His Tactics

The similar story *High and Mighty* is complete. The author's note in Chapter 4 reveals a secret identity. Thanks for adding it to your collection. Blurb: Xue Tianshou blocks Duan Yan in the restroom, trapping her against the sink. As the woman in the mirror squeezes hand soap onto her palms, he says in a low voice, “You're quite something.” Duan Yan doesn't even look up. “I don't know what you're talking about.” Xue Tianshou's voice turns cold. “I don't care whether you really don't know or are pretending. Xiao Ke is planning to propose tonight. You are not allowed to accept.” Duan Yan is surprised, though she truly had no idea. Calmly, she asks, “Why?” Her indifferent, aloof manner is enough to make Xue Tianshou lose his composure for once. He suddenly grabs her ponytail and yanks hard, forcing her to lift her head and meet his eyes in the mirror. He stares into her eyes and whispers in her ear, “Because you're not worthy.” Blurb Two: As the commander of the Holy Ruin Empire's legions and the only esper who has never been tamed, General Xue Tianshou can get anything he wants with ease, until Duan Yan appears. Even more frustrating, she's a lowly bottom-tier species. Though she's beneath even the dirt, he has no idea where she gets the nerve to reject him. Whether they are members of the imperial family in the Holy Palace, high-ranking officers in the legions, or commoners from the great clans, almost everyone believes that a lowly bottom-tier species isn't worthy of General Xue. Still, letting her serve as a diversion for the general, who has always kept himself chaste and never entertained thoughts of romance, would at least put her to good use. But events unfold in a way no one expects. They watch helplessly as the all-powerful commander goes mad for that woman, resorting to every possible means. Some even begin to pity the bottom-tier species. Only a handful of people close to the general know the truth: the one who is truly ruined, and deserves their sympathy, is their commander. Note 1: The male lead is sexually inexperienced; the female lead is not. Note 2: The interstellar setting is just a backdrop. The story focuses on romance. Note 3: The romance has a tragic ending. Note 4: The opening begins with the blurb. A historical romance in a similar vein, *The Palace Trap*. Blurb: Wu Ye, founding emperor of the Da Wu dynasty, and Empress Zhang Xian were married before he came to power. In her first year as empress, Zhang Xian learned enough to realize that Wu Ye not only didn't love her, but looked down on her for her uncouth, common origins. In the second year of his reign, the empress presented the emperor with a letter confessing her faults and asked to be deposed and sent out of the palace. To the young emperor, who possessed the entire realm and everything in it, this was nothing short of a provocation. The emperor granted Zhang Xian only half her wish. He stripped her of her title and status, divorced her, and reduced her to a commoner, but refused to let her leave the palace. Instead, he kept her there as a servant. By then, Zhang Xian knew she had married the wrong man, but she never imagined Wu Ye would be so heartless as to disregard their past affection. Still, she had substantial savings, and during her year as empress she had always treated others kindly and won the favor of many female officials and consorts. She only had to endure five years before she could leave the palace for good. But things did not go as she wished. In her first year as a palace maid, the female official who could protect her was transferred elsewhere, while the consort willing to take her in was demoted and could no longer protect herself. In her second year as a palace maid, she was transferred to Yuanlong Hall, where the emperor lived, and had to endure Wu Ye's unpredictable moods. That was bearable. What Zhang Xian could not accept was the emperor forcing her to spend the night there. She protested, “Your Majesty and I have long been divorced. I am your servant, and you are my master. We have no other relationship.” Wu Ye replied, “You know we are master and servant. So whatever your master tells you to do, you must do.” In the third year, the emperor stopped giving her the contraceptive decoction. Zhang Xian was driven to despair. She decided to risk everything and escape, even if it cost her life. She succeeded, but only for two years. Theme: Mutual love is the foundation of romance.