The Gentle, Alluring Cousin

When Xia Youheng's father suddenly goes missing, she heads to the capital to search for him and stay with her maternal grandaunt.

After running out of travel money, she takes on embroidery work for the Earl of Loyalty and Righteousness's household to earn a little silver.

One day, while delivering the embroidery, she runs into the Embroidered Uniform Guard sealing off the earl's residence, whose family has been implicated in a corruption case. The emperor has ordered that everyone in the household be put to death without exception.

She is tied up with the more than three hundred people of the earl's household.

Looking up at Qin Yuzhou, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, she says, "I hear, my lord, that you see through everything and have never let an innocent person die unjustly. Do you want me, an innocent person, to die unjustly today and ruin your reputation?"

Qin Yuzhou's voice is icy. "If you can prove who you are, I will not let you die unjustly beneath a blade. If you cannot, then this is simply your fate!"

In the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Xia Youheng proves that she truly is not part of the earl's household.

She escapes death, but is plagued by nightmares. She secretly vows that if she ever sees Qin Yuzhou again, she will take the long way around. That demon is terrifying.

--

The male lead's version:

Ever since Qin Yuzhou saw that young woman at the Earl of Loyalty and Righteousness's residence, he had inexplicably fallen for her.

He began keeping an eye on her at every turn.

When her grandaunt drove her out, he happened to take her in.

When she was afraid of thunder, he would quietly come to her, hold her, and soothe her to sleep.

When she missed her parents, he would use his connections to uncover the truth behind their disappearance and avenge them.

He weathered bloody storms at court and nearly lost his life. When he was carried home, she was crying her eyes out, clutching him and shouting, "Don't die! If you die, who will stay with me when it thunders? Who will avenge my parents?"

So she had known everything all along.

Up next: The Embroidered Uniform Guard's Little Canteen

After transmigrating into a book, Su Jinshu learns the tragic fate of the heroine, who uses every means at her disposal to marry into a wealthy family.

After thinking it over for a long while, Su Jinshu decides to change the heroine's path in the story. She'll guard against fire, thieves, and rich playboys. If she marries at all, she'll marry into an ordinary family, live freely as a wife, care for her husband and children, and cook delicious food. What could be better?

--

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's central kitchen has been looking for a cook for six months, but not a single applicant has made the grade.

Commander Qin Yizhi is too picky. He won't take anyone with poor personal hygiene, anyone who can't keep the kitchen clean, or anyone who cooks bland food. A cook with decent skills could work hard enough to meet the first two requirements, but as for the third, they say even a cook from the imperial kitchens couldn't make food that tastes good to Lord Qin.

Lord Qin was poisoned years ago. The poison was eventually purged, but while it was active, it damaged his sense of taste. Everything tastes bland to him.

--

One day, word spreads that the Embroidered Uniform Guard's central kitchen has finally hired a cook.

Less than three months later, someone sees their aloof Lord Qin chasing after the little cook, chattering incessantly: "Jinshu, my little Jinshu, that squirrel-shaped mandarin fish you made yesterday was so delicious. I want more. Make it for me, will you?"

"No."

The little cook refuses.

"Then I'll eat you instead. You're even tastier than squirrel-shaped mandarin fish!"

Lord Qin's charming eyes sparkle.

Everyone is dumbfounded. So the little cook restored Lord Qin's sense of taste, and even raised his appetite to a level beyond words?!

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Ongoing novel: After Being Forced to Marry into the Powerful Family. Please add it to your reading list!

Message: Keep your heart turned toward the sun, and a clear sky will surely be yours.