Unaware My Sister-in-Law Is the Princess Consort

*The blurb for my next novel, "Drink One More Cup of Love’s Wine", is below. Click the “Announcement Link” to save it to your collection!

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[A princess who pretends to be frail but is truly decisive and ruthless × a general who pretends to be virtuous and gentle but is truly heartless]

Tang Zui is the most revered princess in Jiusheng.

But what she wants even more is to become the supreme empress.

Her second brother is sickly, and the court officials pray for his death.

Her third brother is a lovesick fool, devoted to chasing his sister-in-law.

Her fifth brother loves composing poetry, and has no ambition to rule.

Perfect. Her ascension to the throne is just around the corner.

To learn every corner of Jiusheng, Tang Zui disguises herself as a man and heads alone to the border. First, she plans to test her third brother, whose reputation in the army is growing by the day.

But when she sneaks into his residence one night, her cover is blown and she is forced to flee for her life.

In desperation, she stumbles into a bedchamber and stages a “live bedroom scene” with the woman inside, narrowly escaping disaster.

Only later does she discover that the woman is her own third sister-in-law.

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Tang Zui’s third sister-in-law is no ordinary woman.

She appears to be nothing more than an exquisite vase, but in truth she is the leader of Tang Zui’s third brother’s secret guards: Bai Yinzhuo, a fearsome, iron-blooded general.

In public, Bai Yinzhuo disguises herself as a woman and plays the part of a devoted couple with Tang Zui’s third brother. No one knows it is merely a ruse to conceal their true intentions.

But Tang Zui’s arrival upends everything.

From then on, Tang Zui and Bai Yinzhuo each maintain a secret identity. Their mutual suspicion gives way to tentative probing, then to an ambiguous, growing attraction. Neither makes the first move to reveal the truth about herself.

Until one day, Tang Zui is trapped by rebel forces. Desperate with worry, Bai Yinzhuo reveals her true face and storms the enemy camp alone, breaking into the prison to save her.

But the first thing Tang Zui does when she sees Bai Yinzhuo, battered and bruised, is smile and speak in a teasing tone.

“General Bai, are you still unwilling to lay down your arms for me? Bai Yinzhuo, how long did you think you could keep deceiving me?”

Tang Zui pins Bai Yinzhuo to the ground and climbs on top, deliberately emphasizing the way she addresses her. There is an unmistakable flirtation in her voice.

“Sister-in-law, you’re in love with me.”

Blurb screenshot dated January 20, 2024

Upcoming novel: "Drink One More Cup of Love’s Wine"

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[Proud and steadfast, a noble lord’s son who hides deep devotion

× independent and headstrong, a quick-witted merchant’s daughter]

Arranged marriage to love | Rekindled love | The regret-and-redemption arc

Lu Xiyuan has failed to run away from her wedding once again.

With no other choice, she obeys her father and marries Wen Chan, the sixth son of the Dingyuan Marquis’s household.

Wen Chan has fought on the battlefield alongside his father and brothers since childhood, earning an impressive record at a young age.

Born to nobility and blessed with exceptional looks, he is the most sought-after husband among the noble young ladies of the capital.

Everyone laments that Lu Xiyuan, a merchant’s daughter of low status, has somehow flown up the branches and become a phoenix thanks to a marriage contract. She has landed an incredible bargain.

But Lu Xiyuan considers this marriage a losing deal.

She is determined to work out the numbers!

On their wedding night, Lu Xiyuan refuses to drink the nuptial wine with Wen Chan. Instead, she takes out paper and brush and starts calculating how they will divide their assets when they divorce.

“We were husband and wife, after all. It’s only fair that I take half your fortune. When the day comes, we can part on good terms and each go our own way.”

With that, Lu Xiyuan spreads a contract across the table. The ink is neat and orderly, spelling out every possible gain and loss, along with the assets each of them should receive.

At this, Wen Chan’s expression does not change, and his eyes give nothing away.

He merely turns around and leaves her with a casual remark.

“No need to trouble yourself. If that day ever comes, I’ll leave with nothing.”

*

The whole capital is waiting for Lu Xiyuan and Wen Chan to go their separate ways.

Lu Xiyuan is no exception.

The day Wen Chan returns victorious, she prepares a table of exquisite dishes in their room and waits for him eagerly, as though they were newlyweds reunited after a long separation.

Beyond the red curtains, candlelight flickers. Wen Chan, freshly washed of the blood and grime of battle, arrives full of anticipation, eager to see how Lu Xiyuan intends to make up for the wedding night they never shared.

They sit facing each other across the table. Lu Xiyuan picks up a wine cup and speaks with a warm smile.

“Now that the matter is settled and peace has returned, it’s time for us to honor our agreement and go our separate ways as soon as possible.”

To her surprise, Wen Chan’s expression changes at once. He crushes the wine cup in his hand and, eyes red, demands,

“Who said you could divorce me?!”

Lu Xiyuan is baffled. Could Wen Chan really be unwilling to part with that mere half of his fortune? Since when had he become so stingy?

When she comes back to herself, somehow the two of them have ended up on the bed, their clothes scattered away, leaving them completely exposed to each other...

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Later, the emperor grows increasingly impressed with Wen Chan. Believing that a merchant’s daughter is no suitable match for him and that he deserves better, he decides to marry his favorite princess to Wen Chan.

Everyone thinks Wen Chan has finally escaped the burden of Lu Xiyuan.

But to their surprise, Wen Chan defies the emperor in front of everyone, each word ringing with conviction.

“My only wife is Lu.”

Theme: A woman must stand on her own.