Marrying a Sickly Lover (Reborn)

Coming soon: Stolen by a Dark, Obsessive Official After a Mistaken Marriage. A later rival comes along and fights to win her over. Sweet romance, please add it to your reading list.

Blurb:

A young lady from the Ministry of Rites' vice minister's family arrives as a distant cousin. She is beautiful and gentle, with a quiet, mild disposition. Unfortunately, her family has fallen on hard times, and the masters of the vice minister's household do not take to her.

Even the servants privately remark that although she and the legitimate young master are in love, at best she could become a favored concubine.

No one expects the cousin to distinguish herself and, when the emperor asks what reward she wants, request that he grant her a marriage to Prince Jing, Xiao Jue.

Xiao Jue is a ruthless official and a wicked man. His face is peerlessly handsome, but inside he is bloodthirsty and merciless.

The people of the capital call him the Smiling Evil Spirit, a twisted cripple, and believe that he will either die young or be executed.

Even Xiao Jue expects the same, waiting coldly for his end.

But what comes is a marriage proposal from the cousin of the Xie family.

The young woman smiles, her apricot eyes bright, and tugs at his sleeve as she confesses, "I love you."

Xiao Jue does not die of illness, nor is he executed. He becomes emperor, lifts Shen Shu onto the dragon throne, and earnestly asks, "Will you grow old with me?"

Shen Shu has a secret: she has lived two lives. In her previous life, she was sure her cousin would marry her, but he ultimately looked down on her humble origins and pursued a noble princess instead.

On the snowy outskirts of the city, Shen Shu dies amid a series of deadly attacks.

The bloodthirsty prince she had once feared even to look at avenges her.

While she is alive, the man protects her with great care, never letting on. After her death, he unleashes a storm of blood and violence without a second thought.

Later, consumed by suspicion and utterly despondent, he dies beside her.

Reborn, Shen Shu knows that Xiao Jue's aloofness is an act, and so is his cruelty. She resolutely comes to his side, hoping to become a ray of light that will warm the rest of his life.

And Xiao Jue is that ray of light for her, too.

*

At first, Xiao Jue's face is icy. "This prince barely knows you."

Shen Shu: "All right, all right, we barely know each other. What would you like for dinner? I'll ask the kitchen to make it."

Xiao Jue: "..."

Later, Xiao Jue kisses her red lips with restrained obsession, possessively declaring, "You were the one who came to me. For the rest of this life, you can only stay by my side and be my wife. Understand?"

Shen Shu shivers all over. "I understand."

Note: The male lead can be cured and will ascend the throne. The female lead is the daughter of a disgraced imperial physician, and eventually becomes empress. Both leads are virgins. A sweet story of warmth and redemption.

Another coming-soon title: Stolen by a Dark, Obsessive Official After a Mistaken Marriage

Yu Qingchan is born to a distinguished family, with skin like ice and a figure like jade. At eighteen, she marries into the Prince of Hexi's household in a grand ceremony, becoming the envy of everyone.

In the third year of her marriage, her stepsister begins a secret affair with the prince's heir.

Her father refuses to see right from wrong and tells her, "Your sister is kindhearted. Seeing that you haven't had a child in all these years, she fears you will be lonely, so she's willing to be a secondary wife and support you. You should be grateful."

Her stepmother gloats. "Your sister and the heir love each other. It's generous of them to let you stay at all. Don't be ungrateful."

Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law ignore all the work she does running the household and blame her for delaying the heir's succession. Even the husband who once spent a fortune to marry her reveals his true colors, warning her impatiently, "I'm the heir of a noble family. Having several wives and concubines is perfectly normal. Don't be jealous."

Yu Qingchan has never been jealous. She has simply finally seen through their hypocrisy and vileness.

Yu Qingchan is tired. "Then the heir should divorce me."

*

At her most desperate, Yu Qingchan meets Lu Zhan. He is a trusted aide to the emperor and a gentleman from an eminent family, gentle as jade, handsome, and kind.

When Yu Qingchan is caught in a downpour while traveling, Lu Zhan generously lends her an umbrella, getting soaked himself.

When Yu Qingchan gathers evidence of her husband's misconduct, Lu Zhan gallantly sends someone to show her the way.

Even when she confronts her stepsister and is shoved to the ground, Lu Zhan steps in to help, always polite and courteous.

Despite rumors that Lu Zhan is a hypocrite and a ruthless man, Yu Qingchan is convinced he is a good person.

*

Much later, Yu Qingchan marries Lu Zhan and learns the truth by accident:

Her stepmother and stepsister's ambitions were encouraged by Lu Zhan. Lu Zhan also had a hand in persuading the Princess of Hexi to let her divorce. None of the times he helped her had been out of kindness.

Night after night, Lu Zhan secretly breathes in the fragrance of her hair, holding himself back until he trembles.

It turns out that long ago, Lu Zhan began weaving an inescapable net for one reason only: to claim her.

Note: A gentle, chaste, and darkly obsessive official VS a graceful, cultured beauty from a scholarly family.

The female lead is not a virgin, but the male lead is. He has secretly loved her for a long time. He schemes to seize her, and her ex-husband will desperately try to win her back. The male lead has a hidden identity and is a true hypocrite.

Theme: May we all find redemption when surrounded by darkness, respect and love ourselves, and be kind to others