The Horse Slave and the Young Master (Matriarchal Society)

My new story, [Many Husbands Await (A Woman-Dominated World)], a 1VN story, is now available. If you're interested, please check it out next door.

Blurb

Chu Jinran is the only son of Jiangzhou's wealthiest merchant. He comes from a distinguished family and is exceptionally handsome. But he's famously willful and domineering, and everyone who meets him has to flatter and coax him.

Because of his unparalleled family background and looks, people come seeking his hand in marriage and professing their love nonstop. Every time, though, his personal attendants drive them out and humiliate them mercilessly in public.

Chu Jinran stands by and laughs uproariously when he sees the humiliation and embarrassment on their faces. His character is utterly vile.

Everyone assumes that he thinks far too highly of himself and will spend his whole life determined to marry only a noblewoman from the capital. Then one day, someone on the street is astonished to see him acting meek and ingratiating, carefully hooking his little finger around the woman beside him who is holding his reins.

He says in a humble voice, “Lin Zhanshuang, I was wrong just now. Please don't ignore me, all right?”

To save enough money for the journey to the capital to take the imperial examinations, Lin Zhanshuang takes a job at the Chu residence. Through a twist of fate, she ends up working as a groom for three months.

She plans to work hard during the day, study diligently at night, then take her pay and leave once the three months are up.

But reality goes completely against Lin Zhanshuang's plans.

She only saved the spoiled young master of the Chu family from certain death, yet somehow he clings to her and won't let go, no matter how hard she tries to shake him off.

Not only does he often force her to eat terrible pastries, he also insists that she wear every day a sachet with the most crooked, haphazard embroidery she's ever seen.

Lin Zhanshuang is fed up, but there's nothing she can do.

At last, the day she is to leave arrives.

But on the night before her departure, Chu Jinran suddenly bursts into her room.

Outside, rain pours down and thunder crashes.

The young man is soaked through, his appearance disheveled, but his gaze is unusually determined and bright.

He asks, “Lin Zhanshuang, please don't go, all right?”

Then he adds, “Lin Zhanshuang, marry me. If you do, everything our Chu family owns will be yours.”

Lin Zhanshuang smiles faintly and says gently to the young man before her, “I'm sorry. I have never liked you, young master.”

As soon as the words leave her mouth, the proud young master, who had always thought himself invincible, stares at her in disbelief, his eyes reddening in an instant.

But... so what?

After his family falls into ruin, Chu Jinran loses everything and is cast down into the dust. He never expected that, four years later, he would see Lin Zhanshuang again under such humiliating circumstances.

The woman is no longer the poor scholar he used to bully at will. She has risen to become a high-ranking, powerful confidante of the emperor, someone everyone in Jiangzhou admires and courts.

He, meanwhile, has been drugged and delivered to her bed as one of the offerings Jiangzhou's powerful families use to curry favor with Lin Zhanshuang.

P.S. 1v1, happy ending. This is a traditional woman-dominated-world novel. Readers who enjoy switching gender roles and putting themselves in the other side's shoes, please don't click in. Please, I'm begging you!

Content warnings:

1. The dynasty and setting are fictional, with many author-created details, especially regarding the female lead taking the imperial examinations. Please don't nitpick the historical accuracy. (Don't worry, the female lead eventually passes the exams and becomes the top scholar.)

2. As the blurb says, the female lead will later outrank the male lead in status and position. She isn't a traditionally righteous character, but she is adored by everyone, human and animal alike. There is also a female supporting character with unrequited feelings for her (the female lead is completely straight). Please don't read if that bothers you.

3. The female lead has had past partners; the male lead hasn't. The female lead becomes a powerful official, so cut her some slack. The male lead is a virgin in both body and heart, and that part is non-negotiable. Please don't read if this bothers you.

4. The male lead is exactly as described: spoiled, willful, delicate, innocent, and foolish (emphasis on foolish). The little intelligence he has is spent on treating the female lead well and competing with other men for her. He has character flaws. Once he falls for her, he becomes intensely jealous, possessive, and hopelessly lovesick. There will be some problematic male rivalry. If this character type isn't for you, please be careful. Seriously, be careful. Really, really be careful!

5. There are countless great stories on JJ. If this one isn't for you, choose another. Please don't force yourselves to keep reading a plot or character you can't stand. You're here for entertainment, not to suffer. No writing advice, please. You don't need to tell me if you drop the story.

6. The leads have a six-year age gap. Please don't read if that bothers you.

7. The male lead can bear children.

Theme: Tell me, what is love? It makes people vow to live and die for each other.