A Concubine's Allure

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I'm@"Marrying the Powerful Eunuch". Please add it to your reading list~

Blurb:

Chu Rongwan was the legitimate daughter of the Chu family, raised in the inner chambers. But her mother died young, and then misfortune befell the family.

Her father and stepmother cruelly ruined her life. They brought her back from her hometown of Xiangzhou and sent her to a powerful official as a concubine, trading her for the family's future prosperity.

That night, beneath the red bridal veil, Chu Rongwan couldn't stop crying. Her body trembled violently with fear.

She had heard that Xiao Ningxi was ruthless and cruel, and even the Crown Prince had to give him a wide berth.

Soon, someone lifted the red veil and tipped up her chin with warm fingertips.

She looked up and saw a handsome young man with deep eyes and a gentle smile. "Don't be afraid. I'll treat you well from now on."

That smile moved her heart in an instant.

In the years that followed, Chu Rongwan still remembered his promise that day. He truly spent the rest of his life making good on it. Born into a family of powerful nobles, he was a fallen young lord burdened with great responsibility, destined to be far from blameless. He had saved lives, but his hands were also stained with blood.

Beyond all that, there was only one person in his heart.

All his cruelty turned to tenderness. "My wife, I'm afraid I'll go to hell someday. When I die, don't be buried with me. The name in my record of life and death carries too much killing intent. If the King of Hell sees it, you'll be dragged down with me."

Reader's notes:

1. The male lead isn't a virgin, but he devotes himself exclusively to the female lead from the start!

2. This story isn't angsty.

3. If anything in the story feels inconsiderate, the characters' values don't represent the author's. Please go easy on me~

Next story blurb: "Marrying the Powerful Eunuch"

Beautiful, sweet-natured princess X ruthless, scheming eunuch

Jingshu died on the day Gong Qing's forces were defeated. In the heavy snow, she walked barefoot onto the snow-covered city wall.

She leaped from the tower, and all things became empty.

When she opened her eyes again, the wicked new emperor was ascending the throne, and she was about to be sent off as a princess bride to a barbarian land.

In this life, she swore to escape her fate.

She would give up her prestigious identity as a princess and seek out Shen Huaiyan, the emperor's favorite. In her previous life, he had been the eunuch she ordered flogged and expelled from the palace.

Everyone knew that the eunuch Shen Huaiyan held power over the court, deposed and enthroned emperors, and threw the government into chaos.

But no one knew that Shen Huaiyan had been brought into the palace by Jingshu herself, becoming a young eunuch.

The Xiongnu were harassing the border, and the emperor planned to send a princess to marry into their tribe. The best candidate was Princess Jingshu.

Princess Jingshu humbled herself to beg Shen Huaiyan, who held the court in the palm of his hand. At this point, only he could save her. A single word from him could decide her fate.

"I beg the Director to remember that I once saved your life. Please don't let me be sent to marry the Xiongnu."

Shen Huaiyan looked down at the woman kneeling before him. "Would the princess be willing to pay any price?"

If she went to marry them, she would be isolated and helpless in a barbarian land.

Chang'an was like a deep pool, with man-eating dens on either side. Jingshu gritted her teeth and answered, "Anything!"

His cool gaze rested on her. His slow, careful scrutiny felt as difficult to endure as a lifetime.

The scent of sandalwood wafted into her nose. Shen Huaiyan helped her up, resting her wrist on his outstretched arm, and said with respectful deliberation, "Since the princess is unwilling to go to the barbarian lands, then stay in Chang'an."

To stay in Chang'an meant staying by his side.

The court officials whispered that the Director kept a woman at his villa outside the city. She was skilled at dancing, and music filled his residence without end.

A young eunuch told her that the Director liked women and kept a portrait of one in his study. Jingshu smiled. To repay Shen Huaiyan for saving her, she had someone find the woman in the portrait and place her in his bed in the dead of night.

The Director arrived at the princess's door late that night. Jingshu smiled brightly. "I enjoy bringing people together, Director. You didn't need to come thank me in person."

The person below the steps said nothing. A chilling aura seemed to gather around Shen Huaiyan, his deep gaze making his intentions clear. He walked toward her step by step, and Jingshu felt the urge to retreat.

He seized her jade-white wrist, his touch scorching. Panic churned inside Jingshu. She tried to ignore his deep gaze and forced herself to stay calm, giving him a cold look devoid of flirtation. "Director, please behave yourself."

The man before her looked gentle and polished as jade, but she hadn't expected him to be so vengeful. Suppressing the heat in his eyes, he smiled. "Since the princess is so fond of helping others, why not grant this servant's wish yourself? You did say you'd do anything."

Theme: I hope my fish are all doing well.