Her Qin Player (Matriarchal Society)

When Pei Huaiyi personally fished Yingchuan's most precious little peacock out of the water, the boy was drenched, pitiful, and adorable, clutching her clothes and refusing to let go.

"Since you saved me, my lord, you have to marry me." Chu Linxing pressed a family jade thumb ring into her palm. "This priceless jade is payment for you to teach me... how to swim?"

Later, she learned that he was the son of a merchant family in Yingchuan, a little peacock doted on by everyone.

The young man's feelings were passionate and sincere. Following the stories he'd read, Chu Linxing meant to repay her by offering himself to her. He stuffed her with money, secretly kept the notes she left behind, saying they reminded him of her, and on a stormy night left his own golden home empty, insisting on climbing into her soft bed instead.

"My lord, I'm afraid of thunder."

During her time in Yingchuan, she left Chu Linxing a token of their love, and the two shared a brief affair.

The day an urgent summons arrived from the capital, she had planned to take the little peacock back with her. But Chu Linxing vanished, and Pei Huaiyi had to hurry away. Three months passed before they parted again.

When she tried to find out what had become of Chu Linxing, there was no one by that name left in Yingchuan.

At the spring banquet, the newly appointed Minister of Justice was besieged by scions of noble families offering toasts. Behind the pearl curtain, a masked qin player hurriedly took his leave, visibly shaken.

The musician she'd recently rescued from her political rival's villa was now leaning against a wall, his handsome face pale as he retched again and again. The wind had blown away his veil that day, and the curve of his belly could no longer be concealed. He was none other than the old acquaintance who had vanished from Yingchuan.

Pei Huaiyi clenched her knuckles so tightly they nearly broke, then smiled. "You look familiar, young master."

"...My lord." Chu Linxing had no time to flee in panic. The long lashes of the little peacock from years ago trembled as she caught his wrist. "Y-you've mistaken me for someone else."

"Is that so?" Ignoring Chu Linxing's trembling lashes, she bit his lip. "Then whose child is the one in your belly?"

Gentle, calculating power-holder x dignified, reserved qin player

★★ Coming soon: "Steal Her Husband" (Matriarchy) ★★★

Sang Yanli transmigrated into a book.

Her family was dirt poor. The original owner had spent their last bit of money to bring good fortune to her long-ailing mother by arranging a marriage.

The husband brought in for the auspicious marriage hurried through the door, clutching a hen.

The first time Sang Yanli saw him, he was wearing plain clothes and feeding medicine to her mother.

The women of the Mu Kingdom admired slender waists, and the breeze revealed the curve of his narrow waist, making it impossible to look away.

Sang Yanli thought this delicate flower deserved to be cherished, not forced to show his face in public day after day and endure humiliation for money.

She took it upon herself to support the family, copying books and selling vegetables before passing the imperial exam at the top and becoming an official.

As their fortunes improved, her mother died, and everyone pressured the husband brought in for good luck to hang himself.

People said Mu Xunzhou had caused her mother's death.

Who would believe that a gentle, reserved, frail and easily bullied husband had killed his wife?

According to Mu Kingdom tradition, when a mother died, her daughter inherited her estate. The handsome, silent Mu Xunzhou should also have been hers.

Mu Xunzhou was sent to bring good fortune to a family whose daughter was dying of illness.

She was practically a corpse, devoid of any sign of life, but he had no choice but to obey.

There was no wedding ceremony and no entry in the family register. He was hurriedly brought into the home.

His married life meant caring day and night for his old wife, who reeked of decay, while going out to earn money to support her spoiled, gambling daughter.

Mu Xunzhou had considered ending his life, but then Sang Yanli changed her ways and showed consideration for all his hard work.

She would drape an outer garment over his shoulders while he sewed, gently soothe him when he had nightmares, and wipe away the cold tears at the corners of his eyes.

His dead heart began to burn.

His wife died, and people wanted him to die too.

When Mu Xunzhou put his head into the white silk noose, the person who had once frightened him and made him keep his distance was now so gentle and radiant. The moment the soldiers behind her appeared, the crowd dared not say another word.

The woman addressed him in a tone that brooked no refusal: "Come to my side."

Theme: Grow and learn to love