The Marquis Is Hard to Serve

Blurb One:

Liu Zhishu was born into a family of book merchants in Jiangnan. When disaster struck at age ten, she was sold to the Marquis's household as a servant girl.

She accidentally attracted the attention of the household's arrogant and incorrigible young marquis, and served him through eight difficult years.

The young marquis of Chang'an enjoyed the emperor's favor and was domineering and imperious. Everyone had to give way to him. He got whatever he wanted, paid no heed to anyone, and grew into a sharp-tempered tyrant.

Everyone in the marquis's household regarded Liu Zhishu as a thorn in their side. They did everything they could to make life difficult for her and drive her out.

But once they had truly driven her away, with no one left to keep the household's tyrant in check, they were all at their wits' end. They lowered themselves and begged Liu Zhishu to come back.

Now a favorite before the emperor, Liu Zhishu swept out with a carefree wave of her sleeve. “There's really no need. Goodbye.”

A lawless, arrogant young marquis X a clear-headed maid who knows how to read the situation

Blurb Two:

The Temple of Seeking Fate in Chang'an was always crowded with worshippers, famed above all for its love-match fortune slips.

Worshippers seeking a match could write down the name of the one they loved, hang it on a centuries-old tree, and pray for their wish to come true.

The noble ladies of the capital flocked to the temple, even willing to spend a fortune to obtain the love-match slip of the young Marquis Xiao.

The very same young Marquis Xiao, the object of everyone's affection, forced Liu Zhishu to write a love-match slip. Then he threatened the abbot into handing it over.

Certain it had to bear his own name, Xiao Houye declared with confidence, “Read it.”

The abbot: “The Buddha is merciful...”

Xiao Heng frowned. “?”

The abbot continued, “...and will help this woman escape her misery as soon as possible.”

Xiao Heng: “...”

In the Sheng'an era, the century-old matchmaker tree met its end.

----Coming soon: The Crown Prince Has Heart Trouble Every Day----

Among the bodyguards secretly trained by the old general for his grandson, Tang Yangyang was one of the deadweight recruits. Before she entered the residence, she had already heard all about the crown prince's fine reputation: a refined, cultured man, courteous and virtuous.

On her first day at the residence, Tang Yangyang broke a glass cup and was punished with a day of yard sweeping.

On her second day, she broke a vase and was punished with three nights on watch.

On the third day, the fourth...

After Tang Yangyang kept making mistakes, the head bodyguard finally scolded her. “Yangyang, why are you being so unreasonable? His Highness is kind, treats people of talent with respect, and doesn't blame you for your mistakes. That's already generous of him... What? Are you trying to say it's His Highness's fault?!”

Tang Yangyang: QAQ Those things were broken by His Highness himself.

At the viewing pavilion in the distance, an attendant watched the teary-eyed child being reprimanded and couldn't bear it. “Your Highness, why do you keep making things difficult for Young Master Tang?”

The crown prince sneered. “Because she dared to forget me.”

*

Later, the crown prince was demoted and deprived of his title. After a succession of ups and downs, he raised an army and claimed the throne. Northern Chu went through a change of dynasty.

Everyone witnessed the decisive ruthlessness and mercilessness behind this gentle, handsome ruler.

And yet...

One moment, the crowd watched the crown prince coldly snap a traitor's neck. The next, this aloof ruler calmly wiped the blood from his sword, lowered his lashes, and looked at the person who had wandered in by mistake.

“Yangyang, my heart hurts.”

Everyone: “...” That's ridiculous!

Two-faced, ruthless, and utterly unscrupulous, a crown prince who plays the innocent at the highest level

V

Soft-hearted, completely under his thumb, a silly little goose of a bodyguard

Theme: Be self-reliant and strong, even in adversity.