I Married Him After Getting Pregnant

(The author personally thinks this book is pretty bad...)

Hang Yushu and her childhood sweetheart, Dou Xuan, were in love. Before they could marry, they secretly consummated their relationship and she became pregnant.

With war about to break out, Dou Xuan had no choice but to follow his father to battle. He left in a hurry, and by the time Hang Yushu realized she was pregnant, her beloved had already gone off to the border.

To protect their daughter's reputation, the Hang family had no choice but to unilaterally break the engagement and find her another husband.

In the end, the daughter of the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet was married off far away to a merchant's illegitimate son. Those who didn't know the truth said she had no self-respect.

II.

On their wedding night, the hapless groom lifted her veil. The lamplight illuminated her lovely face, and Bai Qingmo was utterly entranced by his bride.

"My lord, I'm already pregnant, so we cannot consummate our marriage..." she said, lowering her head shyly.

"I understand, I understand." He sat to one side, rather awkwardly. In the end, they slept fully clothed, without crossing the line at all.

III.

Her beloved had left and never returned, without sending any word. Hang Yushu was upset and felt guilty toward Bai Qingmo. Less than a month after the wedding, she volunteered to live at a country estate.

But her "husband" was far too careful in how he behaved, coming to see her every day. Hang Yushu thought perhaps her nominal husband was afraid of her father and family.

Feeling languid after becoming pregnant, she reclined on a beauty couch and comforted him lazily. "My lord, there's no need to fear that my father will do anything to you."

"I'm not worried about your father-in-law. I... I'm worried about you," he said, looking humble.

Reader's Guide

The writing is amateurish; everyday slice-of-life plot.

The second male lead is alive, and the men compete for her.

If you can't accept the leads having moral flaws, don't read.

If you can't accept the leads having moral flaws, don't read.

If you can't accept the leads having moral flaws, don't read.

Coming soon: The Mute Empress Dowager. Synopsis below.

Third-person narration

I.

Because I knew how to behave, I became the emperor's second empress.

I often saw the emperor visit the former empress late at night, and realized that in his heart, I was an unnecessary presence.

I was naturally introverted and didn't like to talk.

The former empress had been a songstress. Her voice was sweet and she was quick-witted, far better at pleasing him than I was.

The emperor had grown up among commoners, unaware of his royal heritage. The new emperor's position was precarious.

If the powerful minister's plot to poison the empress hadn't been exposed, I would never have become his second empress.

II.

Later, I caught the former empress meeting the prince in secret. After that, I was poisoned and left mute.

Three years later, a coup took place. The former empress became empress again, but the emperor was no longer emperor.

He was imprisoned in a dungeon and tortured until he was broken.

The new emperor and empress said I had done a service and promised to let me leave the palace and grant me one wish.

I begged them to spare him. The empress said I was mad, but fortunately, they eventually granted my request.

III.

I carried him, covered in blood, out of the dungeon. His blood soaked into my clothes. In the last glow of sunset, he and I slowly made our way to another prison.

Life in captivity was bitter. To save him and survive, I had no choice but to give myself to someone else: the empress's younger brother. He was generous, and even cured my voice.

It was supposed to be a transaction in which we each got what we needed. Yet both the emperor and empress tried to find me a match, promising fine clothes, good food, and the position of princess consort. Those were all lovely things, but I simply didn't want them.

Content warnings:

The male and female leads never sleep together. The male lead feels only familial affection for the female lead.

A story that hurts both leads. Almost all the supporting characters have a great time, while the male lead loses his throne and is betrayed, and the female lead is forced and taken against her will. Alternate history. The worldbuilding is entirely fictional.

Theme: Treasure the person before you