After I Died, the Heir Apparent Held a Cremation for Me

[Completed. My upcoming novel, "The Real Heiress Marries the Obsessive Eunuch Governor," is about to start updating. The blurb is below. If you're interested, please check it out.] (A groveling-after-the-breakup story. The male lead has no first love, so proceed with caution if that's a dealbreaker. The groveling begins in the VIP chapters. There is no chapter where Male Lead 1 is abused.) Jiang Zhiliu, the daughter of a merchant family, and Lu Xingyun, heir to the Marquis of Zhaoyi, both fell into the water by accident. Rumors spread, and Jiang's father had no choice but to force Lu Xingyun to promise to marry her. On their wedding night, he hurriedly consummated the marriage and then made an excuse to leave. She thought he was naturally aloof, but then saw him personally deliver medicine to his former fiancée. In that instant, Jiang Zhiliu regretted her decision. But what was done was done, and she could only give everything she had, hoping to warm his heart with her sincerity. But over five years, he left her to mourn her father alone for the sake of official business; left her bedridden and sick on her own for the sake of his close friend; and left her to face childbirth by herself for the sake of the people... He even left her alone with their child, who had smallpox, while he went to save the family of his former fiancée. Again and again, she told the child, "Daddy will be back soon. Don't cry, Yeye." At last, she finally understood. How could a heart of stone grow flesh and blood for no reason? . When Lu Xingyun rushed back to the estate, Jiang Zhiliu stood in the mourning hall with a torch in hand. "It's too cold and dark underground. Yeye will be afraid." "No!" He ran toward her, but could only watch as the flames consumed her. In that instant, his hands and feet turned ice-cold, as if something had been torn out of him. Blurb posted on 2022/05/05, screenshot saved. Reader's guide: 1. The female lead suffers in the first half, the male lead in the second. 2. The leads are monogamous and both virgins. The male lead has never liked another woman. 3. The child doesn't die, and the ending is happy. 4. The characters' values do not represent the author's. Please don't make personal attacks against the author. 5. Set in an alternate history, with lots of original worldbuilding. Don't compare it to reality. Women should have a healthy outlook on love. Completed: "The Crown Prince's Inferno After I Died," see my profile. Blurb for the upcoming novel "The Real Heiress Marries the Obsessive Eunuch Governor" Not long after Xie Yunzhi was reunited with her birth parents, they married her off as a sacrificial pawn to Shi Jingxiao, the head of the Western Depot. Shi Jingxiao was a powerful eunuch who held sway over all the realm. He was ruthless and unpredictable, and everyone said she was doomed. To stay alive, Xie Yunzhi trod carefully, as if walking on thin ice, and kept a little notebook where she recorded his likes and dislikes every day. "Today the Governor drank nine spoonfuls of sweet soup and ate only one spoonful of crab roe tofu. He seems to like sweet things." "Today the Governor stood for a while beneath the gardenia tree when he came back. Perhaps he'd like it if I changed the flowers in the vase." "The Governor's illness flared up again today, and he bit me, but that's all right. As long as he's okay." But he still found the notebook she'd hidden so carefully. Xie Yunzhi trembled as she looked at Shi Jingxiao's unreadable expression. Unexpectedly, he leaned back in his chair and said lazily, "If there's anything you want to know, just ask." Xie Yunzhi: ??? Divider Shi Jingxiao was once a dragon soaring above the nine heavens. One day he fell into the mud, was trampled underfoot, and accidentally lost his sight. In his hour of need, only a country girl treated him kindly. She saved his life and even got fiercely jealous on his behalf. Later, when he was about to leave, the girl pressed her only silver hairpin into his hand. "I don't have anything valuable. You should take it, big brother." His eyes reddened, and he gently embraced her. "If I make it back alive, I'll come find you." Later, he had his bones carved and his face changed, regained his sight, and became the most powerful eunuch in the realm, yet he could never find his girl again. Until he discovered... P.S. The male lead is a real eunuch. Blurb for the upcoming novel "The Marquis's Widowed Sister-in-Law" [Domestic life, a slow-burn romance, and an uncle-and-sister-in-law relationship. Proceed with caution if that's a dealbreaker.] The third daughter of the Shang family is a concubine-born girl nicknamed Zhaozhao. Her name uses the same character as the "zhao" in "Zhaodi," meaning "to bring a younger brother." Her father doesn't care for her, her mother doesn't love her, and even the servants walk all over her. Shang Qingyu, who has just transmigrated into this body, looks up at the sky. What kind of brutal difficulty setting is this? She is married off to the legitimate son of the Marquis of Xuanping as a good-luck bride. Everyone is waiting to see her make a fool of herself. Her wicked stepmother smiles without warmth. "Zhaozhao, your husband may be sickly, but given your status as a concubine's daughter, marrying him is already a tremendous blessing. You should be grateful." Shang Qingyu replies sincerely, "Mother is right. I could never compare to my elder sister. She's so young and already favored by His Majesty. In a few years, she'll probably be elevated to the rank of Dowager Consort. Your good fortune is yet to come." . The marquis's estate is a den of intrigue. Her mother-in-law is haughty, her sister-in-law is difficult, and the concubines make snide remarks. Shang Qingyu sighs. She can only meet each challenge as it comes, and rise from a low-born daughter to become mistress of the marquis's household. In the end, she marries her husband's younger brother, now Duke of Ning, as his widowed sister-in-law. All of Jinling is thrown into an uproar, and she is endlessly scorned and criticized. Haughty mother-in-law: "My son's last words were that Qingyu is virtuous and wise. She did her utmost as a wife, and was generous and frugal in managing the household. She is a matchless partner. If I can only give her freedom, I will have no regrets." Difficult sister-in-law: "An elder brother's wife is like a mother. I, Lu Yuan, will send my sister-in-law off in my brother's name!" When she first entered the marquis's estate, her frail husband shakily handed her a letter. "I know my life will be cut short. I can only give you a letter of release from our marriage. I hope that one day, you will find a good man." Shang Qingyu stared at him in a daze, then put the letter away, her heart a tangle of feelings. Three years later, his words came true, and she really did become a widow. The man who had coveted her for years cornered her against the wall, closing in step by step. Shang Qingyu's face flushed. "I'm your widowed sister-in-law!" The man's rough thumb brushed her red lips as he leaned close to her ear. "Not for much longer..." Shang Qingyu had nowhere to run, so she steeled herself. If she was going to fall, then so be it. Lu Jichuan: Bright moon, shining Zhaozhao; my heart longs for you. That is the true meaning of Zhaozhao. Reader's guide: 1. The leads are monogamous and both virgins. The male lead is her husband's younger brother. There's some angst, so proceed with caution if that's a dealbreaker. 2. While the female lead is still married to the second male lead, she always treats the male lead with proper courtesy. Her feelings for the second male lead are familial affection, respect, and gratitude, and she remains faithful to her duties as a wife. 3. Set in an alternate ancient world, with lots of original worldbuilding. Don't nitpick historical accuracy. Theme: When a flower is ready to be plucked, pluck it.