Seeking the Pearl's Hand in Marriage

The writing isn't great, so proceed with caution. Shen Qiao is a pretty little crybaby, timid and sweet, with a soft, gentle nature. When she was five, she followed her family into the palace. She wandered into a garden and was chased by a big dog, but a handsome young man with bright, starry eyes rescued her. The young man coaxed her with a lotus-paste pastry. "Don't cry. I'll teach it a lesson for you." Only later did Shen Qiao learn that the person who saved her was the crown prince. When the Shen family fell into trouble, Shen Qiao lost her parents, her family's estate was seized, and her clan refused to take her in. Fortunately, the empress showed mercy and brought her into the palace to raise her. From then on, Shen Qiao had a crown prince for an older brother. Crown Prince Li Yuanxu was emotionally detached and close to no one. He liked being alone and hated the sound of children crying. Everyone thought the tearful Shen Qiao would surely annoy the crown prince. Only the servants of the Eastern Palace knew that the crown prince liked keeping the little girl by his side. Whenever Shen Qiao cried, the iron-hearted crown prince would panic. At first, Li Yuanxu kept her by his side because he pitied the little girl. Later, he developed other feelings for her. Several years passed. By the time Shen Qiao came of age, she had become a beauty famous throughout Chang'an. At a garden party one day, she chatted happily with the young master of the Minister's residence. The spring sunshine was warm, and every smile and frown of hers was captivating. No one noticed the flash of malice in the eyes of the usually gentle crown prince. That night, red candles flickered as Li Yuanxu, his eyes dark, kissed her despite his efforts to hold back. Shen Qiao was bullied until her eyes brimmed with tears. "Older Brother, have you gone mad?" "Yes. I've gone mad." He wanted not only to kiss her until she cried, but to watch her cry in his arms. If that wasn't madness, what was? The Shen family thought that even if Shen Qiao entered the palace, she would be disliked and become everyone's punching bag. At a palace banquet, however, they saw the empress invite Shen Qiao to sit beside her, while the honored consort personally prepared delicious food for her. In a corner by the artificial hill, the crown prince even pulled her into his arms, pointed to his lips, and coaxed her softly: "Kiss me here, and I'll let you go." Later, Shen Qiao's "dead" parents even arrived with a fortune large enough to rival a nation to take her home... The Shen family: How is she a punching bag? She's clearly everyone's beloved! In this life, you are the jewel in my palm, the moon in this world, the one in my heart. The blurb was written in February 2023. Screenshots are available as proof. Warnings: A tearful, delicate sweetheart + a deeply scheming, wicked older brother. The heroine is not registered as a member of the family; she was taken in as a foster child, and everyone knows they are not blood-related. The heroine cries easily and is adored by everyone. One-on-one romance, both leads' first time, happy ending. Theme: Dare to strive for what you want and work hard to improve yourself