Tender and Charming

[The title and blurb have already been screenshotted]

When Ling Zhi was five, her family discovered she was a fake heiress. They had no room for her and planned to send her to a country estate to be raised. Once she came of age, they would give her a small dowry and marry her off to anyone, just to be done with her.

But no one knew that Ling Zhi had been taken in by Ling Yuan, the mysterious Fourth Uncle of the Ling family. She grew up by his side, changing from a little dumpling into a slender young woman.

Only after she had grown up did Ling Zhi learn that her Fourth Uncle was actually the Crown Prince who had disappeared years ago.

The newly returned Crown Prince was deep-minded and ruthless. Everyone in the court trembled with fear around him.

People made a point of investigating Ling Yuan's past, hoping to find a way to curry favor with him. As it turned out, they learned that Ling Yuan had a beloved niece whom he had raised by his side since childhood, cherishing and doting on her as if she were a precious jewel.

To win Ling Yuan's favor, people began showering Ling Zhi with gifts.

Some sent clothes and jewelry, some offered houses and estates, and others took a different approach, advising Ling Yuan: Ling Zhi had come of age, and the newly named top candidate Shen Che was as handsome and refined as an orchid and jade. The two were a perfect match, a marriage made in heaven.

Ling Yuan asked Ling Zhi what she thought of Shen Che.

Ling Zhi didn't realize anything was amiss. Blushing, she replied, "The top candidate is handsome. I suppose he's quite nice."

Ling Yuan suppressed the beast about to break free inside him. He kept smiling, but said no more.

A little scene: Ling Zhi accidentally broke one of Ling Yuan's favorite inkstones. Her eyes welled with tears, but she obediently held out her hand, thinking Ling Yuan would punish her by smacking her palm as he used to. But to her surprise, Ling Yuan pulled her into the bed curtains.

Ling Yuan personally fastened a little bell around Ling Zhi. It jingled with every movement.

He bent down and kissed Ling Zhi's slender ankle. Zhizhi would always be his.

Everyone waited and waited for Ling Zhi and the top candidate to marry, but instead, the day came when Ling Zhi became the Crown Princess.

Everyone finally understood. The Crown Prince had been plotting this for a long time.

Reader's note: 1. The heroine is frail and sickly, a silly beauty, and very weak.

2. A sweet growing-up romance. Very sweet.

Theme: The wonderful romance of watching someone grow up.