I Pledge My Kingdom to You

[Delicate, frail princess of a fallen kingdom x obsessive, ruthless minister who brings ruin to the nation] Both leads are sexually inexperienced. Happy ending.

Jiang Rao was born a legitimate princess, surrounded by fine clothes, delicious food, and endless affection. Her father was wise and benevolent, her mother virtuous, and her elder brother, the Crown Prince, proper and upright.

But when Shangyin fell to its enemies in the year she turned twelve, everything came crashing down.

Her parents were murdered, her sister-in-law was violated, and her brother took his own life. Hidden away, she witnessed the entire atrocity.

Four years later, the enemy found her. As a princess of a fallen kingdom, she was confined to the palace and became a plaything for the imperial family of Great Jin.

Then one night, the Princess of Jin stripped off her clothes and sent her to Yongmu Hall.

That night, the gauze curtains billowed in waves. The warm fragrance of Yongmu Hall mingled with the sharp scent of wine, while her sobs and moans mingled with coaxing words.

Afterward, the man wiped away the tears rolling from the corners of her eyes. His fingertips were cold. "Why are you crying?"

Jiang Rao's eyes were misty, and in a hoarse, soft voice she pleaded, "My lord, please take me away."

*

Qi Zhan was born with a twisted face and abandoned by his family. Years later, when a sudden crisis struck the marquis's household, the Qi family brought him back to preserve their title and inherit the marquisate.

They thought it would be easy to control a country-bred castoff. But the newly titled Marquis of Qinghe was young and already ruthless, sinister, and cunning.

In just one year, the Qi family was turned upside down.

When Emperor Jingkang died, the Marquis of Qinghe helped the young Crown Prince ascend the throne. He soon held power in his hands, becoming a thoroughly corrupt and treacherous official.

Everyone in Great Jin knew that the Marquis of Qinghe sided with evil and persecuted the righteous. Yet no one expected that this treacherous minister would one day take the princess imprisoned in the palace away with him.

*

First month: That princess is so pitiful. In the hands of that scoundrel Qi Zhan, she probably won't live long.

Second month: That princess really is tough. Qi Zhan torments and abuses her every day, yet she's still alive?

Third month: The Marquis of Qinghe attends a palace banquet with a lovely beauty by his side. In full view of everyone, the treacherous minister seats her on his lap.

The beauty pouts. "My lord, the wine is cold."

Qi Zhan grips the beauty's slender waist. "Rao Rao, you're so delicate."

Then he drains his cup, holds the wine in his mouth for a moment, and passes it to the woman in his arms, utterly unconcerned with the watching crowd.

Everyone is stunned.

The Princess of Jin stands up and points at Jiang Rao. "You... You're that princess of the fallen kingdom!?"

Jiang Rao leans against Qi Zhan's chest, her slender fingers brushing his Adam's apple. "My lord, she's so mean. Rao Rao is scared."

Qi Zhan kisses the beauty's fingertips, his voice sinister. "Then... cut out her tongue. Would that please you, Rao Rao?"

Reader's notes:

1. The setting is entirely fictional, with some elements inspired by the Ming dynasty.

2. Neither lead is exactly a good person. Both are morally ambiguous.

3. The male lead has a secret identity.

Completed and ready to read: After Breaking Off My Engagement to the Crown Prince, I Married His Younger Brother

[Sweet, naive beauty living under another's roof x seemingly gentle but scheming heir to the Duke of Wei] Both leads are sexually inexperienced. Happy ending.

The border war of Great Lu.

General Sheng Jingyu defected to the enemy, while his father, the Great General Huaihua, gave his life for his country.

The emperor was merciful and weighed the merits against the faults, sparing the family from punishment. He even kept the imperial decree betrothing the Sheng family's daughter to the Crown Prince in force.

With less than half a year until the wedding, the Sheng family's daughter came from the borderlands to the capital.

*

Upon arriving in Xingling City, Sheng Xuan was adrift and alone, and went to stay at the Duke of Wei's residence.

Everyone knew that Wei Yan, heir to the duke, was eccentric, sinister, and brazen in his actions.

Yet at the welcome banquet, in full view of everyone, he bent down to pick up the hairpin she'd dropped, smiling at her.

She gracefully curtsied to him and said softly, "Thank you, Young Master."

Wei Yan's smile deepened, though his gaze darkened. She actually dared to forget him.

Sheng Xuan accepted the hairpin. Wei Yan smiled at her, looking like an immortal, all gentle and refined.

She relaxed: Thank goodness, he doesn't remember her.

*

When Wei Yan saw Sheng Xuan again, she was no longer the spoiled, willful little girl from the borderlands she'd been years ago.

She was even engaged to the Crown Prince.

Sheng Xuan was determined to marry the Crown Prince and clear her brother's name.

Wei Yan sneered, tearing away the Crown Prince's benevolent facade and forcing her to see that he was no good match for her.

With nowhere else to turn, Sheng Xuan hid beneath a crabapple tree and cried.

Wei Yan appeared, elegant as ever, and offered to show her a way forward.

The fourteenth prince, Prince Duan, was brilliant beyond compare and deeply favored by the emperor. Yet due to a chronic illness, he rarely appeared in public.

With Wei Yan's careful guidance, Sheng Xuan worked hard to win over Prince Duan.

Before long, the Crown Prince was stripped of his position for misconduct and disrespect toward the emperor, who named Prince Duan the new Crown Prince.

Then the former Crown Prince rebelled.

Sheng Xuan was captured and locked in a dark prison cell.

In the endless darkness, the cell door suddenly burst open.

Wei Yan, clad in black armor, strode in from the light.

Sheng Xuan's eyes reddened as she sobbed softly, "Elder Brother Young Master..."

Wei Yan gazed at her, his eyes like a bottomless abyss, a nearly mad tenderness spreading inch by inch.

In a hoarse voice, he called her, "Yanyan, I'll take you home."

Sheng Xuan had never imagined that her elegant, gentle Young Master Wei and the gloomy, arrogant Prince Duan were the same person.

At first, he only wanted to tempt her into sinking with him.

Later, he bowed his head and wished only to be her servant.

Theme: Enduring humiliation and hardship while keeping one's heart turned toward the light