After I Died, He Came Back

[Completed]

While Yan Zheng was leading troops in the northern frontier and risking his life for the new emperor, a death notice arrived in the capital: the second daughter of the Qu family, the one he had long held dear, was dead.

The Qu family insisted that she had slipped, fallen into a pond, and drowned.

Amid the ice and snow, Yan Zheng held the letter and gave a quiet laugh, his eyes dark and distant.

He knew that Qu Wanxiang had been murdered.

He knew the seemingly gentle young lady of the capital better than anyone in the world.

The day Yan Zheng returned victorious at the emperor's summons, the new emperor held a grand banquet in his honor. The Qu family sent him a lavish gift in a small sedan chair: Qu Wanxiang's younger sister, a young lady who looked seven parts like her.

They were convinced that no matter how formidable Yan Zheng was, he couldn't resist a face exactly like that of his beloved.

The noble families waited for him to become infatuated with her and eventually be putty in their hands. But as the days passed, Yan Zheng not only never once went to see the Qu family girl, he instead rose to prominence in the palace, until even the young crown prince began to follow his lead.

And then, overnight, the prestigious Qu family fell into ruin.

Everyone was stunned. Hadn't they said Yan Zheng was deeply in love with Qu Wanxiang, and that they had even secretly pledged themselves to each other? How could he feel nothing when faced with an identical face?

They didn't know that Yan Zheng had returned consumed by hatred to avenge his dead beloved and make everyone pay.

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A ruthless, cunning wolf in sheep's clothing x the one who will forever be his beloved

Overall tone: The first half focuses on plot, mystery, and revelations; the second half focuses on romance. See the author's note in Chapter 1 for specific content warnings.

*Revised after completion, so this version differs from the pirated sites. If you're reading a pirated copy, please don't use the old version to argue with me. Leave comments wherever you're reading it.

Theme: There is always someone irreplaceable. Pursue your goal without looking back, and don't let yourself have regrets.