A Few Tales of Childhood Sweethearts at the Prince's Residence (Reborn)

Looking for readers to preorder another novel in the same series. The Qian Ben Duo Jiao series includes Lin'an's Wine House, expected to start in April. The blurb is at the end. If you like it, please add it to your collection!

*

Blurb

[Reckless, willful Wangfu foster daughter VS cold on the outside, passionate within general's illegitimate son]

Wang Wan'er lost both her parents at a young age. By a twist of fate, she became the foster daughter of Prince Chen Nan's household. She and the illegitimate son of a general, her childhood sweetheart, fell in love, but fate kept them apart. Forced into a mistaken marriage with a marquis's household, she watched the world change and the throne change hands. Her adoptive father was wiped out by the person who shared his bed, and she was accused of having an affair. In her tenth month of pregnancy, she was forced to drink an abortifacient.

Reborn in her maiden days, when her former husband once again petitioned the throne to arrange their marriage, she decisively refused and chose her childhood sweetheart.

-

When Zhuo Yu was a child, he nearly died in a fire. His legitimate mother rescued him, and he went into hiding in the countryside.

That year, he traveled north with his mother to find his father. At Prince Chen Nan's residence, he met a pretty little girl who opened her mouth and asked to be his mother.

Years later, after returning from his first military campaign, he said, "You can't be my mother, but would you be the mother of my child?"

The mischievous little girl from years ago blushed bright red.

He thought he would finally win the beauty's heart, but then a formidable rival appeared. A noble young man from an enemy nation tried to force her into marriage, and they met with blades on the battlefield. It turned out to be his martial uncle!

[Scene 1: His Majesty Plays Matchmaker]

"I heard His Majesty is playing matchmaker. These past two days, the officials have worn down the threshold of the Zhuo residence. Hasn't the eldest Zhuo son found anyone he likes?"

"The one I like... hasn't come."

[Scene 2: Wan'er in Danger]

"Brother Yu, I can't hold on any longer..."

"Don't fall asleep! I'm telling you, Wang Wan'er, if you dare leave me behind, I'll drag you back even from the underworld, right in front of King Yama!"

[Scene 3: A Trip to the Border]

"I'm here to pay respects to my father. What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to meet my father-in-law, too."

"I'm not even married to you yet. Isn't it too early to call him that?"

"Not at all. Even your aunt's husband already acknowledges me as his niece's husband. How could it be too early?"

[Scene 4: Wedding Night]

"Let go, or I'll really use some force."

(Wan'er lets go, revealing a pair of carps at her waist.)

"You still don't believe me?"

"No, no, no. This... is for you. I spent ages learning from the painter, but this spot was really hard to paint. Is it ugly?"

"No. I love it."

*Reader's Guide:

1. Lots of melodrama, melodrama, melodrama. Important enough to say three times!

2. Both leads are each other's first and only, happy ending.

3. The story covers the frontier and the imperial court, as well as the inner household and the imperial harem. The relationships between the characters are fairly complicated.

4. The heroine has a hard life, but she has the luck of a koi fish.

5. Set in an alternate history. Please don't associate it with real history.

Looking for preorders for Lin'an's Wine House, part of the Qian Ben Duo Jiao series.

[Strong-willed wife and timid husband / everyday life in the commoners' quarter / marriage before love]

Tough, fiery young cook VS impoverished scholar who marries into her family

Sun Xiu'e lost her mother when she was young. Her father was busy running a tavern and paid little attention to her, so she grew up headstrong and domineering. She has a bad temper and a petite frame, but she works with great efficiency and seems to have endless energy.

Mention Sun the Tavern Keeper in Lin'an, and people feel a sense of "awe," yet no one dares marry her. This leaves her elderly father deeply worried.

One year, Old Sun brought a poor scholar home. He was plainly dressed and tall and sturdy, with a broad forehead and a square jaw, as if destined for great wealth and status. If not for what people had heard beforehand, it would be hard to believe this was a scholar who lived off the help of friends and relatives.

Ever since her father passed away, the "living ancestor" in the house has only gotten more and more impossible.

He won't help with the tavern, won't look after the child, and even keeps a secret stash of money? She set him up with a private school, but every student left in less than a month. He failed the exams over and over, then went to the pleasure house to drink and listen to music. When she caught him in the act, the two of them spent the night fighting all over Lin'an.

Sun Xiu'e paid the fine and returned home, only to find another little ancestor inside.

Their daughter was four and would only let Sun Xiu'e bathe her and put her to bed.

It seemed like her fate: spending the day earning money to support the family, then cleaning up after the older one and the younger one at night. Holding her daughter, she burst into tears. "When will this life ever end?"

In her old age, Sun Xiu'e's hair had turned gray. She lived in the capital, and her husband held a second-rank post. Maidservants and matrons followed her whenever she went out, but at home she still cooked for herself.

"My husband is used to the dishes I make."

Though the years had changed everything, and her life now was worlds apart from those early days, whenever she walked into the kitchen, she could still recall the busy days at the tavern. She remembered the three of them cooling off under the moon and eating watermelon in that little courtyard in the commoners' quarter, and the shouts and scolding that rang out every few days. She hadn't heard those sounds in many years...

[Reader's Guide]

1. The story is mostly everyday life, with a small ensemble cast. It includes food, the imperial examinations, and political struggles at court, but not much; those parts are mostly mentioned in passing. The focus is on the everyday life of the leads and their family.

2. There are three side stories, each with its own romance:

//Blunt, brawny man VS talkative midwife//

//Talented young master VS beauty from a pleasure house//

//Quiet military man VS refined seamstress//

(This is the story of Fourth Grandpa and Fourth Grandma when they were young. Wang Wan'er's parents also appear as supporting characters. If you're interested, please add it to your collection!)

A novel in the Qian Ben Duo Jiao series: The Little Dumpling's Doting Family

Carefree, sweet young lady VS gentle big brother next door

Zhuo Wei has two older brothers and one younger brother. She's the only girl in the family, adored by her parents and brothers and spoiled by her grandfather, grandmother, and second uncle. And that's not all: there's also the big brother from the neighboring Ling family...

She was four, and he was twelve.

"Weiwei likes kites? Brother Han can make one for you, too."

She was eight, and he was sixteen.

"Don't be sad, Brother. Those girls have no taste. You'll definitely marry the best wife in the world."

She was twelve, and he was twenty.

"The little girl has grown up. She's become more and more lovely."

She was sixteen, and he was twenty-four.

"You're almost a mother. Why still won't you call me your husband?"

-The leads are eight years apart in age.

-The story begins with the leads' first meeting, and focuses heavily on everyday family life.

-Set in an alternate history.

(Wang Wan'er's own daughter and adopted son. Please add it to your collection!)

Theme: I decide my own fate, not heaven.