The Spoiled Beauty

Yan Shu had a face as lovely as a jade flower and was clever and quick-witted. Her family doted on her, raising her to be picky, extravagant, and spoiled. Even the old fortune-teller said she was destined for wealth and honor. Now that the spoiled young lady, who loved luxury and indulgence, had reached marriageable age, she resolved to marry into a prominent family. The highest-ranking family in the imperial capital, and home to the most prestigious unmarried young master, was the Duke's mansion, whose heir was Xi Yuanjun. People said he was aloof and proud, with eyes set impossibly high. Yan Shu was determined to rise to the challenge. To win Xi Yuanjun over, at a flower-viewing banquet, Yan Shu, who was an excellent swimmer, pretended to lose her footing and fall into the flower pond right in front of him. Xi Yuanjun's gaze remained cool and impassive. Every year, at least five girls, if not ten, fell into the water in front of him. Just as Yan Shu was about to run out of steam, he still came to her rescue. But Xi Yuanjun had only saved her so he could mock her. "Falling into the water is old-fashioned. Next time, tie a rock on yourself and come up with a different trick." Yan Shu looked embarrassed on the outside, but was secretly pleased. She had deliberately made sure he saw the rock tied to her leg, and it had worked just as she hoped. As he had suggested, Yan Shu came up with one trick after another. Xi Yuanjun played the qin, and Yan Shu accompanied him, then deliberately went off-key. For Xi Yuanjun's birthday, Yan Shu gave him someone else's painting, along with a note: This gentleman paints better than you. When Xi Yuanjun took part in a polo match, Yan Shu danced onstage, dazzling everyone, then handed the ball to her friend's older brother in front of the whole crowd. Xi Yuanjun stared at the ball, which had always been passed to him before. At first, he didn't care. He thought it was just another one of Yan Shu's little ploys to get his attention. It wasn't until he realized that Yan Shu had truly set her sights on someone else and changed her target for marrying into a prominent family that Xi Yuanjun became restless and troubled. For the first time in his life, the favored son of heaven tasted regret. There was a rumor that the heir to the Duke's mansion had fallen for a merchant's daughter from out of town. He went to great lengths to please her, yet she still gave him nothing but cold looks. Xi Yuanjun: The rumor is true. [Marriage Before Love] Blurb for the upcoming novel Spoiled Wife: Xie Yan, heir to the Marquis of Weijing, was refined, noble, and aloof, untouched by worldly concerns. To honor the betrothal arranged by his grandfather before his birth, he married Qin as his principal wife. Originally, Xie Yan's expectations for his heir's wife were that she be virtuous and clever. But the Qin Zhiyi he brought home was lazy, extravagant, and spoiled. Madam Qin slept until late morning every day. Even when Xie Yan returned from court, she was still in bed. She needed eight new outfits every season, at a minimum cost of three hundred taels of silver. Xie Yan's official salary wasn't even enough to cover that expense. After six months of marriage, they disagreed about everything, and rumors said the newlyweds' relationship was on the verge of collapse. The marquis advised, "You've married her now, so that's that." The marchioness advised, "You'll get used to it." Oblivious Qin Zhiyi knew nothing about any of this. She continued telling the seamstresses to embroider pine needles on Xie Yan's collar with fine gold thread, and instructing the kitchen to make soup with plum-blossom sea cucumber as its base. She didn't just spend all of Xie Yan's salary, but also squandered his personal fortune. When Xie Yan returned from court, she failed to notice his cold expression and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Husband, the bed is still warm. Come sleep a little longer." When Xie Yan looked over the account books, she failed to notice his frozen expression and looped her arm through his. "Husband, when will you be promoted and get a raise? Otherwise, we won't even be able to afford to raise our child." Later, Qin Zhiyi finally heard that Xie Yan had once been dissatisfied with her. Holding her now-swollen belly, she sobbed and demanded a divorce so she could return to her family home. Xie Yan wiped away her tears, the corners of his lips lifting. "Once my wife, my wife for life." He had already grown used to working diligently every day, all so he could lavish care on his precious, adorable wife. Theme: Rely on yourself rather than fate