After I Stole the Heart of the Aloof Beauty

[New novel now open for preorders!] The young lady of the Prince of Zhenbei's residence comes to the capital, firmly remembering the words her father and brothers often say: A young man who isn't a little wild has wasted his youth. So the first time Su Lingyue lays eyes on Qi Yuan, the aloof and otherworldly grandson of the Grand Tutor, she makes the most of her limited time in the capital and has herself one wild romance. No one could have guessed that a beautiful dream in the capital would change everything and nothing at all. * Qi Yuan has spent half his life being proper and reserved, but a woman who barges into his carriage turns his composure upside down. At their first meeting, the young woman has bright, expressive eyes. After brazenly staring at him for a long while, she suddenly furrows her brows and says softly, "Please, save me!" At their second meeting, she sits across from him with her chin in her hand, smiling as she says, "I came here so late at night because... I admire you." After that, she comes every night, and he waits for her every night. Until one day, he sits alone beneath the moonlight all night. The person he's waiting for never comes. That night, Qi Yuan crushes the white jade cup full of wine in his hand and presses his lips together. Liar. She knows everything about him, but he knows nothing about her. He doesn't know her age or where she lives. He doesn't even know her name! It's not fair! She's bullying him! * When the new emperor takes the throne, he issues a decree betrothing the Prince of Zhenbei's daughter to the Grand Tutor's grandson. Anyone with eyes can see that this marriage is merely an alliance between the old and new factions at court. Everyone waits to see the two households make fools of themselves. They even bet that Qi Yuan won't be able to put up with the young lady's unruly behavior, just like her father and brothers. On their wedding night, Su Lingyue lifts her veil, sees Qi Yuan's frosty expression, and calmly greets him: "Tsk." [Blurb Two] The winds of change sweep across the land. Everyone is a piece on the chessboard, with no idea where they will end up. I don't believe in fate or argue with Heaven. Having received this life, I will serve my country to the end. I will protect our lands and weather the storms, wishing only for peace for you and me, and safety for all under Heaven! #Historical fantasy, with extensive original worldbuilding Coming soon: Back to When My Husband Was Down on His Luck Yu Huan is probably the luckiest princess of a fallen kingdom. A few years after her kingdom falls, the new emperor arranges her marriage to the great general Shen Ling. The couple get along well, and their life together is happy enough. In his spare time, Shen Ling often tells her about his past: He says he was lonely as a child, struggled through his youth, and had no one to rely on. Everyone in the streets could bully him... Though he later rose rapidly through the ranks, the wounds of his youth are scars that he will never heal from in his lifetime. * Listening to him, Yu Huan feels for him and thinks to herself: If she'd met Shen Ling when she was young, her status as a princess would have let her protect him for a few years. Then she opens her eyes and discovers she's gone back in time. That year, she's sixteen. Her father, the emperor, has suddenly decided to travel incognito, and she's brought along. By sheer coincidence, they're visiting Shen Ling's hometown. * She hears that a group of local ruffians are beating up a boy at the market. In such a hurry that she doesn't even bring her attendants, Yu Huan runs straight out of the residence. She grabs a copper basin lying nearby and bangs on it, shouting at the ruffians: "The constables are here! Let go of Shen Ling! Stop beating Shen Ling!" At the sound of that, the ruffians immediately stop. They all turn around in shock to look at Shen Ling, who's leading the beating. Without changing expression, Shen Ling wipes his face, grabs one of the people on the ground, drags him to the back, and quickly lies down himself. Then he looks at the young woman charging toward him, reaches out, and says weakly, "Help me... I'm in so much pain..." Coming soon: My Husband and I Can't Stand Each Other [Female Imperial Guard Commander x Male Minister of Justice] Su Luqing and Qin Huaizhou are two rising stars at court: One is a representative of those who have used imperial favor to climb to high office, while the other is a standout who has steadily risen through the civil service examinations. In public, they're polite and harmonious. In private, they're at each other's throats and can't stand one another. But a single imperial decree ordering their marriage brings them together as husband and wife. At a palace banquet after their wedding, the emperor looks at the perfect couple and says happily to his trusted aide: "Minister Su and Minister Qin are so devoted to one another. They make everyone else jealous. I really did make the right call arranging this marriage!" But where no one can see, Su Luqing uses the chance to place food in Qin Huaizhou's bowl and asks coldly, "Did you tear out that page from the case file?" Qin Huaizhou pretends to lovingly smooth his "dear wife's" hair, sneering right back: "Did you steal that key?" [Bonus Scene] Their wedding night. Su Luqing waves her round fan, looking provocative. "Minister Qin, don't you know that newlyweds are supposed to drink the nuptial wine?" Qin Huaizhou refuses to back down and leans closer. "Minister Su, don't you know you're also supposed to consummate the marriage?" #Marriage first, love later. Theme: Have the courage to speak your feelings.