The Escapee Queen

Blurb: Zhou Miaowan happily picked out the perfect husband for herself: Li Wenyan, Prince Duan, who lived far from the capital's whirlpool of power. A face as handsome as white jade, plus one point; Chaste and respectable, plus one point; Able to ride horses with her, plus one point… After adding it all up, she got a perfect man. Zhou Miaowan married him without a second thought! But on their wedding night, just as passion was rising, a drunken Li Wenyan leaned close to her ear and tenderly called another woman's name. Two-timing? Straight down to zero points. A gentle breeze stirred the red curtains embroidered with phoenixes, while the dreamy candlelight fell across Zhou Miaowan's cheeks. Li Wenyan admitted that if his heart had not already belonged to someone else, he would certainly have fallen for her then. But he wanted so much more. He wanted the empire, revenge, and to make his Ranran his empress in a way no one could question… He wanted everything except her. She was merely a pawn. There was no need to involve feelings. Li Wenyan thought that if Zhou Miaowan behaved herself, he wouldn't mind keeping her in the palace as a concubine in the end. But he had planned for every eventuality and still failed to foresee that, given enough time, people's hearts could change. It was winter. Braving the wind and snow, Li Wenyan went to buy Zhou Miaowan's favorite rice cake. He wanted to tell her that he'd decided to let go of his obsession and spend the rest of his life with her. The rice cakes in his arms were still warm when he arrived, travel-worn and weary, only to see Zhou Miaowan curled up in someone else's arms, laughing happily. She only smiled and said, “I'm not interested in the whole ‘a reformed playboy is worth his weight in gold’ act.” Reader's guide: [If you decide this isn't to your taste, run! The author's skill level is very consistent. There's no need to endure the early chapters hoping the later ones will deliver what you want.] 1. Entirely fictional setting, with a jumble of original details. Don't overthink it. I am so vegetable. 2. The male lead is a jerk early on, then grovels to win her back (a real punishment, not him having everything he wants except a little emotional pain). The heroine isn't the helpless type and stays clear-headed throughout. 3. One-on-one romance, tragic ending (no forced stabbing or forced sugarcoating), both leads are virgins in the literal sense. 4. Not a sweet romance. There are deaths, so read with caution if that's a concern. Reading the comments may spoil the whole thing. 5. The potential triggers are already listed in the blurb and the points above. Please don't read only the blurb and opening and then start making premature complaints. 6. There is a second male lead, but he doesn't end up with her. The male lead does grovel to win her back, but she doesn't kill him. "At its core, this is a story of tangled love and hate, not a cathartic revenge story about punishing scumbags." 7. This is my first book. Please be patient with me, and stop reading if it's not for you (bows). Ongoing: Married to a Cold, Stern General by Imperial Decree Blurb: In the second year of the new emperor's reign, he married off his own sister, Zhao Mingzhen, a pampered and dissolute princess, to Yan Qu, a general from humble origins. One was a pampered princess of noble blood, who needed a sedan chair to go out and bathed in milk. The other was a rough man from the grass roots, used to eating whatever the wind and dew provided and swallowing his broken teeth with blood. Everyone said they were a bad match. Betting shops were full of wagers on when this ill-fated couple would split up. Amid the debate, Her Highness the Princess slapped down a gleaming gold ingot and declared, “I bet three years.” “Within three years, I'll definitely kick him to the curb.” Their marriage was a political alliance, a matter of weighing interests. Zhao Mingzhen understood that perfectly. On their first night as newlyweds, she drew a boundary down the middle of the marriage bed. “The left side is mine, and the right side is mine, too.” “Then what the hell did you draw that line for?” The rising young general rolled his eyes and made himself a bedroll on the floor. On their third day of marriage, Zhao Mingzhen ordered him to sign an unfair contract. “No walking side by side, no holding hands, no looking at each other for more than three seconds…” She nudged him with her toe. “Are you signing or not? If you don't, we're getting divorced today.” General Yan ground his teeth, snorted, and scrawled the two characters of his name, “Yan Qu,” in an atrocious hand. In their third month of marriage, Zhao Mingzhen accidentally inhaled an aphrodisiac incense. She slapped the table and shouted, “What kind of man expects me to go to his bed myself? Go tie him up and bring him here, ” Yan Qu, dragged in bound: … In their third year of marriage. The candles cast a warm, wavering glow inside the tent. Zhao Mingzhen suddenly realized something and kicked at the man in front of her. Broad-shouldered and long-legged, Yan Qu crouched beside the bed and swiftly caught her damp ankle. “What is it, my princess? Weren't you the one who wanted me to wash your feet?” Zhao Mingzhen's expression wavered. A little awkwardly, she turned her eyes away. …Three years ago, she could never have imagined this. That the famous, high-ranking General Yan would wash her feet by the warm candlelight, his gaze gentle. Tips: Proud, pampered, peacock-princess × rough general who's cold outside and warm inside No prior romance, no secret crushes, first marriage then love, light comedy The heroine really is haughty and spoiled, and she fits the dissolute princess image three-quarters of the way. She doesn't suffer for love. The hero is devoted in body and soul, pure down to the last strand of hair. Theme: Hold on to your principles even in adversity