Claiming My Childhood Sweetheart

[Currently drafting, hoping to start posting at the end of November. Please add it to your collection~]

The two young masters of the Marquis of Changning's household are twins.

The elder, Pei Ji, traveled far and wide in his youth. His essays and strategies were brilliant, and he was refined and distinguished. The younger, Pei Lin, wore loose robes and fine furs, his jade reins adorned with red tassels, riding out in splendid clothes to gallop across the battlefield.

Everyone knew that Pei Lin, the younger son, and Xie Lingjia, the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Guangping, were childhood sweethearts. Once Xie Lingjia's mourning period ended, the Marchioness of Changning would send a matchmaker to propose.

But just as the proposal was about to be made, Pei Lin was ordered by the emperor to leave the capital on an assignment. A few days later, news came that he had died. Xie Lingjia was so grief-stricken that she fell gravely ill. The doctors all said she would not live more than half a month.

--

One day, the elder son, Pei Ji, came to visit. Perhaps Xie Lingjia was delirious with fever; she mistook him for her childhood sweetheart Pei Lin and threw herself into his arms, sobbing in grief. Somehow, that outburst helped her recover considerably.

The Marchioness of Guangping discussed with the Marchioness of Changning whether Pei Ji might marry her daughter. Perhaps a wedding would bring good fortune and save Lingjia's life.

The Marchioness of Changning had watched Xie Lingjia grow up and couldn't bear to see her die young. She also didn't want to see her marry into another family, so she agreed.

--

After the wedding, Xie Lingjia's life was no longer in danger, but each day she woke up later than the day before. Her new husband, Pei Ji, gently helped her dress, his fingertips idly brushing the snowy skin of her neck, dotted with red plum blossoms. He was tender and attentive, and they seemed more perfectly matched than any immortal couple in the world.

Until one day, her true childhood sweetheart, Pei Lin, returned to the capital...

--

Notes:

1. A domineering, possessive romance; both leads are sexually inexperienced.

2. The male lead has been plotting for a long time and has thought of everything.

[Note added December 31, 2023]

Theme: Childhood sweethearts, innocent young love.