The Substitute Bridegroom Is a Man

My new novel, "Forced to Marry My Father's Killer, I Married Someone Else Instead," is now available. [One-on-one, seemingly forced marriage, but actually mutual unrequited love] Fu Beishi's elder brother was bedridden with a lingering illness and near death. Their mother wanted to arrange a lucky marriage to bring him good fortune, so she invited a famous fortune-teller from far and wide to cast the lots. The chosen bride was Nian Zhixia's twin sister, Nian Zhiqiu. Nian Zhiqiu refused at all costs and fled the wedding that night, so Nian Zhixia disguised himself as a woman and married in her place. Fu Beishi stood in for his brother to greet the bride and perform the wedding rites. He caught a glimpse of the eyes beneath the red veil: gently furrowed brows, tender and expressive eyes, enough to set his heart aflutter. In that instant, Fu Beishi fell for those eyes. Unfortunately, "Nian Zhiqiu" had already become his sister-in-law. Even though he had been the one to greet the bride, perform the wedding rites, host the guests, drink the nuptial wine, and serve the tea, none of it could change that. Fu Beishi watched "Nian Zhiqiu" smile sweetly at his brother and care for him attentively. Jealousy burned inside him, but etiquette forced him to address "Nian Zhiqiu" as "Sister-in-law." One day, Fu Beishi discovered "Nian Zhiqiu's" secret. It turned out that "Nian Zhiqiu" was not "Nian Zhiqiu" at all, but "Nian Zhixia." He wasn't attracted to men, and thought he ought to give up, expose Nian Zhixia to his mother, and punish him properly. But once again, his heart softened, and he let Nian Zhixia keep deceiving everyone. At last, his brother and Nian Zhixia divorced. Having gotten a taste of him, Fu Beishi looked down at Nian Zhixia's tear-reddened eyes, both pleased and pained. He thought Nian Zhixia was only enduring this for his sake. Little did he know that Nian Zhixia had fallen deeply in love with him years ago. He hadn't married in his sister's place because he had no other choice, but because he wanted to. Fu Beishi was the legitimate second son of a marquis's household, while Nian Zhixia was merely the son of a poor scholar. They were worlds apart. Only by marrying in his sister's place could Nian Zhixia get close to Fu Beishi. Later, the female general whom Fu Beishi was rumored to love returned in triumph from the border. Nian Zhixia couldn't bear to see Fu Beishi acting so lovey-dovey with the woman he loved, nor did he want Fu Beishi to forget him, so he decided to stage his own death. Watching Fu Beishi's expression shatter with grief, he thought: Surely he feels at least a little affection for me, not just for this body? A month later, he stroked his rounded belly and lowered his head with a soft laugh. "I stole a child from him. This marriage in my sister's place was well worth it." "Forced to Marry My Father's Killer, I Married Someone Else Instead," synopsis: Ning Jiazheng, son of Chonghua Tower's master Ning Chongshan, had an exceptional talent for cultivation. At just fourteen, he defeated 129 elite disciples from sects across the land at the Qiongji Gathering and claimed the championship. He was a once-in-a-century genius. But overnight, Ning Chongshan was accused of murdering a highly respected elder of the Jiutian Xuan Sect. Ning Jiazheng went from a favored son of heaven to the son of a criminal in an instant. Although Jiutian Xuan Sect leader Xi Qingchuan was betrothed to Ning Jiazheng, he put justice first and reluctantly executed Ning Chongshan and his trusted followers on the spot. When the three-year mourning period ended, Xi Qingchuan married Ning Jiazheng in accordance with their engagement. Everyone said Xi Qingchuan was devoted and honorable, willing to marry Ning Jiazheng despite his tainted bloodline. Little did they know that Xi Qingchuan had framed Ning Chongshan because he had always wanted to break off the engagement he had been forced into. To keep Ning Jiazheng from running away, Xi Qingchuan, who appeared to care for him, even crippled his cultivation and held Ning Jiazheng's mother and younger sister hostage, forcing him to submit. On their wedding night, Ning Jiazheng faced his father's killer, utterly bereft of hope. Suddenly, the fearsome beast Qiongqi, shaped like a tiger and bearing wings, descended from the sky. It lifted Ning Jiazheng's chin with its massive paw and asked, "Will you give yourself to me?" Ning Jiazheng replied calmly, "But I am not a woman." Qiongqi laughed. "No matter. I don't care about gender." Ning Jiazheng pointed at Xi Qingchuan and said, "Clear my father's name, reveal the truth, and ruin Xi Qingchuan. Then I'll give myself to you." Without hesitation, Qiongqi replied, "Agreed, but I want to enjoy the reward first." Xi Qingchuan had no time to draw his sword before Qiongqi immobilized him. Then Ning Jiazheng tore down the wedding curtains and, behind them, made love to Qiongqi. Ning Jiazheng felt triumphant because Xi Qingchuan had not only failed to have his way with him, but could only watch. At the same time, he felt humiliated: a man of his stature had to submit beneath a beast. Xi Qingchuan, leader of the Jiutian Xuan Sect, was disgraced, and the sect declined along with him. Ning Jiazheng had been married to Xi Qingchuan for only two years, but in that time he had grown from a dashing young man into a breathtaking beauty. Even though his father's name had now been cleared, Xi Qingchuan had already burned Chonghua Tower to the ground, and crippled Ning Jiazheng's cultivation. On top of that, Ning Jiazheng had spent two years in the arms of his enemy. There was no chance he could ever regain his former glory. Instead, he became easy prey, and everyone wanted a piece of him. To everyone's surprise, Ning Jiazheng remarried on the seventh day after Xi Qingchuan's death. His second husband was none other than Ying Xizhou, Xi Qingchuan's junior disciple. On his second wedding night, Ning Jiazheng lay limp and damp in Ying Xizhou's arms, saying lazily, "Turn back into your true form. It'll be more comfortable to hold you." "So you dislike my human form," Ying Xizhou said, but changed back into Qiongqi anyway. Ning Jiazheng stroked the softest fur on Qiongqi's belly and asked, "You really don't care about gender?" Qiongqi replied, "When it comes to eating people, I don't care about gender. I don't chew slowly, and everyone tastes the same when swallowed whole. But when it comes to mating, I care about gender. You're the only exception." Theme: Stay true to your heart and work hard