Even the Hibiscus Can't Match a Beauty's Makeup

[My sweet romances The Many Charms of My Little Sister, Pillow Eunuch, and A Thousand Charms and Affections are complete. Enjoy!] Shen Yan has been married to Xie Fei, the heir to the Prince of Zhenbei, for three years. Unable to speak and born with a disability, she has always been meek and accommodating. But Xie Fei has always been a womanizer, showing no awareness that he has a wife at home. He invites friends over and carouses every night. Shen Yan always thinks that if she is just a little more obedient and understanding, one day he'll settle down. Then she has a dream. In it, she is poisoned, and both she and her unborn child die. The culprit is none other than the mistress her husband keeps in another residence. When she wakes, Shen Yan looks at the empty bed and cold pillow, and her heart turns completely cold. - Later, Xie Weilou, who has guarded the border for years and is the true master of the Prince of Zhenbei's residence, returns to the capital victorious. Facing Shen Yan as she kneels at his feet, determined to leave, Xie Weilou's hand tightens again and again on the armrest of his chair. After a long while, his throat moves almost imperceptibly. "The Prince of Zhenbei's residence owes you. I will repay you." - Xie Weilou commands a mighty army and holds power over all under Heaven, yet he is cold and restrained, never approaching women, and has been alone for many years. When he returned to the capital in triumph all those years ago, no one knew where he had found a child whom he asked to have granted the title of heir. As Xie Fei grew older, his appearance looked less and less like Xie Weilou's. Rumors swirled, but Xie Weilou remained unmoved. Only when facing Shen Yan did he explain for the first time: "There has never been anyone by my side except you." [Bonus Scene] Xie Fei once thought the youngest daughter of the Shen family was gentle by nature and loved him deeply. No matter what awful thing he did, all he had to do was coax her a little, and she would obediently come back to him. He never imagined that one day she would personally hand him a letter of divorce, her eyes clear and bright, just like when they first met. And her gaze would never linger on him again. Xie Fei regrets it bitterly. To win Shen Yan back, he casts aside his pride and lowers his head to her. "A-Yan, please don't leave me, okay?" Before he can finish, a large hand reaches out and pulls Shen Yan away. Looking down at him, the man sneers, "Too late." Xie Fei watches as Shen Yan nestles in the man's arms, looking shy and happy. His heart feels as if it is being cut by a knife. [Bonus Scene Two] Many people watch the Xie family's farce for laughs, but for fear of the Prince of Zhenbei's authority, they don't dare discuss it openly. Shen Yan pretends not to notice, but feels rather embarrassed. At the palace banquet, Xie Weilou takes her hand openly and introduces her to everyone: "This is the Princess of Zhenbei, my beloved wife, Shen Yan." His gaze, sharp as lightning, sweeps across the crowd. Soon, the rumors die down, and no one dares speak of them again. * So what if she was once the heir's wife? Once she is part of the Prince of Zhenbei's household, she belongs there for life. If he wants her, who in all the world would dare say no? Reader's guide: 1. The leads share a past-life-and-present-life premise. They fall in love in this life after the heroine's divorce, and there will be no romantic ambiguity while she remains in her marriage. 2. The heroine is sexually inexperienced; the male lead is experienced. The second male lead is not the heroine's biological child. 3. There is a reason for the heroine's speech disorder, and she will recover. 4. Age gap: 16 years (18 and 34). 5. These are the author's personal preferences. If you don't like them, please click away. Upcoming: Claiming You Alone The late emperor dies, and forces across the land begin to stir. That night, the Regent, clad in bloodstained armor and with a cold, murderous gaze, storms into Zichen Hall with his sword in hand. The fifteen-year-old emperor stumbles to the ground in fear. Watching the tall, dangerous man approach step by step, she thinks her father was right: he abuses his power and has coveted the throne for years. Now, he probably won't spare her... She shakily backs away. "U-Uncle... What do you want? I... I can give you anything..." The man crouches down slowly and effortlessly scoops her up in his arms. "Is that so? Whatever I want, Your Majesty can give me?" The hard armor digs painfully into her as he carries her onto the imperial throne. Her collar is torn open, exposing skin reddened by the armor, and revealing her secret: she is a girl disguised as a boy. She thought her uncle would surely kill her and take the throne for himself. But the man before her rubs the red marks on her collarbone and smiles with narrowed eyes. "Your Majesty is quite... delicate." - The empire is battered by turmoil, yet Ming Chu manages to secure her throne. All because she agrees to one condition from the Regent: By day, she will be the emperor. By night, she will be his concubine, at his mercy. Whenever Ming Chu shows even the slightest reluctance, the Regent frightens her by threatening to kill her and send her to join the late emperor. Ming Chu is terrified, so she can only obey him. Later, the young emperor gazes at her increasingly large belly, close to tears. The Regent personally unties the emperor's sash, then kneels and presses his ear to her stomach. "There are many affairs of state to deal with. I'll temporarily manage the government for Your Majesty. All Your Majesty needs to do is calmly give birth to my child." Ming Chu thinks that now she is pregnant and they can no longer spend their nights together, her uncle will surely be furious. Until one day, she accidentally falls and scrapes her face. The man's eyes turn red with fury, and he nearly bathes the Taiji Palace in blood. Late at night, she tosses and turns, unable to sleep. The man props his head up and gently blows on the wound by her cheek. "Does it still hurt, my emperor?" Recommended: My Friend's Moon Is Shy by Ben Luobei An outwardly cold, inwardly warm protector x a gentle, sensitive woman with attachment issues (Reserved police detective x portrait photographer) Theme: When the mountains seem to end and the river has no way forward, a village of bright blossoms appears beyond the willows.