Mistaken for a Gem

In the tenth year of Changyuan, Yuwen Yao led the Northern Di cavalry in a fierce invasion. Great Qi suffered defeat after defeat and had no choice but to sue for peace.

Several days later, only one envoy returned in a panic, bearing the terms Yuwen Yao had demanded: Great Qi's Fifth Princess, Zhao Qingsui.

The Fifth Princess had been branded a harbinger of misfortune and was never popular in the palace. Before a month had passed, she was hurriedly sent north to marry into the Northern Di royal house.

-

Zhao Qingsui had grown up in a Taoist temple. She had rarely enjoyed the honor due a princess, but her life had been peaceful, comfortable, and carefree.

Except for this marriage. She did not want it, but had no choice but to obey.

Until, on her wedding day, the dead returned to life and two long-separated people met again.

Her new husband, Yuwen Yao, lifted her veil without a trace of concern. As she stood dazed for a moment, he mocked her: "Princess, you really haven't improved at all. Back then, when you pointed a knife at me, your hand never even trembled."

As he taunted and scolded her, then coolly kissed away her tears and forced her to atone for the wrongs she had done,

Zhao Qingsui finally remembered that she did, in fact, feel guilty toward the man before her.

-

As a child, Yuwen Yao had drifted into Great Qi. At death's door, he was saved by a young woman.

She was beautiful and noble, with a pair of clear, pure eyes, and had grown up in poor health.

Only later did he learn how cold and ruthless she could be. He had given her his whole heart, only to have his life end at her hands.

So he seized power and returned to her side, determined to make her taste the misery of being abandoned by everyone and the torment of regret.

But only he knew that revenge was a lie. The truth was that he had never been able to forget her.

Reading guide:

1. A sharp-tongued, secretly devoted lone wolf x a frail, chronically ill princess

2. Happy ending, both leads' first love and only partner

3. Slow burn, bittersweet with a sweet finish

Coming soon: Autumn's Enchanting Glance

Scheming beauty x gentle Crown Prince

Liang Yao, a concubine-born daughter of the Liang family, was stunning, with eyes that shimmered and sparkled. But she had a foxlike beauty and a reputation to match.

She was no saint, and had always known what she wanted. She had just never had much luck.

After using every trick she knew to become a marquis's favored concubine, she had barely settled into her position when the family fell. With no one to protect her and her reputation in ruins, she was tortured nearly to death, then handed over to Li Yan, the Crown Prince.

She thought Li Yan, having suffered such a humiliation, would take his anger out on her and make her life miserable.

But she had been in so much pain she could barely stay conscious. All she remembered was weakly tugging at his sleeve, unable to force a flattering smile. She must have looked utterly wretched.

The face she had always been so proud of had been no use at all.

Yet just when she thought she was about to die, Li Yan covered her battered body with his robe and gave her a brief moment of peace.

Unfortunately, before she could repay his kindness, she ran out of strength.

When she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the year she was brought back to the capital from the country estate.

*

Crown Prince Li Yan should have been the most exalted man in Great Qi: brilliant, graceful, and as gentle as jade, perfect in every way.

But Liang Yao knew that despite his high position, his life was hard. After a series of upheavals, his nature changed, and he was eventually stripped of his title and sent to Liangzhou, where he met a tragic end.

To keep Li Yan from suffering the same fate, Liang Yao readily agreed when his fiancée came to her with threats and bribes, demanding she seduce the Crown Prince and ruin his reputation so she could call off the engagement.

The engagement was indeed broken off, but the Crown Prince's reputation only grew. He became the ideal husband in the eyes of all the noble young ladies.

After seeing Li Yan secure the finest marriage and establish a firm foothold at court, Liang Yao considered her work done. She packed her things and returned to Yangzhou.

But the moment she stepped off the boat, she saw Li Yan standing not far away amid a shower of apricot blossoms. His eyes were full of her, warm as a spring breeze, with a gaze so tender it could draw anyone in.

Though she had left without a word, he was not angry. He only smiled and beckoned her over, saying softly, "Yao Yao, come here."

*

Liang Yao had seen the vilest evil in the world, yet in the end, the purest moonlight had shown her kindness and tenderness. She wanted to protect that moonlight, keeping it high above the world, untouched by dust.

But as she hid in the shadows and gazed at the moon, the moon came to her.

Coming soon: Junior Sister Is Dangerous and Irresistible

Rebellious sweet girl x flamboyant sword cultivator

As a spy from the Demon Realm, Yun Man thought she had gone unnoticed while hiding inside the Xuantian Sect.

She worked hard at her swordsmanship, suppressed her bloodthirsty demonic nature, and schemed to get close to Chu Jingzhang, the sect's shining star.

She wanted to turn him to her side.

She often dressed to the nines and went to see him, bringing him sword tassels she had made herself and carefully prepared pastries, flattering him and pouring out her heart.

Unlike her senior brother, however, Chu Jingzhang was impossible to please, utterly clueless about romance, and as stubborn as a stone.

Unable to find a way to win him over, Yun Man was ready to resort to any means necessary, but nearly exposed her identity in the process.

That day, the earth-shaking roar abruptly ceased. She saw him standing amid the fierce gleam of his sword, summoning immense strength to drive back ten thousand demons with a single swing.

She frowned and pressed a hand to her restless heart, sensing trouble.

*

Born into a prestigious family, Chu Jingzhang was a once-in-a-century swordsmanship prodigy. At a young age, he could unleash the purest sword energy, and the ancient sword Zhili, ten thousand years old, was willing to accept him as its master. He was the most promising disciple after the senior brother.

But he was also a wild troublemaker, lax in his cultivation and impossible to rein in. No one dared provoke him, except Yun Man.

From the first moment he saw Yun Man, Chu Jingzhang knew that beneath her bright, charming appearance, there was a viciousness in her eyes. She had no sword heart, and she clearly meant him no good. Everything she did was strange.

She ignored his warnings, made him hideously ugly sword tassels, brought him inedible pastries, and even kicked open his door at night to say shameless things.

After a while, he decided that having a little tagalong around wasn't so bad. So what if she was weak? He could protect her.

Until, at a critical moment in a perilous situation, he saw her eyes turn bloodred and demonic energy surge from her. She stood in front of him, twisted the head off a great demon with her bare hands, and grinned wickedly, dangerously. "I told you, he's mine. Do you not understand?"

*

Life has no roots or stems; it drifts like dust along a road. Some spend their whole lives seeking longevity, while others toil in cultivation all their lives.

Chu Jingzhang had always led a smooth life and was used to being carefree. He wanted little, and all he had ever wished for was more ways to pass the time.

But later, he cultivated diligently, wanting to grow stronger, strong enough to protect her if her identity was ever exposed.

He never imagined that after one night of passion, she would take his Zhili sword, break through the forbidden ground, and betray the sect, all to protect a bloodied man behind her. Yet the sword in her hand was pointed at him first.

Theme: It is never too late to make amends.