Stealing the Beauty

Wen Jiayue is the legitimate daughter of the Grand Tutor, renowned for her unparalleled beauty.

After an accident leaves her stranded in a foreign land, penniless and with no one to turn to, she can't bring herself to leave Lu Lin, the man who saved her life.

She follows him and ends up at his bedside, becoming his wife.

Lu Lin takes after his father. He's tall and brawny, and his imposing presence commands attention wherever he goes.

Though his methods are rough and ruthless, he has a strikingly heroic appearance.

The men under his command at the Thousand Household Office respect and fear him.

When they hear he's married a beauty who looks like a celestial maiden, they're both curious and sympathetic.

One evening, Lu Lin takes his wife to the Juxiang Restaurant for dinner.

His men hear the news and crowd outside the door to eavesdrop.

"Lu Lin, this fish has so many bones."

"The food is a little too salty, too."

The young lady's voice is sweet and soft, utterly intoxicating.

But Juxiang is the best restaurant around, and Lu Lin is used to plain, simple meals.

After making a rare visit, he's still being criticized. Surely he'll give her a good scolding.

"Can't I afford to feed you?"

Sure enough...

"Have some pear blossom pudding first. I'll have the chef make it again."

???

His men are so stunned they forget to run away...

Later, Wen Jiayue returns to the capital.

She wears her hair in a married woman's style, and her belly grows bigger by the day.

As rumors swirl, the emperor's own Marquis of Dingbei and Great General of the Western Campaign lead their troops into the capital.

But after leaving the palace, he rushes straight to the residence of Grand Tutor Wen.

Before everyone's eyes, the tall man carries out the slender, beautiful woman.

"Won't you even look at me?"

Everyone exchanges glances, too frightened by his voice to speak.

"Could you look at me one more time?"

A fallen noblewoman x a local military commander

Delicate, soft-hearted crybaby x ruthless man of few words

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Reader's guide and warnings:

1. One-on-one romance, both leads are sexually inexperienced, happy ending, eight-year age gap.

2. The heroine is the softest, prettiest little fairy, with a crybaby streak. The hero can be a jerk at first, so feel free to criticize him. Just don't criticize the heroine or the author.

3. The setting is completely made up. Please don't nitpick the historical details.

4. Please read and discuss the characters civilly. Personal attacks on the author are not welcome.

Blurb written on September 3, 2021

Bound in the Spring Boudoir

When Ruoli was seven, her parents died. The Duke of Ying took her in and arranged for her to marry his heir.

The young nobleman, all fine clothes and spirited horsemanship, hated being tied down and despised the engagement.

He made Ruoli's life miserable at every turn. As long as she cried, he was delighted. Before leaving, he would even threaten her viciously:

"Cheng Ruoli, if you marry me, you'll have plenty of reasons to cry."

During the autumn hunt, he forgot Ruoli deep in the woods. She nearly died in a tiger's jaws and was left blind.

Pei Yuzhou was beaten until his skin was split and bleeding, but he kept his eyes on the little girl huddled in the corner, her gaze empty.

He thought: I'll take responsibility for what I've done. I'll take Ruoli to find a renowned doctor. If there's no cure, I won't insist on breaking off the engagement anymore.

The day Ruoli regained her sight, she searched every village but couldn't find the boy who had promised to be the first person she saw.

Not long afterward, she learned from someone else that he had gone to war.

After his father died in battle, Pei Yuzhou inherited his title and went to the borderlands. He was gone for three years.

When he returned victorious, he discovered that his fiancee was gone. Worse, there seemed to be a bit of green over his head.

Furious, Pei Yuzhou snatched her back, threatening to kill Ruoli if she didn't behave.

But later, the servants of the Duke's residence often saw their master chasing after his wife, taking one step at a time and repeatedly calling himself a bastard. He didn't dare lay a hand on her.

Sweet, meek little victim x proud young nobleman

Captive Lady

Bo Qing is the beloved only daughter of Prince Jingyang. She and her cousin grew up together as childhood sweethearts.

Not long after their families arranged their marriage, the all-powerful Regent returned from the battlefield.

His iron cavalry swept in, and the skies over Jinzhou seemed to darken.

On the night of the Qixi Festival, Bo Qing meets her cousin and writes down her wish amid the blessings of the crowd.

Just as the two are about to release a sky lantern together, a handsome man in black robes and a gold crown comes up the steps.

Alone, he carries himself with such authority that the frightened commoners all retreat.

"It's time to come home."

Yan Zong looks at Bo Qing without expression, noble and imposing, allowing no disobedience.

Later, amid red silk, the most beautiful songbird in the world is held tight in the man's palm.

As he listens to her repeated, melodious sobs, his slightly rough fingertips linger at the corner of her eye.

"If you look at him, this prince will ruin him every time."

Beneath his soft voice lie bone-deep cruelty and possessiveness.

In the final years of the Changqing era, Emperor Yan Shuo deposes his nephew and pacifies the realm, ascending the throne with the people's support.

Not long afterward, he travels incognito through the south, walking along the main street of Jinzhou.

Before anyone can react, he rushes into an embroidery shop and grabs a woman holding a young child.

His eyes red, he calls her "Qingqing" in a hoarse voice,

but receives a resounding slap.

Theme: Love has nothing to do with status