A cool-faced, absent-minded, highly skilled heroine x a cunning and devious heir to a marquis's estate who puts on a show for the blind and whispers sweet nothings to the deaf
Blurb:
Wei Shaohuai, heir to the Ning'an Marquis's estate, is a peerless talent and a gentle, refined young man who has captured the hearts of countless noble maidens. But the real Wei Shaohuai is ruthless and deeply calculating.
The martial art he practices comes from the Wu Miao clan, but the manual is incomplete, making it difficult for him to break through.
Then one day, he spotted A Tan at the Cuihong Brothel.
The young woman wore clothes full of patches, yet carried an aloof, otherworldly air. She stood on the bawd's howling body and drawled, "You lied. There's no Changsheng Cup here at all."
The Changsheng Cup is a treasure of the Wu Miao clan, and A Tan is highly skilled. She has the complete martial art manual.
Wei Shaohuai brought A Tan back to the marquis's estate and promised to help her find the Changsheng Cup.
He deliberately set a trap to get injured, then said while spitting blood, "I'm fine. Miss A Tan, please don't waste your strength healing me."
A Tan stared at him blankly. "It doesn't take much strength to heal you."
Then she channeled her energy and healed Wei Shaohuai's internal injuries.
Wei Shaohuai lowered his eyes, looking guilty and remorseful. "Though I meant well in helping you find the Changsheng Cup, my poor skills have only dragged you down..."
A Tan was busy deciding whether to have fish or chicken for lunch, and wasn't paying him any attention. She merely muttered,
"Your skills are mediocre, and you're a bit dim too. You really are a burden."
The ever-proud young lord Wei clenched his fists and gritted out each word. "Miss A Tan is right..."
"You don't need to put yourself down. I have a martial art manual. Train for half a year, and you'll be unbeatable in the capital." A Tan pulled the manual from her robes and handed it to Wei Shaohuai.
Wei Shaohuai: It was that easy???
A Tan was highly skilled and easy to fool, so Wei Shaohuai tricked her into working for him.
As time passed, Wei Shaohuai fell for A Tan. He dressed in fine robes and a jade crown, trying to win her over with his looks, but A Tan just stared at the Eight Treasure Duck and drooled, not sparing him a glance.
Wei Shaohuai pretended to be gravely ill and held A Tan's hand, speaking with deep affection. "I don't have much time left. If only I could join my fate with yours, then I..."
"What's so hard about that?" A Tan heard only the words "join our fates." She returned with three incense sticks and pulled Wei Shaohuai down to his knees. He thought they were about to bow to Heaven and Earth, but the young woman solemnly declared, "Today, we swear brotherhood. We will rescue each other in danger and support each other in hardship. If either of us breaks this oath, may Heaven and Earth strike us down."
"This is... swearing brotherhood?" Wei Shaohuai's face turned ashen.
"Didn't you say you wanted to join our fates? Isn't that the same as swearing brotherhood?"
Well, couldn't this count as... progress?
*
A lighthearted, sweet romance. One true pairing, happy ending.
(First blurb: 2024.1.13; final blurb: 2026.4.23)
Theme: Sincerity is precious.
