The Golden Bough and the Vicious Wolf

[The blurb for my upcoming similar book, Marquis, Eat Something Good, is at the bottom.]

Li Hanzhang, the Jade Purity Eldest Princess, was beautiful as a snow-skinned flower, spoiled and willful. The new emperor decreed that she marry Liang Zheng, the General Who Guards the North.

Liang Zheng was a battle-hardened man with many military achievements, fierce and untamed, and rough in his ways. He was known as the "vicious wolf" and couldn't stand spoiled princesses.

Rumor had it that the two of them made a complete mess of things on their wedding night, and Liang Zheng was so furious that the very next day he went to Cien Temple to burn incense and ward off evil.

From then on, everyone in the capital counted down the days, convinced the couple would soon divorce.

But as the days passed, they saw the battle-hardened man following his spoiled little princess around at a palace banquet, calling her "good girl" and "darling" at every turn, carefully holding up her skirt, serving her tea, and attending to her every need.

Everyone: ...So, are they still getting divorced?

-

After marrying Li Hanzhang, Liang Zheng went to Cien Temple three times.

The first time, he knelt in the prayer hall and repented for failing to uphold his duties as a husband. The princess had been half-asleep and clung to him, wrapping her arms and legs around him. He felt he had wronged his savior, the woman he had always cherished in his heart.

The second time, he offered three incense sticks, praying for his beloved one last time. He resolved to put the past behind him and live happily with the spoiled, clingy little wife in his household, who was all bark and no bite.

The third time, he spent his entire fortune having the Buddha statue regilded, thanking the Buddha for having pointed him toward his beloved all along: she was far away, yet right before his eyes.

-

Reading guide:

1. One-on-one, both leads are each other's first and only, happy ending, marriage before love, sweet slice-of-life story.

2. A proud, sweet little peacock x a rugged, devoted bad dog. The story is set in a fictional world, and the male lead's beloved has always been the female lead. No political scheming, just a couple being lovey-dovey and affectionate. Neither of them is particularly bright.

3. I hope you enjoy reading. If you don't, that's my fault. If you can, please don't tell me when you drop the book.

4. The female lead's haughtiness is a protective shell, and the free chapters explain how she developed her personality. She doesn't suffer after marrying into the family and is much happier than before.

[Upcoming contemporary romance, Play Nice: Reunion after years apart / Mutual pining / Height difference]

In Tang Li's eyes, Zhou Ye was unruly and defiant, with a stubborn streak that would never bend. He was the king of the racing circuit, the center of everyone's attention.

She, on the other hand, was unknown and insignificant, a faint firefly beside his brilliant light. He would never like her.

But now she had to move in with Zhou Ye without bringing a single suitcase.

-

In Zhou Ye's eyes, Tang Li was gentle and sweet, like soft, warm snow melting in someone's heart, so cool it made him itch with longing and so hot it left him restless.

He was wild and untamable, with ulterior motives, a leopard waiting for the right moment to pounce. She would never like him.

So what? He had been pining for her in agony for eight years. Surely he could act nice for a little while?

-

Later, he pressed his lips to her trembling lashes and listened as her whispers fell apart into sobs.

Only then did he realize she liked him best when he was not behaving.

Tch. All that time pretending to be nice for nothing.

Theme: Cherish the person before you. Happiness is right here beside us.