After Being Forced into a Political Marriage

The main story is complete. Please check out my upcoming historical novel The Eldest Brother and contemporary novel Headline Explosion.

Here is the blurb for this novel:

Ruanruan was like duckweed, with nowhere to turn. When she was very young, her parents sold her for two sacks of rice and flour into a brothel, glittering on the outside but filthy within. There, she grew accustomed to hostile stares and people fawning over the powerful while looking down on the poor.

To live better, she carefully navigated her way among the rich and powerful, bending over backward to please them.

Her beauty captivated people, but her lowly status meant the nobles looked down on her, humiliated her, and treated her with contempt. She didn’t care. At least this life gave her something to hope for, unlike going hungry and cold while being beaten. And soon, she would be able to escape this wretched place.

But after Southern Tang suffered a defeat, it had to negotiate peace with Northern Wei. To her surprise, a noble took a liking to her and sent her to Northern Wei as a bride in a political marriage.

*

Tuoba Hong had always loathed the weak, affected women of Southern Tang. He had gone to the trouble of bringing her to Northern Wei for revenge, or so he firmly believed.

At first, whenever he thought of her flirtatious, seductive manner, he would coldly suggest to his father, whose eyes were clouded with age, “This woman is a bewitching fox who brings ruin to her lord. She should be executed at once as a warning to others.”

But he never imagined that later...

He would pin her against a wall in a fury and threaten her viciously. “What? You Southerners believe a wife should follow her husband. Now that he’s dead, do you want to be buried with him?”

“That custom doesn’t fly in Northern Wei. Here, we believe in a father’s death passing his wife to his son, and an elder brother’s death passing his wife to his younger brother.”

Nor did he imagine that after she tried to run away and was caught, he would tangle with her again and again, whispering against her cheek, “Ruanruan, say you love me...”

Reader’s note: One-on-one romance, both leads have no prior sexual experience, happy ending.

Upcoming historical novel 1: The Eldest Brother. Blurb:

The Eldest Princess was gravely ill. On her deathbed, she kept murmuring about an old matter. To let her pass in peace, her son Lu Shizheng chose Su Heng to impersonate the daughter she had lost many years ago.

They thought it would only take ten days or half a month. Then Su Heng could collect her payment and leave. But the Eldest Princess’s spirits improved so much that she miraculously recovered, and Lu Shizheng and Su Heng had no choice but to keep up the act.

Who could have known that at a banquet, she and her “elder brother” would get drunk and sleep together, and the real daughter would turn up? Afraid the Eldest Princess would fly into a rage and drag her into the mess, Su Heng pocketed the money and fled in the middle of the night.

*

The next time she saw Lu Shizheng was in the second year after he took up his post in Jiangnan.

Bright red wedding silk hung throughout the courtyard. Wearing her phoenix crown and bridal robes, she was briefly dazed when she saw the groom’s officiant, dressed in elegant robes. Seeing his calm expression, she finally relaxed.

Everything was nearly settled. All that remained was for him to finish the wedding blessing before they worshipped heaven and earth. But the official in his crimson robe and jade ornaments paused, his pale fingers stilling.

“Eighteen articles of the Great Ying legal code state that no one may marry without their parents’ permission. Violators shall be exiled three thousand li.”

Looking at the perfectly matched couple in the hall, he set his teacup down with a heavy thud. “Ah Heng, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

*

The Lu family had produced three generations of dukes over four generations. As the heir to the Duke’s estate, Lu Shizheng had always been disciplined, courteous, and noble, yet he committed three acts that defied every convention.

First, he found someone to impersonate his long-lost younger sister.

Second, he pretended to have slept with her while drunk.

Third, he stole another man’s bride at her wedding.

On closer inspection, every one of those things had something to do with Su Heng.

Upcoming contemporary novel 2: Headline Explosion. Blurb:

CEO and actress

Shen Yan stood beneath a landmark building in S City, watching the giant screen in the plaza broadcast the announcement of a romance between a top-tier star and a newly famous actress. It felt as if a knife had cut into her heart.

They had been together for three years, yet he had never posted a single word about her on social media.

Who could have guessed that after filming just one drama, he would be caught in a sensational story about going boating with Cen Li, the new sweet and innocent actress, then returning to a hotel together? She had flown over overnight to demand an explanation, only to witness this scene with her own eyes.

The topic “Top-Tier Star Luo Chuan Announces His Relationship at the Peak of His Career, Boyfriend Material Off the Charts” hit the media headlines.

Her gaze passed over the crowd and landed on the Mercedes across the street. The familiar model and flashy license plate reminded her who was inside: her childhood friend, who was also rumored to be Cen Li’s sugar daddy.

Crossing the street, she straightened her well-tailored black coat and knocked on the car window.

The dark window rolled down, revealing the familiar, expressionless handsome face. His gold-rimmed glasses hid his eyes, making his expression impossible to read, but Shen Yan knew he was just as displeased as she was.

She casually swept her wavy hair to one side and leaned her graceful figure against the window. Her red lips parted. “Want to steal the headlines? The explosive kind.”

Half an hour after the top-tier star’s relationship announcement hit the trending list, it quickly lost traction, replaced by

“New Best Actress Shares a Passionate Street Kiss with the CEO of the Gaosheng Group”

The news sparked heated discussion online.

*

Fu Sinian had always been known for his cool composure and ruthless decisiveness, and he was unstoppable in the business world. Yet he was passionate about investing in entertainment and was a powerful tycoon everyone in the business was eager to court.

Some people claimed he did all this for Cen Li, the sweet and innocent actress, and that even his street kiss was an act of jealousy after she announced her relationship. Just as the whole internet was busy gossiping and debating...

The aloof Fu Sinian, who normally kept everyone at arm’s length, logged into his official account in person for the first time and posted a bright red marriage certificate.

Married. Don’t ask.

The headlines exploded all over again.

Theme: Love yourself, no matter what your circumstances are.