My Consort Regretted It After I Died

Coming soon: After Successfully Being Tricked into Marriage and A Wife's Escape. Add them to your reading list if you like them!

Yun Nong is the emperor's youngest daughter, born in his later years and adored from childhood. She falls for the newly crowned top scholar, Shen Hanzhang.

Young love is always so passionate.

She studies every one of his essays, copies every one of his calligraphy pieces, and learns everything he likes, trying to become the kind of person he would love. But all she gets in return is this:

"I am honored by Your Highness's affection, but I have already given my heart to someone else."

Yun Nong cries her heart out, but her pride as a princess wins. She decides to let go of this unrequited love.

Then fireworks explode, setting the Beiwang Tower ablaze. To save her, Shen Hanzhang is left with half his face disfigured.

The law is clear: anyone entering government service must have regular features.

Shen Hanzhang's future is over.

Her father loves her, but cannot disregard a loyal official. So he gives the Shen family two choices:

One: strip Yun Nong of her title and send her back to her fief, never to return to the capital without an imperial decree.

Two: marry her to Shen Hanzhang. Yun Nong must care for him, and they may never divorce.

The Shen family chooses the second option, and Yun Nong marries him, burdened by guilt.

On their wedding night, she sees Shen Hanzhang.

The once-radiant top scholar is now despondent and lifeless. "Your Highness must know that I do not love you."

Yun Nong nods. "Your injuries are because of me. Even if you don't love me, I should take care of you." Moreover, with her status as a princess, she can ensure the Shen family never declines.

Day by day, she takes care of him with every possible kindness.

But their having no children weighs on her in-laws, and Yun Nong has no choice but to discuss it with him.

Shen Hanzhang gazes at her for a long time before saying, "It is already difficult enough for us to live as husband and wife. Why bring a child into our lives only to suffer?"

His words leave Yun Nong momentarily stunned. She never brings it up again.

Another year passes, and the Shen family's cousin is married off.

For once, Shen Hanzhang comes home drunk. Holding Yun Nong, he whispers, "Nongnong, I've been thinking. We should have a child too, shouldn't we?"

Before she can react, he seals her lips with his.

Their wedding night, delayed by more than six hundred days, is extraordinarily passionate.

After ten months of pregnancy, she gives birth to their child.

But when she suffers a difficult labor, Shen Hanzhang is nowhere to be found.

At last, a brocade-clad guard reports, "The Shen family's cousin is in labor. The prince consort is with her now."

At those words, Yun Nong spits up blood. That day, Princess Suihuan dies in the imperial city. Many days later, the unconscious Princess Sui'an arrives at her fief.

Three years later, Shen Hanzhang compiles a geographical record and takes his daughter on a journey through the region.

The curious child peeks out the window, then points in surprise at a woman across the way, drinking aboard a passing boat. "Father, look! She looks just like Mother in her portrait!"

"Don't be silly. You can't call just anyone your mother. Your mother is dead..." As Shen Hanzhang turns around, the precious book in his hands falls to the ground. Staring in disbelief, he stammers, "N-Nongnong?"

[Synopsis written on April 2, 2023. A screenshot has been saved. Please see the author's note in Chapter One for content warnings.]

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Coming soon: a one-on-one historical romance

After Successfully Being Tricked into Marriage

The Prince of Shu has two sons, twins.

The elder was born with teeth and is regarded as a demon child.

The younger has a red mole between his brows and is a famed young general.

In the autumn of the twenty-third year of Jingli, the border is under threat and the treasury is empty. The Prince of Shu, tasked with raising funds, turns his attention to Yangzhou.

The Shen family, the richest family in the region, is the first to be visited. They agree to donate money, but make one demand: their daughter must marry into the prince's household as the principal wife.

Before the meeting, the Prince of Shu calls in his son and gives him instructions:

"When you visit the Shen family today, keep your eyes open. Choose the most obedient, proper, and youngest girl. That way, your mother can train her for two years and keep her merchant's manners from bringing shame on our household."

At the same time, Concubine Xue gives her daughter some advice as she gets ready:

"Wuwu, you had a head injury. You can't handle political schemes. You're cute, so you look easy to bully. You're young, which isn't good for having children. This meeting is just a formality. Eat well and enjoy yourself."

Both children agree.

And then they both choose Shen Yujian.

The Prince of Shu is furious. "I told you to choose a girl, not an idiot! You know Shen Yujian hit her head, don't you? Forget it. Let your older brother marry her!"

Concubine Xue is just as annoyed. "Is Wei Huai'an blind? A wife should be chosen for her virtue. What can Wuwu offer him besides money? Forget it. Luckily, the one who met her was the second son, so it's no loss for us."

And so, after the betrothal gifts and six formal wedding gifts are exchanged, Shen Yujian heads north to be married.

That night, red silk fills the room, bright beneath the candlelight.

Shen Yujian looks up innocently and sweetly calls him, "Husband."

But her husband has bound his forehead with a band to hide the red mole. He is silent, his gaze strange. He seems nothing like the open, easygoing man she met in Yangzhou, who spoke with such confidence.

Before she can think much of it, he answers, "Mm."

After the wedding, she meets her parents-in-law, who treat her with great kindness.

They say she has come a long way and needs time to get used to the local customs and grow closer to her husband, so she needn't go out unless necessary.

Shen Yujian is touched. The man accompanying her only scoffs. "Are you stupid?"

Even later, she cannot figure out why he said that.

Then, when the flowers bloom in spring, Shen Yujian goes out to enjoy the view.

Suddenly, a man jumps over the wall. A red mole sits between his brows.

He looks surprised to see her, then nervously bows. "Sister-in-law..."

Shen Yujian flees. Back at home, she removes her husband's forehead band, and when she sees there is nothing underneath, she finally understands.

The one she met back then was the second son. But she has married the elder brother, the demon child.

Shen Yujian is so frightened she bursts into tears, but Wei Huaixu wipes her face and smiles with delight.

"You finally figured it out! Why are you crying? Are you scared? Was my impression of Wei Huai'an really that convincing?"

Theme: Treasure the person by your side