken in by her little tricks, allowing her to quietly carry out the rest of her plan. Besides, the heir had long disliked her. Wouldn't it be better for him if she married someone else as soon as possible? At last, Yan Rou found a suitable man. With no qualms at all, she began preparing for her wedding. Before leaving, she cautiously tested the waters, asking if they could pretend nothing had ever happened. The heir was cold and proud, and answered disdainfully, "What past could there possibly be between us?" Yan Rou felt a little down, but soon put it behind her. Overjoyed, she put on her bridal gown, climbed into the wedding sedan, paid her respects to Heaven and Earth, and entered the bridal chamber. The moment her veil was lifted, all her anticipation froze, leaving nothing but horror. In an unfamiliar room, the heir stood in his wedding robes, his face icy and his eyes sinister. He advanced on her step by step. "Third Madam, you deceived me so thoroughly." Shen Zhi had always known that Yan Rou had been sent by his kindly-faced but ruthless stepmother to scheme against him. She was simply too stupid, her methods too crude, and her tricks too predictable. Still, she loved him so deeply that these flaws weren't impossible to put up with. Once he married his principal wife, giving Yan Rou the position of concubine would be no great trouble. He remained confident until he saw her meeting another man, smiling like a flower, her every movement alluring. Shen Zhi forced down the strange stab of pain in his heart, gritted his teeth, and walked away. He watched coldly as Yan Rou happily prepared for her wedding, watched her gracefully bid him farewell, and watched her turn and leave without a trace of reluctance or regret. Shen Zhi lowered his eyes. She had been deceiving him from beginning to end. If that was the case, she couldn't blame him for being ruthless. Patiently, he set a trap, luring her into it little by little like a skilled hunter. He would tear away every one of her disguises, strip her of every support, and make sure she could never escape his grasp! With his looks and family background, he wasn't exactly an unfair match for her. Surely, she would be delighted? Content warnings: 1. Neither protagonist is perfect. 2. Both are virgins, one-on-one romance, happy ending. 3. The characters' values are not the author's values. Feel free to criticize the characters, but don't attack the author. I admit the writing may be bad, but attacking me is not okay. Theme: People in love are not divided by status.