Spring in the Bright Hall

Radiant Darling × Brooding Adoptive Older Brother

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Xiao Shiyue, the legitimate daughter of the Xiao family, was famed throughout the capital for her beauty. Unfortunately, she was also a spoiled, arrogant fool.

She had once caused a scandal by slapping her illegitimate older brother in public. Everyone knew about it.

Despite her terrible reputation, Xiao Shiyue still dared to pursue Song Qingcen, the eldest son of an esteemed, upright family and the dream match of every unmarried young lady in the capital.

Everyone laughed at her for inviting humiliation, but before long, they were all attending her wedding feast with Song Qingcen.

What she never realized was that the blissful marriage she thought others envied was built entirely on schemes and calculations.

When the grand game finally reached its end, the entire Xiao family was destroyed, and a cup of poisoned wine sent her to her death.

The one who poured that wine for her with his own hands was the very illegitimate older brother she had mistreated for half her life.

-

When she opened her eyes again, Xiao Shiyue had returned to the age of twelve, when her reputation was at its worst.

Everyone said the Xiao family's youngest daughter had fallen into a lake and hit her head, because her personality had changed completely.

Not only did she steer clear of Song Qingcen, she also acted completely out of character by currying favor with her useless, good-for-nothing illegitimate older brother, becoming Xiao Yuheng's little shadow.

Only Xiao Shiyue knew that she had latched onto the future Chief Grand Secretary.

She had calculated everything, but never imagined that he would mistake her deliberate attempts to please him for favoritism. Before she knew it, the affection between them, tainted by resentment, had been kindled into jealousy.

He wrecked the marriage agreement between her and Song Qingcen, which had been all but settled. Every proposal sent to the estate was torn to pieces by him that very night.

"In such a hurry to find yourself a husband? Then what do you think of your older brother?"

1. The leads are not related by blood. They share a surname, but the male lead is adopted. Their romantic storyline and intimate interactions, including marriage, begin only after they end their familial relationship.

2. The author's historical knowledge is limited. Please be understanding about historical accuracy.

3. Happy ending.

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Everyone in the village said the Xie family was cursed. All three branches had daughters, but each had only one child, leaving the family without an heir.

Xie Zhao had just transmigrated, and she was thrilled. She was in ancient times, but she was an only child!

With the whole family doting on her as their one and only daughter, Xie Zhao could learn to read if she wanted, and study if she wanted. Whatever the boys in other families had, she wanted too.

Xie Zhao: "I want a child husband, too."

Her entire family: "What?!"

Xie Zhao would have none of that blind matchmaking.

Not that there was any particular reason. She'd feel more at ease with someone she had raised herself. -3-

*

Qi Rong's family had died young, leaving him no hope of continuing his studies. Then one day, the little girl he'd grown up playing with suddenly asked him:

"Would you like to be my child husband?"

He nodded, and Qi Rong entered the Xie household.

He washed clothes, cooked, and cleaned, taking good care of Xie Zhao. But he still wanted to study. When the little Xie Zhao asked him why, he said, "I want to study so I can take the imperial examinations, and I want to pass them so I can become an official. I want to become an official... so I can give you a good life."

But Xie Zhao said, "I want to study, too."

Little Qi Rong couldn't understand. No matter how well a woman studied, she couldn't take the imperial examinations or become an official. Why study at all?

She said, "Then let's make women's schools about more than the imperial examinations. They can be for learning what we love, understanding right and wrong, and finding our place in the world."

If they didn't exist, then she would build them!

She wouldn't just study herself. She wanted women everywhere to study alongside her!

1. Shameless, quick-witted heroine × gentle, refined beauty of a male lead

2. One-on-one romance, both leads are strong

3. Early on, domestic family life; midway, the heroine builds her business while the hero takes the imperial examinations; later, both enter the imperial court

Theme: Fear arises from love