Seeking a Bride

[Main story complete. Bonus chapters update every other day.] [Important Content Warnings] 1. Heavily fictionalized setting, entirely imaginary world!! Limited writing skills. 2. Both leads have exes, and neither is perfect. If you only like spotless characters, please don't read. 3. A coming-of-age story, marriage first and love later. A little domestic life, but mostly the everyday business of pursuing careers. This is not purely a story about life in the inner court! It is not!! Not pure fluff. 4. A little ensemble cast, with an effort to make each character distinctive. 5. I'll write it however I want. [Blurb] Sui'an was already seventeen. The young lady reflected in the bronze mirror had skin like ice and bones like jade, a natural beauty. Her bright, sparkling eyes seemed to speak. But... Her mother was a domineering princess who made even the emperor, ruler of all under Heaven, instinctively snap to attention. Her father was a cool and formidable head of the academy, whose very presence made young talents sit up straight at banquets and recite their books with studious solemnity. No one dared marry her. Xie Yuan was the eldest grandson of the Xie family, handsome and well-read, skilled in both letters and arms. On a bright spring day, beneath a pear tree, the young man danced with his sword, scattering a flurry of white petals and dazzling the entire garden. Yet past the age of twenty, he still had no one to marry. One lovely spring day, the elders of the Xie family arrived at the Princess's residence bearing gifts, seeking the hand of Li Sui'an, the Princess's only daughter, for Xie Yuan. Xie Yuan's mother: Son, I hear Li Sui'an was raised with strict discipline. She's learned, courteous, and poised. Treat her well. Xie Yuan's father: Let me be clear. If you wrong her, the Xie family can't fight them or argue with them. Xie Yuan said nothing. He seemed not to take the matter to heart and carried on as usual. Princess Jing'an: [Holding the imperial gold-plated token] If things don't work out, get divorced! Li Yao: [Opening the student roster] If you get divorced, you can find someone else! Li Sui'an: [Swallowing] D-Daughter will follow her parents' teachings and be a good wife to the Xie family. Blurb written on 2020.12.03 First revision: 2020.12.31 Second revision: 2021.01.03 Third revision: 2022.11.23 [Historical Romance Preorder: Tempting the Heart. Add it to your list from the author's profile.] In her previous life, Li Xingrao was hopelessly love-struck. She gave up her life as a princess, only to die on her wedding night, watching rebels storm the palace gates as her faithless lover, Chai Yan, arrived holding the hand of his beloved. Reborn, Li Xingrao had only one conviction: Never give up your fate, or misfortune will follow. She reclaimed her life as a princess and worked hard to keep it. Then she met Pei Zhen, Marquis of Dingbei and the leader of the rebels in her previous life. She decided to get ahead of that wretched pair, Chai Yan and his lover, and pledge herself to her sworn enemy, turning him into an ally! Pei Zhen was known as a blood-and-iron god of war. He had no interest in feminine tenderness, sought only power and authority, had no mercy or kindness, and was a bloodthirsty killer. Li Xingrao: On it! On one hand, she offered Pei Zhen her most sincere goodwill, constantly reading and playing on his thoughts. On the other, she searched for a bond with him beyond romantic feelings, something that would ensure neither of them betrayed the other. One dark, windy night, Chai Yan cornered Li Xingrao. His eyes bloodshot, he asked sorrowfully, "You're angry, throwing a tantrum at me, aren't you? Why won't you listen to me..." Before he could finish, the arm he was holding took three arrows. He collapsed to the ground in agony. A man emerged from the shadows, ground his military boot over Chai Yan, and pulled Li Xingrao close with one arm. He took out the heart-binding worm she had searched so hard for but never used. "Does Your Highness wish to give me your true heart, or shall I make one for you?" [Give me your heart, and I'll give you my life.] [Historical Romance Preorder: The Golden Bough. Add it to your list from the author's profile.] Wanhe Town lay in a corner of Jiangnan, rich and prosperous, with open-minded locals. Even the local toughs were handsome and dignified. In the depths of winter, a caravan arrived in Wanhe Town and moved straight into the grandest mansion there. Seeing box after box of valuables, people whispered that this was the sign of a wealthy household! After spring came, Zhao Zhi developed a habit of climbing trees after collecting debts and getting into fights each day. On a bright spring day, the wickedly smiling man leaned against a tree with a blade of grass between his teeth. He had no interest in the stern, straitlaced female head of the household. He had his eye on that tall maid! Pretty face, even better figure. He'd gladly lose ten years of his life to marry her! Then he cried, "Ow!" and fell in front of the female head's carriage. Pointing at the gorgeous, alluring maid beside her, he said, "I broke a leg, so you can pay me back with her!" Everyone's expression changed. The maid smiled and said, "All right." She drew a guard's sword and held it to his thigh. "If I'm to make up for that leg, then please remove it and present it to our mistress." Zhao Zhi gazed at this wicked woman, entranced, and knew he was done for... Later, an imperial edict came, and the person Zhao Zhi had been lusting after donned splendid robes and left in the most luxurious carriage. People of the time said, "The Princess has returned to the capital." From then on, Zhao Zhi worked himself into a frenzy, rising from local tough to grand chancellor of the court, getting everything he wanted. The civil and military officials: Outrageous! This is rigged! Someone must be pulling strings behind him! We have to find that person! The Princess Regent: I am. Any objections? The civil and military officials: ...Congratulations! May you be happy together for a hundred years! The young grand chancellor: My darling wife, come cuddle. Moral: When you meet the right person, love is something you never need to force yourself to learn.