Borrowing His High Branch (Women Rule)

1. Xiao Chenyu is the Prince of Chen of Dayu, a woman of immense power whose moods are impossible to predict.

The thing she hates most is a clinging vine who craves power and will do anything to climb the social ladder.

Yu Jinan is exactly that kind of person.

Xiao Chenyu thinks he's a hypocrite, despises his vanity,

and loathes his silver tongue.

So she does everything she can to ruin his plans. Watching him fume with rage puts her in a wonderful mood.

But at some point, that dislike takes on a different flavor.

Later, Xiao Chenyu sees Yu Jinan picking only women from humble families, and her displeasure grows.

So short-sighted and ignorant.

If he wants to marry into a powerful family, why doesn't he reach for the highest branch of all?

2. Yu Jinan is the adopted son of the Yu family, and his life is decent enough.

His greatest wish is to find a kind, high-status wife and spend the rest of his life enjoying fine food and drink, surrounded by servants.

So he puts on the gentle air that every woman in the world likes, hoping to find the easiest woman to fool among those he can meet.

A few days of pretending, a lifetime of comfort.

But he doesn't do a very good job of pretending. The powerful Prince of Chen sees right through his ambition, and from then on he enjoys the "good" life of being targeted.

He takes an interest in a woman, and then she comes along and ruins their meeting.

Once, twice, three times…

Isn't that taking it too far?

Yu Jinan is so angry his teeth ache. Every night, he hides in his room and sticks pins into her effigy.

But later, he realizes the Prince of Chen seems to be... unusually indulgent toward him?

Even when he loses his temper and splashes her with cold water, she only glares and threatens him. She has never used any of the underhanded tricks she's rumored to favor against him.

Yu Jinan:… Something's not right. Is she after my body?

3. Xiao Chenyu's life has gone smoothly for over twenty years, but she stumbles when it comes to the young emperor.

The victor becomes king, the loser is cast out. She has no regrets about being exiled to Yuanzhou.

Only, on the night before she leaves, she has Yu Jinan sent away, knowing that the heartless young man won't share her hardships.

At the brink of death, Xiao Chenyu thinks,

If Yu Jinan has any conscience, he'll observe three years of mourning for her,

make offerings every day, and think of her all the time.

But she never expects that,

amid raging war and flashing blades, through the hazy smoke,

she'll see Yu Jinan, grimy and disheveled, running toward her.

"You idiot, you're still alive!"

--- Reader's Guide ---

☆ BG romance: the tsundere, sharp-tongued, mercurial Prince of Chen x a lively, bright young man who's a little vain

☆ An antagonistic couple at first, sweet and loving later

☆ A treat that's all bark and no bite

☆ The characters aren't perfect. If you don't like that, feel free to skip it.

Blurb date: 2025.7.11

Theme: See the truth in someone's heart by looking through the fog of prejudice