Breaking Off a Spring Branch

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[Please add my upcoming stories East Palace's Fussy Beauty and Marrying My Former Fiancé's Uncle to your reading list! Blurbs below.]

Ran Ruhe is the most easily overlooked concubine-born daughter in her family. After her father is sentenced to exile, she's the only one in the family with nowhere to go, a poor little thing with no options.

Fortunately, it seems that the Regent, rumored to be indifferent to women and merciless, has taken an interest in her.

So on the eve of her family's exile, one of his subordinates comes to take Ran Ruhe away, intending to offer her to Lu Mingcheng to win his favor.

But Lu Mingcheng doesn't seem to like her all that much. After Ran Ruhe is offered to him, she's simply put up in an obscure little courtyard in the capital, where her every move is watched.

Except for that one night of indulgence.

The servants all say Ran Ruhe is a stand-in for the unattainable woman the Regent loved in his youth.

Ran Ruhe believes them. She tries to become even more like that woman, hoping to earn a little more tenderness.

Then one day, many ministers submit petitions urging the Regent to marry, recommending noble young ladies who are nothing like her, a daughter of a disgraced official.

Lu Mingcheng neither accepts nor refuses.

Ran Ruhe finally understands that no matter how hard she tries, she's nothing more than a stand-in.

...And a secret mistress he can't acknowledge.

Just then, chaos breaks out in the capital, and Ran Ruhe takes the opportunity to run away.

But she is caught and brought back after only a few days.

The little girl is teary-eyed, forcing herself to look fierce to protect herself even as she swallows her grievances. Standing before the towering Lu Mingcheng, she is completely hidden by his shadow.

Before she can say a word, she sees the gloom in his eyes. "Xiao He, where do you think you're going?"

From the moment he first saw her, Lu Mingcheng had treasured her above all else. He could give her anything except freedom, but Ran Ruhe had to stay by his side.

How could she run away? How could she?

-

· A cruel, obsessive regent x a sweet, fragile little darling

· I thought you were following the groveling-to-win-her-back script, but you turned dark?

Please note:

* Fake replacement / slightly slow-burn / actually a sweet romance / devoted to each other in body and heart / HE

* The male lead has no wife or family. The woman he loved is a lie.

* Entirely fictional setting, so please don't nitpick the history

* Cover art provided by an artist

[Find me on Weibo at @Shu Jing. Come say hi!]

[Upcoming story: East Palace's Fussy Beauty]

Shen Shutong lost both parents when she was young and grew up in the palace. She and Crown Prince Xiao Yize had always been little more than nodding acquaintances.

Until she was drugged after a palace banquet and happened to be rescued by Xiao Yize. Shen Shutong naturally entered the Eastern Palace, becoming a little canary kept there by the cold, heartless crown prince.

Shen Shutong has no one to rely on and nothing to lose, so she wreaks havoc in the Eastern Palace. Today, she replaces all the furnishings in her room; tomorrow, she throws a fit for the freshest fruit.

Everyone knows Crown Prince Xiao Yize has been willful and rebellious since birth and hates anything beyond his control.

Yet he is exceptionally tolerant of Shen Shutong's antics.

Shen Shutong spends two years in the Eastern Palace before learning the "truth" about how he rescued her from the servants.

In a fit of anger, she flings a "divorce letter" at Xiao Yize and leaves the Eastern Palace.

But she never expects that just after she rides out of the capital, she and her carriage will tumble down a cliff, leaving her with amnesia.

-

Xiao Yize sets out to find her himself, his whole being radiating icy menace. He wants to see just how far this little canary can fly without the warm cage he gave her.

But he never expects the woman he finds to show no remorse at all. Instead, she tilts her head and asks, "Who are you?"

"I'm your husband." Xiao Yize sneers, already planning how to teach this little bird a lesson after he takes her back to the palace.

Shen Shutong blinks. "If you're my husband, why don't you come over and hug me?"

-

· I ran away, lost my memory, and got caught by the Crown Prince again. QuQ

· The Crown Prince only cared about his career, but now he's eating his words.

· A fussy little beauty x a distant, untouchable Crown Prince

[Upcoming story: Marrying My Former Fiancé's Uncle]

Everyone in the capital knew that the orphan Song Zhiwen was betrothed to the second young master of the Duke's household from childhood. The ducal family had taken her in, waiting for her to come of age so she could marry him.

Unfortunately, everyone also knew that the second young master loved someone else and had no feelings for Song Zhiwen. If she married him, she would most likely end up alone in an empty room.

One day, the second young master even sought Song Zhiwen out and told her, "I love someone else. Even if I marry you, I can't treat you well."

Song Zhiwen's eyes reddened. She wanted to cry, but tried hard to hold back, looking utterly wronged.

She wandered sadly through the garden and bumped into Pei Hanshe, the Duke's elusive head of household.

Pei Hanshe wrapped an arm around her and helped her to her feet. His voice was low and gentle. "Who's upset you? Tell your uncle."

-

Due to pressure from the palace, the wedding arrangements between Song Zhiwen and the second young master continued, neither of them willing.

Whenever Song Zhiwen returned from the palace, she would sneak into the study at the front of the residence and slump onto the couch, cheeks puffed out in displeasure.

Pei Hanshe told her, "I have a way to help you get away from my nephew. Would you like to hear it?"

Song Zhiwen nodded vigorously.

Pei Hanshe's voice was low, almost temptingly so. "Marry me."

Song Zhiwen: ???

-

Pei Hanshe had fought in wars abroad in his youth. After returning to the capital, he rose through the ranks and earned noble titles. He had met countless beauties, but not one had ever caught his eye.

Until one day, he came out of his study and saw a teary-eyed young woman in the garden.

Her eyes were red, and she dabbed at her face with a handkerchief between sniffles. Her tears had not even fallen yet, but Pei Hanshe felt as if they were hanging over his heart.

He walked right up to the little fool who wasn't watching where she was going, letting her stumble into his arms.

On the way back to his study, Pei Hanshe learned from the servants that she was his nephew's fiancée.

So what if she was his nephew's fiancée? He would take the person he wanted, no matter what.

-

· A scheming older man x a naive little fool

· A silly beauty and the older man who seduces her

Theme: Face your feelings and pursue freedom.