The Menace of the Duke's Estate

[Preorder: The Possessive Love and Retribution novel The Moon I Long to Claim. The blurb is at the very bottom. If you're interested, please add it to your collection.]

A proud, aloof beauty who turns dark for love x a gorgeous, sweet, naive beauty from Jiangnan

One-on-one romance, both leads' first time, happy ending

After her family suffers a devastating upheaval, Song Yuyi has no choice but to travel to the capital and seek refuge with her grandmother. Living under someone else's roof is far from easy, so she resolves to find a suitable husband in the household, someone she and her mother can rely on in the future.

She sets her sights on her second cousin, a man of power and influence, as radiant and noble as the moon. She does everything she can to get close to him and win his favor, but his attitude toward her is always hot and cold, like a cloud in the sky, impossible to see through or touch.

Even after she offers him her whole heart, her cousin remains cold and distant, as aloof as the moon in the sky. No wonder he is the dream lover of every young woman in the capital, an untouchable flower on a high peak.

After much deliberation, Song Yuyi decides to marry someone else.

But then her second cousin, who supposedly doesn't love her, brazenly ruins her marriage prospects and traps her in bed, smiling as he asks, "Zhuzhu, didn't we agree that you would only love your cousin? How can you marry someone else?"

-

Everyone in the capital says Yan Hongjue is noble and proud, and keeps his distance from women. He's a modern-day Liu Xiahui, a man who can sit beside a beautiful woman without being tempted. But no one knows that, ever since he was young, he's dreamed again and again of a woman.

In his dreams, she stirs up storms, her face hidden in a thin mist. The only clear thing is the birthmark on her shoulder, shaped like a glorious plum blossom. He thinks they are nothing but a series of absurd dreams. That is, until a young lady comes to live in his household. She's rosy-cheeked and alluring, with eyes like silk, and she keeps clumsily and awkwardly trying to seduce him.

He pays her no mind. He even considers introducing her to some influential young nobles in the capital. After all, he can't let a young woman stand in the way of his brilliant future.

Then one day, he discovers the birthmark on Song Yuyi's back, and at last the woman's face in his dreams becomes clear.

"At last, I've caught you."

Notes:

1. They are cousins by marriage, not by blood. The male lead is scheming and possessive, and treats the female lead badly. Neither lead is perfect, and both have flaws. Please proceed with caution if that bothers you.

2. This is not a story of possessive love. The male lead tricks the female lead into being with him.

3. The story involves past and present lives. The male lead will remember his past life, but the female lead will not.

4. The characters' values do not represent the author's. If anything makes you uncomfortable, please stop reading.

5. The dynasty and official titles are fictional. Please don't try to match them to real history.

Preorder: The Moon I Long to Claim

Han Yueling is a princess who grew up cherished by every citizen of the entire Yueyi kingdom. Spoiled and willful, she is the most beautiful woman in the Western Regions. All she has to do is swish her skirt, and countless Yueyi warriors are ready to bow at her feet.

But when she comes of age, she falls for a fair-skinned prince from the Central Plains.

Han Yueling gives him her whole heart, setting aside her pride and temper as a princess to awkwardly learn to be the gentle girl the young man likes.

All she hopes is that one day he will agree to return with her to the Yueyi kingdom.

Seeing the tenderness that occasionally appears in the young man's eyes, Han Yueling thinks she has finally warmed his heart.

Until one day, at a banquet,

She hides outside the door and hears that familiar voice, so full of coldness, say, "Han Yueling?"

"I was only using her."

Han Yueling finally understands. She picks up her pride and self-respect, then leaves the Central Plains without looking back, returning to the Yiyue kingdom.

*

Qi Lanzhou was born invisible to the imperial family. His father treats him as if he doesn't exist, while his older brothers use their power to bully him.

In his most wretched and lonely moments, when he is as pitiful as a stray dog, Han Yueling appears and brings light into his life.

But... that light is too bright. He can't have it.

Much later, when the little princess leaves the Central Plains and never returns, he finally panics.

Qi Lanzhou travels alone over mountains and rivers to reach the Yueyi kingdom. But the Han Yueling who once looked only at him now smiles at someone else.

Jealous and bitter, he suddenly sees another girl: the little princess, just come of age, who shyly but bravely confessed that she liked him, with her whole heart and eyes fixed on him.

Theme: Treat others with sincerity.