Rumor has it that Regent Pei Xiao is mercurial, ruthless, and brutally violent. He climbed blood-soaked steps to put a young child on the throne.
Overnight, he became the infamous "God of Slaughter" feared throughout the Yong Dynasty.
The year the young emperor ascended the throne, Rong Yao, the legitimate daughter of the Rong family in Jiangnan, lost her father and was sent far away to the capital to marry. Disaster struck along the way.
By the time Pei Xiao rescued her, she had lost her memory.
All she could vaguely remember was that she had a husband.
Looking at Pei Xiao, who stood before her with tender concern in his eyes, she tentatively called out, "H-husband."
Pei Xiao's dark eyes lit up. It seemed she was right. Rong Yao called again, "Are you my husband? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Pei Xiao asked, "You don't remember me?"
Rong Yao's head throbbed repeatedly, and she shook it.
Pei Xiao gazed greedily at her face. "I really am your husband. You love me more than life itself. You said you would marry no one but me."
Rong Yao blushed.
Pei Xiao coaxed her gently. "You also said you wanted to grow old with me. Do you remember now?"
Rong Yao's earlobes burned. Afraid of his predatory gaze, she could only answer softly, "...I think so."
Pei Xiao's calm eyes darkened. He pulled her tightly into his arms and never let her go again.
One day, lightning flashed and thunder rolled as rain poured down. Rong Yao woke from a dream and recovered her memories.
She was not his wife at all. She was his junior fellow disciple's fiancee!
And he was the regent she had always feared.
She cautiously climbed out of bed to escape. Her toes had barely touched the floor when,
behind her, the man, looking thoroughly satisfied, fixed her with a dangerous stare and yanked her wrist, locking her firmly against him.
"My precious wife, just where do you think you're going?"
[Bonus Scene]
After regaining her memories, Rong Yao tried to escape many times.
Inside the palace, clothes were in disarray, and soft, delicate bodies trembled.
The woman's temples were damp, the corners of her eyes reddened,
her slender waist marked with bruises, her pale wrists held tight,
and she could barely control her breathing.
Outside, her fiance was frantically searching for her.
Pei Xiao deliberately teased her, biting her earlobe as he whispered, "A Yao, you have to hold it in. Don't let him hear you."
Age gap / size difference / married first, fall in love later / healing each other
Notes:
1. Both leads are each other's first and only partners, with a happy ending. The male lead turns into a lovesick guard dog. A genuinely sweet romance.
2. He schemes to take her for himself, by force if necessary.
3. Also known as "Sweetheart, You've Stolen My Heart"
--Please add "Hard to Cross the Buddha" to your reading list!--
In the twenty-fourth year of Jinghe, after the Great Yan Dynasty weathered the turmoil of four princes vying for the throne, it welcomed a new ruler.
The new emperor, Xiao Kexing, was gentle and refined, every inch a gentleman, and beloved by the people.
He spent his years studying Buddhist scriptures and praying for blessings upon the realm.
People of the time called him a wise ruler, and everyone rushed to curry favor with him.
Only Ruan Mingluan was terrified of him.
No one knew that when the new emperor was still Prince Jin, Mingluan had shamelessly seduced him.
He was no gentleman at all, but a sinister, vicious wolf.
Mingluan was elegant and graceful, with delicate, captivating beauty. She was the most beautiful woman in the capital,
of noble birth and dearly beloved by the Empress Dowager.
But even a beauty sometimes had to ask for something.
That night, snow-white skin fell like cherry blossoms, tender branches swayed,
and heavenly dew filled the room.
But by dawn the next day, Xiao Kexing had completely forgotten the passion of the night before.
Mingluan was stunned and had no choice but to seek another way.
Only later did she discover that Xiao Kexing had two personalities.
By day, he was a gentle gentleman, a flower atop a high peak, teasing and tempting her until she sank into a whirlpool of tenderness.
By night, he was a mad, brutal, possessive tyrant who threatened her into quiet sobs and forbade her from telling his daytime self.
Mingluan wanted nothing more to do with either of them.
But by then, she could no longer escape.
While Xiao Kexing was away inspecting Yangzhou, she immediately asked the Empress Dowager to arrange her marriage.
But the wedding was interrupted, and her husband was hurriedly called away. They never even completed the wedding rites.
That night, however, their bridal chamber was warm and intimate, the candlelight entwining as they made love until midnight.
[Bonus Scene]
Ruan Mingluan discovered the new emperor's sinister personality and wanted to tell his gentlemanly personality, but the sinister one caught her.
Fingers rough with calluses traced her delicate neck,
leaving her burning and numb all over.
Only after a long while did he say ominously, "You're being naughty. How can you tell someone else the secret between us?"
Mingluan trembled all over and rasped, "Your Majesty, I... I won't dare again."
But it was too late. The man's long fingers slowly began to loosen her skirts, clearly intent on punishing her.
That night, candle wax piled high as her hoarse pleas for mercy accompanied the flames until dawn.
Theme: By facing everything together, we can reach a happy ending
