The Princess's Bearing

Some plot points have been changed, so the story may differ from pirated versions~

Blurb 1:

By day, she is the princess who has held the reins of government for ten years, while he is the new top scholar enjoying the Emperor's favor.

In the eyes of outsiders, they are sworn enemies!

But at night, they are lovers entwined until dawn.

The Emperor has grown up and wants to seize power.

Xue Xingjian twirls a lock of her hair. "Your Highness wants me to be His Majesty's blade. You should offer me something in return."

Blurb 2:

Xiao Mingyu, Princess Yanping, Protector of the State.

At fourteen, she points her whip at a foreign envoy who has come to propose marriage; at seventeen, she marries the capital's most notorious playboy; at twenty-one, she governs as regent.

During her seven years in power, she executes Prince Yan, quells internal rebellion, opens schools for women, and saves the state.

She looks at him. "Lord Xue, do you know what it means to marry a princess?"

He smiles. "I entered office to serve the people, not to gain a high position or a spotless reputation. Marrying a princess does not go against my original purpose."

She smiles back. "But what if it goes against mine?"

Under the brilliant sunlight, apricot blossoms drift through the sky. His gaze suddenly darkens. "Then I'll become the highest-ranking official in Great Zhou, the sharpest blade in Your Highness's hands."

She thought her fate would be to die by the Emperor's sword or live out her days alone.

Yet he, a man of noble scholarly standing, chose to walk toward her from among millions.

A little scene:

Everyone in the Xue residence looks at the two people before them.

Old Madam Xue: Where did this little hussy come from? She's seducing my grandson!

The Minister of Revenue hurries in from outside. "Greetings, Your Highness. His Majesty sent me to deliver the tiger tally."

Everyone: ...

A clerk who came with him immediately drops to his knees. "Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness! Long, long live Your Highness!"

Everyone else falls to the ground after him.

As they chant, he stands behind her and smooths a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Your Highness, have mercy. I'm frail, so I'll sit this one out."

Everyone: ...

Warnings:

① The heroine has had previous partners, while the hero has not. The male lead takes the initiative and remains devoted to her. There are a few twists near the end, but the male lead's heart and body belong to the heroine from beginning to end! This is a one-on-one romance, and it takes a while to heat up, but I guarantee a happy ending!

② Don't nitpick the details. No historical fact-checking, please.

Completed work: A Letter to You (Married First, Fell in Love Later)

A dazzling, outspoken heiress who only knows how to drain others emotionally × a gentle, secretly passionate general from a humble family

Blurb 1:

To establish himself in court, Xie Yue, a general from a humble family, asked for the hand of Prime Minister Pei Shuyan.

But before their wedding night, he was sent far away to Jingzhou.

From then on, they lived apart, one in the east and one in the west.

Xie Yue thought this was probably how their marriage would end.

Sooner or later, he would die on the battlefield, and she would eventually find someone else.

But before he could fall in battle, the Prime Minister sent her to Jingzhou.

On her first day there, she smashed up his study.

So be it. Great Zhou had always judged people by family status, and it was only natural that she felt humiliated to have married him.

But the next day, she took a horse groom's daughter as her teacher.

So she didn't look down on his background, only on him.

So be it. They only needed to get along without bothering each other.

But then she turned around and asked him to teach her archery and horsemanship. She actually wanted to join the army.

Xie Yue sized her up. She clearly looked pampered, and her slender hands weren't even calloused.

"All right."

He wanted to see how far she could go.

The longer they spent together, the more he found himself sending people to keep track of her, even when she wasn't by his side.

His friend teased him, saying he was done for.

What did he mean, done for? He was only fulfilling his duty as her husband.

Then she was struck by a love potion and begged him while in his arms. The reason Xie Yue had always taken pride in, his rationality, suddenly burned away.

But just as he was losing himself in passion, he suddenly heard another man's name from her lips.

A bucket of cold water doused him at once.

In an instant, every strange thing made sense!

So this was why she had gone to such lengths to sleep in a separate room from him.

Jealousy nearly overwhelmed him.

He gripped her waist, his eyes bloodshot.

In this lifetime, she would never marry anyone but him!

A little scene:

After surviving a close brush with death during the day, they return to their temporary residence that night.

Xie Yue finds that Shuyan's room has been arranged right next to his.

He is very pleased with his subordinates for being so perceptive.

But just as he is about to casually pull his beauty into his arms, a knock suddenly sounds at the door.

Shuyan immediately sits up straight. Xie Yue withdraws his empty arm, stops her from getting up, and heads to the door expressionlessly.

Before opening it, he pinches his own neck until a few red marks appear.

Sure enough, standing outside is her beloved cousin, the man she has admired for years.

Soon, Xie Yue returns.

Shuyan asks, puzzled, "Why is your neck red?"

Xie Yue replies calmly, "Oh, a mosquito bit me."

"There are mosquitoes this time of year?"

"Sure." He looks at her in the lamplight and suddenly reaches up to hold her neck.

Shuyan blushes.

Xie Yue: "Ah, I missed it."

Theme: There is always a reason for the existence of a first love