It’s Hard to Keep a Beauty

Everyone in the capital knew that the Duke’s mansion had a cousin with a lowly status but unmatched beauty. They all wanted to take her as a concubine. On the night of the Qixi Festival, Fang Yunrui was set up and nearly molested by a debauched playboy. To protect the family’s reputation, however, the Duke’s mansion planned to hand her over to him. Fang Yunrui had no desire to become a concubine, nor did she want to be at other people’s mercy again. That very night, she climbed over the wall and sought refuge in the bed of Chu Lan, the Duke’s eldest grandson. She had no desire for riches or status. She only wanted to put an end to the engagement as soon as possible, then take the money she’d saved and leave. Fang Yunrui worried Chu Lan might misunderstand, so she reassured him again and again: “Cousin, don’t worry. Once the marriage is settled, I won’t ask for anything else.” - Chu Lan, the Duke’s eldest grandson, was handsome and refined. At a young age, he had already been chosen by the Emperor as the third-place winner in the palace examinations. When his cousin, who was living under someone else’s roof, came to him, he agreed to help, but had never paid her much attention. He’d seen plenty of women use flattery to climb the social ladder, and figured his cousin was no different. Then one day, the cousin who was always hiding in his arms smiled brightly at him and said, “Thank you for looking after me, Cousin. I’m getting married.” The always calm and self-possessed Chu Lan’s expression darkened. He couldn’t sit still. One-on-one, both are each other’s first. An aloof, high-and-mighty man who goes mad for love × an unmatched beauty who’s clever, but not all that clever Theme: Be strong and persevere, even in adversity