A Substitute for Joy

[Please add my serialized novel, The Transmigrated Author’s Plan to Save the Demon Lord, to your favorites]

Synopsis:

Lin Qingluo was a concubine-born daughter, but she married into the Sheng Palace and became the heir’s wife.

Others envied her for marrying into the palace and rising to the top in one step, while also pitying her for marrying a crippled wreck whose face was ruined and whose legs were useless.

Lin Qingluo, however, thought that entering the palace and enjoying a life of wealth and honor, in exchange for the safety of her mother and younger brother, made marrying a cripple worthwhile.

On their wedding night, the man removed his exquisite mask. Before her was a scar stretching across his entire face, and a pair of dark, expressionless eyes, as black as a starless night and deep enough to intimidate anyone.

He deliberately leaned close, his dark eyes carrying a hint of amusement, and asked Lin Qingluo, “Have you gotten a good look at your husband?”

Lin Qingluo knew he was trying to scare her. Instead of backing away, she moved closer and kissed his lips. “I’ve seen you clearly. You’re much better-looking than I imagined.”

She thought she had kept up her act well enough, and had even prepared herself to endure their first night together. But the man found her utterly repulsive, wiped the place where she had touched his lips, and imposed countless rules on her, forbidding her from setting foot in his territory.

Lin Qingluo thought she would probably never be able to warm this stone of a heart.

*

She did not really care, but the Princess Consort grew anxious and used a drastic measure to bring the couple together.

After their first time, the man developed a taste for it and began to want more and more. Yet one rule remained unbroken: no lamps were to be lit at night. Even on moonlit nights, he would cover her eyes.

*

Everything changed, and she began to dream of a future as if she were in a dream herself. But before the dream could deepen, it was shattered.

After getting lost by accident, she wandered into a forbidden part of the palace.

In the courtyard, a man sat in a wooden chair, emaciated and gaunt. He looked very much like her husband, but he was not her husband.

Seeing her trespass, the man sneered. “Did my half-brother treat you well?”

So it had all been a lie!

Lin Qingluo’s dreams were shattered, and her heart went cold. Even if she had to escape covered in wounds, she would flee the palace, that illusory cage.

Content warnings:

The heroine is involved only with the hero throughout; the heir is just a plot device.

One couple, first-time lovers, happy ending.

The hero is a sharp-tongued, crafty man. Later, he’ll grovel to win her back.

[Note: The hero’s groveling pursuit follows him being exposed and the heroine learning he deceived her about his identity and feelings. It takes up about 10% of the book. If you want groveling throughout the whole book, please keep this in mind.]

Revised 2023-11-25

Serialized novel: The Transmigrated Author’s Plan to Save the Demon Lord

After killing off the male lead, Mu Jinwei transmigrated into the fantasy novel she had written. She was forced to bind herself to a system to save the male lead, and had to follow the plot while reading comments from the audience.

The System warned: [Because of your special bloodline, Host, you will become a blood supply for the demon lord Lan Qing.]

Mu Jinwei: “What, the great demon lord is anemic or something?!”

Reader: [Serves you right, you awful author. You finally got what you deserved~]

*

In the book, Mu Jinwei had little magical power. She was a plant raised by the Immortals to seduce Lan Qing.

The Immortals kept her in a gilded cage, claiming it was for her own good, when in truth they feared she would escape the Immortal Realm and fall into the hands of the demons.

The Immortal Lord even impersonated her childhood friend to deceive her, all to win her trust and make her willingly stay in the Immortal Realm.

Her once-best friend was actually an enemy who wanted her dead without a trace.

The Immortals imprisoned her, deceived him, and used her. Only a little immortal boy was utterly devoted to her, even willing to risk his life for her.

Mu Jinwei: “You’re the only one in this world who’s been sincere to me. You want to use my blood to recover your magic, right? I’ll help you.”

Lan Qing smiled. “No need. My magic is almost restored. Why don’t you come back to the Demon Realm with me instead?”

Mu Jinwei: Dead. Great Demon Lord, you deceived me so badly~

Theme: Women should be strong and self-reliant