After the Crown Prince Died, I Married His Younger Brother

Novel blurb: Bao Jiujiu admits that the only reason she took the down-and-out Xie Hong home was that he was handsome, and she thought it would be a shame to let him die in a filthy ditch.

Back then, she was down on her luck too, but she became his master, with even his life in her hands.

Whenever she saw him glaring at her with the resentful, vicious eyes of a little wolf, she felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

She was used to being treated like a dog outside, so at home, she liked seeing him so stubborn and fierce.

It was like looking at the self she had always kept hidden.

She was tenacious, but she seemed to realize that her tastes were not quite like other people's.

She liked raising wolves, but once this little wolf cub grew up, she truly began to fear him.

She had killed people with her own hands and stained them with the blood of countless others, yet after everything she had been through, she seemed to grow more timid with every passing year.

Fortunes change.

Now she was the Princess of Zhen, while he had become her master.

"A Yan, give me a child."

Every night, he held her like this, his gaze sorrowful. "If we have a child, you won't keep wanting to leave me."

He only wanted to keep her by his side, but that obsession confined her for the rest of her life.

"Of all the waters in the world, I drink only one ladle from Jiujiu's stream."

That was his vow, but it seemed more like a curse.

She scraped out an existence in the imperial harem. On the surface, she still dressed elegantly, every bit the dignified and aloof noblewoman she had always been. Yet a bitter, self-mocking smile curled her crimson lips.

"I've really trapped myself in my own web."

"..."

But silence surrounded her. No one dared answer.

She even felt she was becoming a little mad.

A lonely, deranged woman, talking to herself.

After a long while, she finally sighed. A helpless trace of regret appeared on her pale face.

Looking back on her life, she realized how tragic and absurd it had been.

If she hadn't gone out of her way to save him back then, she would still have her freedom. She wouldn't be trapped in this imperial palace like a prisoner.

But there are no ifs in this world...

There was no cure for regret, so she could only rely on herself.

Note: The female lead is the maternal cousin of both the male lead and the second male lead.

A quick introduction to the characters:

Female lead: Before losing her memories, she had an unconventional way of thinking and was a bit ditzy. After recovering her memories, she plays the fool while hiding her true abilities. (But ends up being played herself.)

Male lead: The story of a patient little wolf-dog growing into a dangerous man. (A scheming scumbag who looks innocent and devoted.)

Second male lead: A sickly, warm-hearted man who hides his schemes and coughs blood in the wind. (A patient, loving man in a heartbreaking romance.)

Currently serializing: "What Do I Do? My Crazy Lover Loves Me Too Much! 3" (Please add it to your collection)

She was a noblewoman from a prestigious family and the empress of an empire, yet her husband's elder brother forced her into marriage, his younger brother claimed her for himself, and all kinds of men coveted and harassed her. They took what they wanted by force, using threats and enticements, tangling her in love and hate and a torturous romance, all because her beauty and kindness brought her a lifetime of romantic debts.

Xiao Ziyou:

Mu Jun, how about we spend our whole lives together, just the two of us?

Mu Jun, you owe me so much. How will you make up for all the years I suffered from missing you?

Mu Cheng:

You and I were betrothed first. Why should Xiao Ziyou get to beat me to you and take my wife? Just because he's the emperor, does that mean he can take the woman I love?

Mu Jun, I'm emperor now too. You like emperors, don't you? So why don't you love me?

I want you to love me. You were always meant to be my wife.

Mu Zhan:

Sister-in-law, you can't treat people like this. You accept my help when you need it, then kick me aside and discard me once you've used me. You cross the river and burn the bridge. Am I some kind of monster? Why are you so afraid of me now?

I don't want to be your ninth brother. I want to be your husband. I want to spend my days and nights with you, have children with you, share a bed in life and a grave in death.

There, there. Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you. Come into my arms. I'm emperor now too, and I can protect you.

That's right, I killed your son! After you lost your memory, you spent your nights tangled up with me. Do you regret it now? Ha! You hurt? Your pain is nothing compared to even a fraction of mine. What gives you the right to blame me? You killed our child too!

I murdered my brother and seized the throne, took my sister-in-law and killed my nephew. I did all of it for you.

Mu Jun, don't even think about escaping me.

Can this peerlessly beautiful woman, caught in the bloody slaughter of imperial power, find redemption and a peaceful end?

Female lead Li Mujun: The stunning empress. I don't want to be one. It's exhausting.

An old-school, melodramatic story set in an alternate Northern Qi. The female lead is modeled after Li Zu'e.

The first two books in the Crazy Love series are available on my author page. Reading 1 and 2 before 3 will make the experience smoother, though you can follow this story just fine without them.

Coming soon: "My Husband Is a Cross-Dressing Big Shot" (Rebirth and gender-swapping)

Blurb: They say, "A talented man and a beautiful woman make a perfect match." Wang Wan was the most beautiful woman in the Great Xia Empire, with a face that could topple a kingdom, yet she couldn't win the heart of Xie Yu, the most famous scholar in the land.

She was miserable and couldn't figure out what she was doing wrong, so she went to ask Princess Yang Wu for advice.

"Sister A Wu, I'm so pretty. Why doesn't Brother Yu like me? Does he dislike beautiful women and only like handsome boys?"

Otherwise, why would he rather go on an outing with those refined young men from noble families than fly a kite with her for a while?

"The Way of Heaven takes from what has too much and gives to what has too little. Pretty women are all a little stupid, and Wanwan, you're a prime example. The more cultured a man is, the less he likes women who are all looks and no substance. A delicate little flower like you doesn't appeal to Xie Yu."

Princess Yang Wu looked at her with disdain as she spoke.

"Then what should I do?"

Wang Wan knew she wasn't clever, but she wanted to improve! She could learn!

So she asked anxiously, "Sister A Wu, you're so smart. Can you teach me how to become a woman with substance?"

Seeing how determined she was to win Xie Yu, Yang Wu's expression darkened. But after a moment of silence, he finally answered.

"...All right."

Later, Wanwan came running back in tears and wiped her eyes in front of him, her voice full of grievance.

"Waaah... Brother Yu said he doesn't like women who flirt and pose! Now he hates me even more!"

She cried loudly, and Yang Wu's tense heart finally relaxed.

He stepped forward, patted her head, then pulled her into his arms to comfort her. "There, there, Wanwan. Xie Yu's a block of wood who can't appreciate your beauty and cuteness. He's the one with no taste! Let's stop liking him, sweetheart. You're going to marry me, so you can't go falling for another man."

Wanwan's heart leaped in shock, and she suddenly saw the truth.

She looked at the flat chest in front of her, then stared at him in astonishment. "Sister A Wu, you're a man!"

No wonder he had never had breasts! He was tall, but seemed to develop slowly... She had thought Yang Wu was simply blessed with an unusual physique. She never imagined he was really a man!

Yang Wu's face went completely blank.

"...We're together every minute of the day. I thought you'd figured it out ages ago."

The Crown Prince Yang Mu, who plays two roles every day (Yang Wu, an aloof, sharp-tongued, arrogant beauty), X Wang Wan, the pure-hearted beauty from the foremost aristocratic clan.

Crown Prince Yang Mu has this to say: When I had no choice but to dress as a woman, that beautiful girl, inside and out, stole my heart. Others may think she's a silly girl, but to me, she's a truly wise and kindhearted beauty. Well... even though our personalities are poles apart, we still became "close sisters," and later, a loving married couple...

Note: After marriage, they will switch bodies and genders. The story involves past and present lives. In his previous life, the male lead was a real woman, and the female lead was a real man!

Currently serializing and coming soon. Please add them to your collection.

Theme: Even in adversity, keep a brave and resilient heart.