The Spoiled Heiress (Reborn)

★ The devoted male-lead story next door, Reborn and Reunited with My Regretful Husband, is now being serialized. ★ A preview of another story where the second male lead gets the girl, Keeping Zhenzhen in a Golden House, appears at the end. Please add it to your reading list. ●, Blurb, ● [An outwardly cold but inwardly warm, fatherly boyfriend x a bold, willful heiress who loves and hates fiercely; the original second male lead wins her heart] Qin Jiaojiao, daughter of the Minister of Revenue, had spent years by her childhood sweetheart Qu Tianming's side. She used her mother's family's influence to buy him a house and land, and to smooth his path to success. For his sake, she even reined in her naturally willful temperament, learning to be gentle and demure and striving to become the woman he would love. The two married, but before Qin Jiaojiao could even feel happy, Qu Tianming personally sent her entire family to prison. Her family was falsely accused, and she herself died unjustly in prison. Filled with resentment, Qin Jiaojiao woke one day to find herself reborn four years in the past. Torrential rain poured outside. At the time, a handsome young man of exceptional grace and beauty was staying with the Qin family and waiting for her to come help him. Qin Jiaojiao gave a cold laugh, lowered the curtain, and let Qu Tianming get soaked and chilled. She abandoned her old modest attire and not only treated Qu Tianming coldly, but also took the initiative to befriend Zhong Boxing, the second son of the Zhong family born to a concubine. Everyone found her behavior baffling, but Qin Jiaojiao always remembered the day she went to prison in her past life. Everyone she had once known stood by and watched. Only the aloof, handsome Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, whom outsiders called cold, took off his outer robe and covered her from head to toe in her wretched state. "You're still a pampered young lady, after all." * Though Zhong Boxing was born to a concubine, he stood out from the crowd with his remarkable talent. Before he even turned thirty, he had already become Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He was exceptionally handsome, but his ruthless methods and lack of regard for others had earned him the nickname "Jade-Faced Yama." People said the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was as cold as frost and snow, and that no woman in the world would dare get close to him. Yet one day, on a bustling street, Lord Zhong, whom everyone said was unapproachable, smiled and softly asked the woman beside him, "Jiaojiao, would you like pear-paste candy again today?" * Qu Tianming prided himself on being free of love and desire. He used Qin Jiaojiao's affection to climb higher step by step, believing that he had only ever used her feelings for his own benefit. That was until he caught sight of Miss Qin, her hair and face radiant like spring blossoms, cheeks flushed as she stepped down from a carriage with Zhong Boxing... * Bonus: A pun-filled mini-scene: After the two married, Qin Jiaojiao got sulky and went back to her parents' home for ten days. After ten days, Miss Qin sent a message: Everyone says Lord Zhong let his beloved wife stay away from home for so long. The name Zhong Boxing should be changed to Zhong No-Action. Zhong Boxing: ... [Reading Guide] 1. The setting is fictional, and this is not a rigorously researched historical romance. 2. The hero and heroine dote on each other. The heroine gets to face-slap the second male lead, who regrets things all on his own. ●, Keeping Zhenzhen in a Golden House, ● Cen Minzhen always said that she had to have the very best things in the world. So even though she came from a merchant family and her family had already arranged a good marriage with someone of equal status, when the Crown Prince promised her the position of Crown Princess, she still threw herself into serving her childhood sweetheart, the Crown Prince, as his imperial merchant, spending money and effort alike. But at the selection banquet, the Crown Prince, who had been sharing romantic moments with her the night before, turned around and chose a woman from an aristocratic family instead. He humiliated her in front of everyone, making her the laughingstock of the entire capital... On the day she left the capital, people whispered and pointed at her from behind. Covering her swollen, red eyes, Cen Minzhen hurried into her carriage. But just as she left the city, a gang of villains forced her and her horse over a cliff. She met a gruesome end, leaving no body behind. When she opened her eyes again, Cen Minzhen had returned to the time before the selection banquet. This time, she understood. Even though she was perfect and deserved all the finest things in the world, men were not things. So she swiftly "cut off all ties" with the Crown Prince, tallied up her family's assets, and "fled" overnight. After returning to her hometown, she unexpectedly became neighbors with a handsome man, and life turned out to be quite pleasant. Half a year later, the Crown Prince was out on an inspection tour and passed through the area. He made a special visit to see her. "It's been months. Zhenzhen, have you been..." As he spoke, a strikingly handsome man pushed aside the curtain and came out. His large hand rested on her lower back, and his voice was tender and husky, with a hint of satisfaction. "Can you get up now?" Cen Minzhen's face instantly turned red, and she turned around to cover his mouth So she didn't see the Crown Prince's eyes suddenly cloud with a tide of jealousy when he saw the two of them embracing intimately. Nor did she see how the tall man she'd covered with her hand held her in a loose, easy embrace, while his gaze at the Crown Prince was dark and deep, his eyes sharp as knives and full of warning. * Reading Guide: 1. The male lead is an elder of the Crown Prince. He will eventually ascend the throne and make the Crown Prince call him Father. 2. The heroine is the empress and the only woman in the imperial harem. Theme: You don't need to change yourself for anyone