The Marquis's Household Cherishes Its Daughter-in-Law

Completed! Those of you who have been waiting for the story to build up can start reading now. Next book: The Spoiled Beauty Blurb Pei Chenghe, the notorious young heir of the Weiyuan Marquis's household, is finally getting married. His bride is Qiao Zhi, a civil official's daughter from a family that is no match for his own. The powerful families in the imperial capital who have daughters all breathe a sigh of relief. It's true that the Pei family has power and wealth, and everyone envies them. But Pei Chenghe's reputation as the capital's biggest playboy is terrifying. His rowdy friends ask him when they hear the news, "I heard Young Master Pei is marrying Qiao Xiuzhuan's daughter?" Pei Chenghe says nonchalantly, "A frail little flower like her will be begging me to divorce her in less than three days." Later, Qiao Zhi marries into the Pei family. With words, she can talk the second, third, fourth, and fifth branches into submission; with her hands, she can slap a scheming concubine into retreat. Pei Chenghe's mother adores her so much that she even hands over the household accounts to her. And Pei Chenghe's younger sister switches sides so completely that she tries to set Qiao Zhi up with another man as a lover? Word spreads farther and farther that the young marquis's wife is cherished by the Pei family, leaving a host of madams and young ladies regretting their choices. His rowdy friends ask Young Master Pei again, "How does it feel to be married?" Pei Chenghe: "If marriage weren't good, would everyone be rushing to get married?" Story tags: 1. The heroine is cunning and driven, and cares about money, not feelings. 2. The hero really is clever and spoiled, but his scoundrel act is just an act. 3. Both leads are chaste. A man who isn't chaste doesn't deserve forgiveness (for this story only). 4. They marry before they fall in love. The hero falls first and pursues the heroine. *Content notes: 1. Household intrigue and career-building make up 60%, sweet romance 40%. 2. Neither lead is perfect; both have flaws shaped by their experiences and backgrounds. Blurb for The Spoiled Beauty: Yan Shuqiong is as beautiful as a jade flower and exceptionally clever. Doted on at home, she has grown into a demanding, extravagant young woman. Even the old fortune-teller says she is destined for wealth and status. This pampered girl who loves luxury and indulgence has reached the age to marry, and is determined to marry up. The highest-ranking family in the imperial capital, and the most distinguished unmarried young master, is Xi Yuanjun, heir to the Duke's household. They say he is cold and haughty, with impossibly high standards. Yan Shu is determined to take him on anyway. To win Xi Yuanjun over, Yan Shu, who is an excellent swimmer, deliberately "slips" into the flower pond in front of him during a flower-viewing banquet. Xi Yuanjun's gaze is cool and unmoved. Every year, at least five or ten young ladies fall into the water in front of him. Just as Yan Shu is about to give up the act, he still rescues her. But Xi Yuanjun only saves her so he can mock her: "Those rocks tied to your legs are quite distinctive. Since you can swim, try a different trick next time." Yan Shu looks embarrassed, but inwardly she is delighted. She made sure he saw the rocks on her legs, and it worked just as she hoped. Just as he said, Yan Shu comes up with one new trick after another. Xi Yuanjun plays the qin, and Yan Shu joins in, then plays out of tune. For Xi Yuanjun's birthday, Yan Shu gives him someone else's painting, with a note inside: This young master paints better than you. Xi Yuanjun takes part in a cuju tournament, and Yan Shu performs a dance onstage, stunning the crowd. Then, in front of everyone, she hands the ball to her friend's older brother. Xi Yuanjun stares at the ball that she used to hand to him, but at first he doesn't care. He thinks it's another one of Yan Shu's little tricks to get his attention. Until he realizes that Yan Shu really has set her sights on someone else and changed the target she wants to marry up to. Xi Yuanjun becomes restless and troubled. For the first time in his life, the favored son of heaven tastes regret. There's a rumor that the heir to the Duke's household has fallen for a merchant's daughter from out of town. He goes to great lengths to please her, but can't even win a kind look. Xi Yuanjun: That's true. Theme: A person's perspective and horizons determine the scope of their ambitions