The Pampered Maid

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Lu Huai, the legitimate son of the Duke's household, is as graceful as an orchid and kindhearted as a bodhisattva. On his first day back at the estate, he rescues a maid in Cheng Garden and keeps her by his side as his personal attendant.

The maid is usually quiet, but the arms she accidentally reveals are always covered in fresh wounds. Seeing how frail she is, Lu Huai pities her for her hard life. He gives her medicinal herbs and protects her in front of everyone.

Everyone says the maid will soon rise above her station, until news arrives that Lu Huai is to marry the Chancellor's daughter.

Who could have guessed that the groom would suddenly disappear on his wedding day? Search parties from the capital scour the area, but cannot find him.

Half a month later, Lu Huai appears at the main gate of the Duke's estate. He no longer looks as elegant as before; his eyes are utterly lifeless. The maid who disappeared with him is nowhere to be seen, either.

*

Ning Yu is the daughter of a disgraced official. At six, she was sent to the Bureau of Music. Once she came of age, she was sold into service at the Duke's estate.

The servants bully and humiliate her, pointing at her and cursing her as a born seductress who thinks her pretty face will let her climb to the top.

Ning Yu says nothing, silently enduring their cruelty.

One day, torrential rain pours down.

As she kneels on the flagstones in a corner of Cheng Garden, an oil-paper umbrella suddenly appears over her head.

*

Ning Yu thought she had long grown accustomed to the world's warmth and cruelty, but in that moment, she unexpectedly glimpses a ray of light.

The forbidden desire in her heart grows like weeds. She goes to great lengths to win Lu Huai's affection. Just as he becomes ever more tender toward her, news of his betrothal douses her hopes like a bucket of cold water.

So, on the day of his wedding, she takes the opportunity to drug Lu Huai and knock him unconscious.

In a bamboo hut, Ning Yu hooks a finger into his sash. One moment she leans close to his ear and softly calls him "my husband"; the next, she laces her fingers with his and declares possessively, "You're mine!"

Lu Huai drifts in and out of consciousness. By the time he comes to completely, only a lingering fragrance remains in the bamboo hut. She has vanished without a trace.

Reading Guide:

1. The male lead knows the heroine is going to drug him and deliberately falls into her trap.

2. One-on-one romance, both leads' first time, sweet and fluffy.

3. Alternate setting with lots of original worldbuilding.

--- The next novel, "My Childhood Friend Chose Someone Else," is next door. Here's the blurb ---

Xu Zhiyuan has lived with the Shen family in the capital since childhood. She and the Shen family's Third Young Master grew up together, fell in love, and were on the verge of marrying.

But just then, they are invited to a banquet at the Princess's residence, where Xu Zhiyuan and the princess both fall into the water. As they fight for their lives, the person who comes to save Xu Zhiyuan isn't her Third Young Master, but his best friend, Xie Luoyan.

Xie Luoyan comes from a marquis's household. He is noble and distinguished, but also austere and old-fashioned, and he has never been particularly friendly toward her. Once, when she accidentally stumbled in front of him, he took a step back without a word and said sternly, "Miss, please conduct yourself with dignity."

To protect both families' reputations, Xu Zhiyuan has no choice but to marry into the marquis's household, watching helplessly as the Third Young Master becomes engaged to the princess.

After the wedding, Xu Zhiyuan forces herself to stay strong, treading carefully in the marquis's household.

Born to a humble family, she is looked down on by her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. Xie Luoyan is busy with government affairs all day, leaving her isolated and without support.

After enduring one hardship after another, Xu Zhiyuan can barely make headway. To secure her place in the household, she takes advantage of Xie Luoyan's drunkenness and consummates their marriage.

-

Xie Luoyan has never liked delicate, helpless women.

When he first met Xu Zhiyuan, she twisted her ankle in front of him. He had seen that kind of trick many times before and thought little of it.

Later, he learned that she was the woman his friend from the Shen family loved.

At the princess's banquet, Xu Zhiyuan struggled in the lake for a long time, but the Shen family's young master saved the princess instead.

Displeased with his friend's actions, Xie Luoyan agreed to marry the woman.

After they married, they treated each other with courtesy. He thought that living this way would be perfectly fine.

But one day, he caught sight of his wife standing shoulder to shoulder with the Shen family's young master. Unable to stop himself, he crushed the cup in his hand and ordered his men to bring her to him. Gritting his teeth, he said:

"Madam, I am your husband!"

Theme: Even when surrounded by darkness, there is still sunshine.