The Mandarin Duck Bed

[If you're reading a pirated copy, subscribe before you say anything.] In stories, women who had an unhappy life in their previous life are always grateful for the chance to start over. In their second life, they find a new husband and live happily ever after. But that's not how it is for Yue Yang. She regrets everything now, and even wishes she hadn't been reborn. Because not long after she was reborn, she had just divorced her ex-husband when the world fell into chaos. The nobles and generals each chose a side. Yue Yang's ex-husband gathered twelve cities under his command, claimed a territory for himself, and became a great general defending the nation. Meanwhile, as Yue Yang fled with her family, she was accidentally separated from them and captured by kidnappers. Seeing how beautiful she was, they planned to sell her into a brothel. She had once been a noble lady. In an instant, she had become the lowliest of slaves. ~ One day, Yue Yang escaped. To avoid being captured again, she begged for help from an army passing by. When their commander came out, Yue Yang froze. She recognized the eyes looking back at her, filled with mockery. Her ex-husband, now the great general defending the nation, Xiao Hetang, spoke to her coldly. "Who was it that said, 'If you have no love for me, I'll leave, and from now on we'll never cross paths again'? Go on, run, Dong Yue Yang. In this chaotic world, let's see where you can hide without me." "Want me to save you? Then agree to become my twenty-first concubine." ~ When Xiao Hetang saw Yue Yang again, she was no longer Madam Xiao, but a slave fleeing in a wretched state. So he did nothing but mock and humiliate her. He blamed her for refusing to stay his proper wife. If that was what she wanted, then she could become a concubine everyone could abuse. He no longer had feelings for her, either. Yue Yang had abandoned him, and she wasn't worthy of taming him. A faithless woman deserved to be punished. ~ Yue Yang regretted everything. Who else had as hard a time surviving in this chaotic world? First she had to face the war, then find her family, then reclaim her status, and on top of all that, deal with Xiao Hetang, her cruel ex-husband. To reunite with her family as soon as possible, Yue Yang had no choice but to stay by his side for a while. Xiao Hetang: "Don't you want to get your status as Madam Xiao back?" Yue Yang, who didn't know she was having morning sickness and instead thought she was about to be sick, spat, "No way. If we meet again after a divorce, whoever falls in love first is a dog." Xiao Hetang: "..." Readers who inspect blurbs and those who love to flag potential triggers are not welcome. :) . No trigger warnings. Read at your own risk. Rude comments will be deleted if they ruin the fun for everyone. (If you insult me or stir up trouble, I'll insult you back before deleting your comment.) Since some people keep inventing nonexistent enemies, this story is exclusive to this site. Read it if you like, and if you don't, then don't--beep. Read it if you like, and if you don't, then don't--beep. Read it if you like, and if you don't, then don't--beep. . A prodigal son turns over a new leaf (meaning a wastrel reforms and repents, for the record), divorce first, love later, rekindled romance, and a groveling ex-husband. The blurb was screenshotted on December 6, 2021. Don't copy it. If you do, you'll get caught. . My next story: Coaxing the Beloved Chu Lianyi's mother divorced her father while she was still pregnant with her and left the capital to live on her own estate. Chu Lianyi never knew who her father was, but she knew she had an older brother in the capital. To pay for her mother's medical treatment, Chu Lianyi gathered lotus roots to save up for the journey to the capital. But a childhood friend, who had grown up with her, tricked her into taking part in a honey trap, targeting an important man who had come from the capital. The important man arrested her childhood friend, took an interest in her, and brought her back to the capital. They had never known each other, so even with her father and brother close by, Chu Lianyi couldn't bring herself to acknowledge them. Chu Lianyi was kept as the important man's mistress. He treated her very well, and she thought he loved her. Then she learned that he was her father's enemy, and that her brother had taken the woman he loved. After discovering who Chu Lianyi was, he had traveled a great distance to use her as a stand-in for the woman he cherished. He meant to take revenge on her father and brother by playing with their daughter and sister. Chu Lianyi's heart was shattered by his lies. He had deceived her heart and taken her body. She was utterly heartbroken. She decided to take the money and go home to bury her mother, then cut all ties with her past. But just as she was about to leave the palace, an imperial carriage was waiting for her. Chu Lianyi was gathered into the emperor's arms like a cat being petted. The calculating emperor coaxed her tenderly: "How could you even abandon me?" Chu Lianyi was disillusioned. She had hidden a cold blade, and was ready to abandon even her father and brother, let alone him. - Everyone knew the new emperor and the prime minister were at odds. If not for the late emperor's agreement, it was anyone's guess who would have won. One day, the new emperor learned a secret about the prime minister. He found the prime minister's daughter, who had been living far away. Jiangnan was lovely, and perfect for a tour. Jian Yunchong found the lotus-picking girl more and more fascinating the longer he watched her. His thoughts grew heated, his gaze playful. His awakening desire was beginning to show. --Add it to your reading list now if you're interested. Theme: Cherish the present.