A Guide to Winning Over Mr. Right

The sequel to The Marquis of Shanting, The Minister of Works, is now underway. This is a sweet romance. The timeline and characterizations differ somewhat from The Marquis of Shanting, so it is not recommended to read the two together. It works better as a standalone story. [Blurb] Wen Shishu was born into an aristocratic family. From a young age, his talent surpassed all others, and he became a pillar of the Wei court. Like the bright moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival, he shone with a clear, gentle grace, an exceptional gentleman unlike any other. No one knew what kind of woman would be worthy of him. That is, until one day, a sweet, delicate little girl appeared at the academy. Yu Fu was kind by nature. After a sudden turn of events, she became humble and cautious in order to survive, yet deep within her was a barely perceptible streak of defiance. Wen Shishu saw all of it. He taught her poetry and books, instructed her in manners, and treated her with gentle care. He helped her stand tall and upright, and gave her someone to rely on and a place to belong. To her, he was the teacher she admired most. * But on the day Yu Fu came of age, the once sweet and timid girl had changed without him noticing. Wen Shishu even felt a trace of regret. He had taught her to be so clever that he could no longer fathom what was in her heart. In the mirror, Yu Fu's features were as lovely as a painting, her face like a hibiscus flower, her beauty enough to captivate a kingdom. Catching sight of the gentle man behind her, she smiled sweetly. "Teacher, there is someone in my heart. I have secretly cherished him for a long time. Today, I would like you to arrange a match for us." "Oh? Who is he?" Wen Shishu asked from behind her, his expression calm, though his hands had already clenched into fists out of sight. The little girl saw him approach. Her lovely eyes sparkled as she smiled, then she turned and threw herself into his arms. "Who do you think, Teacher?" Reader's Guide: 1. One couple, both each other's first. The leads have an age gap. 2. Set in an alternate Song-Ming era. Please don't get caught up in historical accuracy. 3. A sweet story about two people falling for each other. 4. When I wrote this novel, I hadn't planned The Marquis of Shanting at all. There may be a few inconsistencies between the two, but they won't affect your reading experience. They are both standalone stories. Upcoming novel: The Marquis of Shanting Shen Wan was born in the countryside. During the era of the Twelve Kingdoms, war raged across the land as powerful figures rose to prominence. Even a small, ordinary family like the Shens could not avoid being swept up in the conflict. As resilient as bamboo enduring the winter, she held fast to her spirit despite the battering of wind and snow. In search of her father and brothers, she traveled from place to place until she reached Wei. The first person she met there was the Marquis of Shanting, Mu Heng, dressed in fine robes. He was a renowned Wei scholar, touched with an air of frailty that did little to diminish his elegance. At first, Mu Heng did not believe her. Later, mindful of her father and brothers' bravery, he took her under his wing and looked after her. He never expected her to hold that kindness so close to her heart. Back then, he had no interest in romance, seeing no point in it. Knowing his temperament, Shen Wan buried her turbulent feelings deep inside and never considered confessing them. It was not until Wei looked down upon the world and its royal army returned in triumph that Shen Wan was about to go home with her father and brothers. Sitting by the chessboard, Mu Heng could no longer place even one more piece. The heavy snow on the day they first met and the heavy snow on the day they parted were both recorded in his Rhapsody on Spring Snow. The final line of the rhapsody was a wish to become a servant of the white snow. Everyone knew Mu Heng by his courtesy name, Xuechen. Only he knew that her childhood name was Xue'er. Behind him, the curtain shifted slightly. Shen Wan had been standing there for quite some time. "On the twelfth day of the tenth month in the third year of Xingping, the first snow fell in Wei without any celestial omen. The Marquis's star of romance was in motion. It was the day we first met." "Xuechen, let me stay and be your wife." A chess piece suddenly dropped onto the board. He turned around, only to find that a storm had long been raging in the depths of her bright eyes. Theme: Even in difficult circumstances, strive to keep living.