My Minister and I Treat Each Other with Respect

Song Shiwei married Xie Qian'an as a matter of convenience.

She needed to escape trouble, and he needed to repay a debt of gratitude. Before they married, they had barely exchanged a word. There was no affection between them at all.

Fortunately, Xie Qian'an was devoted to power, and the two rarely spoke. Aside from the fact that he was young and vigorous and had no restraint, keeping her up every night until her back ached and her limbs went weak, Song Shiwei was fairly satisfied.

Xie Qian'an protected her, and she managed his household. They lived in peace for three years of marriage.

That was, until a woman showed up at their door with a token of betrothal, claiming she had once been engaged to Lord Xie, a powerful official at court. With tears streaming down her face, she begged Song Shiwei to give her a place to stay.

Song Shiwei had dealt with countless women like her. As usual, she was about to send this one away, but Xie Qian'an stopped her and, right in front of her, arranged a place for the woman in his outer residence.

Just then, Song Shiwei's elder brother returned, and the first thing she did was ask for divorce papers.

*

Xie Qian'an stood at the pinnacle of power, wielding enormous authority and enjoying the emperor's deep trust.

He was also exceptionally handsome, courteous, and proper. So even though his methods were ruthless, people often praised him as upright and refined, like a jade tree in bloom.

Only he knew it was all an act. Once, he had been miserable and wretched, struggling to survive in the mud. At his lowest, a pair of delicate hands had reached out to him.

To him, Song Shiwei was the moon in the heavens, a flower across the river. If not for the trouble that had befallen the Song family, she would never have married him.

So he never dared hope that Song Shiwei would love him. He was rarely at home, lest he make her dislike him. Only at night did his desire become impossible to restrain.

But she still asked for a divorce. He was unwilling to keep her by force, and he would not make her stay against her will.

Then he saw his usually aloof and dignified wife, with dark hair and red lips, her jade-like arm propping up her cheek as she smiled at her childhood sweetheart, her eyes crinkling with delight.

Xie Qian'an controlled the court and was slow to anger, but at that moment, he simply could not hold back.

He stepped forward and told Song Shiwei to come with him.

She smiled, gently and effortlessly brushing his hand aside, as if wiping away a speck of dust. "My lord, we're already divorced."

Xie Qian'an had always considered himself decisive and ruthless. He had only ever been the one to sentence others. But now, he finally understood what it meant to be heartbroken.

So even if it cost him his life, he would keep this bright moon in his arms.

*The male lead is both mad and humble, pining for someone who doesn't love him, and gradually turning dark.

Next book: After Abandoning the Brooding Crown Prince. Please add it to your favorites, mwah!

In her previous life, the most outrageous thing Wen Yu ever did was beg the emperor to grant her permission to marry Xie Changqian.

At the time, she was still the noble legitimate daughter of a marquis's family, while Xie Changqian had been convicted and imprisoned. As the emperor's fifth son, he had been made a prince before he came of age. He was the only imperial prince in Great Heng to receive such a title, yet in a single night, he lost the emperor's favor.

The emperor asked her, "Are you truly willing to be confined with him in Prince Gong's residence, never to set foot outside again for the rest of your life?"

Wen Yu replied without hesitation, "I am willing."

In just two years, Xie Changqian reclaimed the power he had lost and returned to court. He was once again valued and was named crown prince.

Everyone said His Highness the Crown Prince was gentle and generous, self-disciplined and courteous. Wen Yu thought so too, until he ascended the throne and she finally saw his true nature.

He was gloomy and vicious, held grudges over the slightest offense, and treated everyone with cold indifference.

Wen Yu was the only person who had seen him covered in filth, utterly wretched, when he had fallen into the mud.

Xie Changqian kept her locked away in the imperial palace, forbidding her to speak to anyone or appear in public. He even wanted to erase every trace of her ever having existed.

Unable to endure it any longer, Wen Yu tried to escape, but she lost her footing and died.

When she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the day Xie Changqian's troubles began.

Her father urged her to put her family first. Calmly, Wen Yu said, "I've thought it through. Father, please send a letter breaking off my engagement to Prince Gong's residence."

After the engagement was broken, she remained the highborn daughter of a marquis's family, admired and pursued by everyone.

She thought she and Xie Changqian would never cross paths again in this life, but he was released in just over a month.

Worried that Prince Gong might take his anger out on her, her family began looking for another match. Beneath the spring sunlight, she walked side by side with a young lord, smiling with bright eyes.

Behind her, Xie Changqian's eyes were bloodshot, his possessive desire churning violently, almost beyond his control.

"Your Highness, let us both go our separate ways."

"Never. Not unless I die."

*The male lead is truly deranged, volatile and sinister, with pathological possessiveness and need for control.

*The female lead really is done with him and seriously considers marrying someone else.

*A story about taming a dog. Happy ending.

Theme: Cherish the person before you.