The Beauty's Schemes (Reborn)

My next novel will be “After Flirting with the Censor.” If you're interested, feel free to visit my author profile and add it to your collection in advance~

[Fragile, Innocent, Scheming Beauty vs. Brutal, Love-Struck Crown Prince]

When Ruan Qing has nowhere else to turn, Xie Rongzhen, heir to the Duke of Dingguo, takes her in. She stays at the duke's estate as a distant female cousin.

Xie Rongzhen is cold and indifferent, devoted only to his family, yet he treats her a little differently.

Though she knows a chasm lies between them, Ruan Qing falls for him anyway.

She approaches Crown Prince Qi Yan and even volunteers to be sent into the Eastern Palace as a concubine, all to help Xie Rongzhen eliminate his greatest obstacle and put a prince from the Xie clan on the throne.

Ruan Qing uses every scheme and trick she can think of. At last, the crown prince, regarded by everyone as violent, unrestrained, and depraved, becomes completely obedient to her and takes care of her in every way.

After ascending the throne, he even defies the court and insists on making her, the daughter of a convicted minister, his empress.

He drinks the bowl of lotus-seed porridge she personally brings him, laced with deadly poison.

She thinks Xie Rongzhen will be moved by her love and keep his promise to take her away.

But all she receives is an imperial edict from the new emperor, ordering her execution.

The new empress comes to urge her to take her own life. Only before her death does Ruan Qing finally learn the truth.

Her father had been innocent all along. To protect a cousin who had committed a crime, Xie Rongzhen framed her father. His supposed special treatment of her had only been his way of making amends.

How ridiculous that she had given her life for someone like him, and personally killed Qi Yan, the man who truly loved, protected, and cherished her.

Ruan Qing sets fire to the Cold Palace. The moment the flames engulf her, she thinks it is all over.

But when she opens her eyes again, she has returned to the Duke of Dingguo's estate.

Her father and brother have not yet died in exile, and she has not yet entered the Eastern Palace.

The only person who can save her father and brother is Crown Prince Qi Yan. Ruan Qing decides to approach him as she did in her previous life.

*

At a flower-viewing banquet in the princess's residence, a playboy harasses Ruan Qing in the garden.

She catches sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye, puts on a panicked, innocent expression, and is about to throw herself into Qi Yan's arms as she did in her previous life.

But Qi Yan dodges her. His gaze is ice-cold, brimming with violence.

Ruan Qing thinks that if she takes one more step toward him, Qi Yan might kill her.

But she doesn't retreat. Fighting back a tremble, she walks toward him. “Your Highness, please save me. I'm scared.”

Her voice is soft and timid. She hides behind him, clutching his sleeve.

Qi Yan resists her in his heart, but his body refuses to obey. Not only does he fail to shake her off, he shields her completely.

With nowhere to vent his anger, he kicks the playboy so hard that it sounds like bones are breaking.

Ruan Qing flinches and takes a step back.

Qi Yan notices, and his expression darkens. Does she think he's crude and violent? Is she disgusted by him?

Ruan Qing, who had just stepped back, comes close again, even closer than before.

Qi Yan mocks himself. She's afraid of him, yet still clings to him.

For that good-for-nothing Xie heir, she really is willing to do anything!

That night, the crown prince lies awake. How has that scheming, calculating woman gotten the better of him again?

Reader Notice:

* This is a fictional setting. No historical fact-checking, please.

* Both leads are reborn. One-on-one romance, both leads' first times, happy ending.

* The second male lead will suffer a groveling pursuit of his ex, so badly that even the ashes will be scattered.

* The heroine will also grovel to win back the hero. She won't be put through angst, because the hero loves her like crazy, even after she killed him once.

* If you don't like it, don't force yourself to read. It's better to stop early.

Upcoming novel “After Flirting with the Censor.” Please add it to your collection~

[Timid, Face-Blind, Tearful Beauty vs. Obsessive, Ruthless Embroidered Uniform Guard]

Xue Wanwan accidentally learns that her father plans to marry her off to Shen Zheng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He is notorious as a treacherous court official, black-hearted and ruthless, someone no one dares to provoke.

The rumors of his bloodthirsty slaughtering leave Xue Wanwan too frightened to sleep, let alone to marry him and face him every day.

After thinking long and hard, she finally comes up with a way to escape.

Before the marriage is finalized, she must find herself a kind, easygoing husband.

She sets her sights on the new top scholar, Cui Yanzhi.

They say he is noble and virtuous, a true gentleman who loves to dress in white.

To win Cui Yanzhi's heart as quickly as possible, she devours romance novels.

Convinced she has mastered the art, she goes to the teahouse Cui Yanzhi frequents and finds out which private room he usually uses.

At the door, Xue Wanwan sees a distinguished young man in white inside. It really is Cui Yanzhi, the man she's been looking for.

So she imitates the romance novels, swaying as she walks in and speaking in a syrupy voice. “What a handsome brother! The moment I saw you, my heart started pounding. You're so bad!”

The young man in white smiles at her gently. “Are you saying you like me?”

Wanwan nods shyly. “Brother, I'd gladly die for you!”

His smile doesn't change, but his eyes take on a meaningful glint.

“Is that so? Then I'll take you at your word. Don't you dare lie to me.”

The unspoken part is: “If you do, I'll kill you!”

*

In his youth, Shen Zheng, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, saw his family destroyed. With blood on his hands, he clawed his way to the top and became the emperor's trusted confidant.

Everyone says he is ruthless and cruel, a truly wicked man.

But no one knows that in his heart he keeps a bright moon he can see but never reach.

He uses every scheme and trick at his disposal, hoping to hold that moon in his arms.

Who could have guessed that one day his moon would come to him of her own accord and say she liked him?

How could he possibly refuse?

Even knowing she has mistaken him for someone else, he will seize this chance to pull the moon down from the sky and drag her with him into the abyss.

*

Xue Wanwan finally manages to win over the top scholar, and just as they are about to live happily ever after, she suddenly notices one day that his immaculate white robes are stained with blood.

It turns out she's been flirting with the wrong man all along. A man in white might be the top scholar, but it could also be Shen Zheng, the fiend!

She tries to run away, sniffling, but Shen Zheng has already bared his fangs and left her nowhere to flee.

Afterward, he holds her in his arms day after day, patiently guiding her hand over every feature of his face.

“Can you recognize your husband's face now?”

“I-I can.” Xue Wanwan trembles, unable to stop herself from whimpering softly.

Shen Zheng's gaze darkens. He kisses away her tears with reverent devotion.

“It doesn't matter if you can't.”

He raises a hand to grip the back of her neck, forcing her to tip her head back and receive his kiss.

If her eyes can't remember, then he'll make her remember another way.

Theme: Learn to cherish what you have. Don't wait until it's gone to start regretting it.