A Joyful Wedding

[Please add to your favorites, qaq. I promise I'll write it, so please give this kid a chance to write a girls' love story~]

Blurb:

In the twenty-fourth year of her life disguised as a man, Mu Jiuzhao places at the top of the imperial examinations and becomes the new top scholar.

Guilty of deceiving the emperor by concealing that she is a woman, Mu Jiuzhao not only fails to tread carefully, but goes so far as to marry the current Huaning Princess.

A classmate laments for her: "I hear this princess is willful and unruly, with the makings of a shrew."

Who could have guessed that the new top scholar would reply with a blissful smile, "She's so beautiful. So what if she's a shrew?"

--

On their wedding night, Mu Jiuzhao returns to the bridal chamber flushed with success and a little tipsy from the wine.

The Huaning Princess sits waiting at the edge of the bed, her face hidden behind a round fan. A bright smile peeks out from beneath it.

The thought of holding such a soft, fragrant beauty makes Mu Jiuzhao's throat go dry.

No matter how spoiled she is, she's still an inexperienced young woman. If Mu Jiuzhao can coax her into sleeping side by side, she can get through the wedding night without being found out.

Thinking this, Mu Jiuzhao approaches and is just about to reach out and lift the fan when the Huaning Princess suddenly holds it crosswise, placing its bamboo handle against her shoulder.

The handle slowly moves down, pressing against the binding silk across her chest, and soon the groom in her wedding robes is sweating cold.

"Your Highness..."

But the princess, rumored to love power and live in extravagant luxury, speaks with a solemn air and watches her with an amused smile. "Kneel. The shrew is going to question you."

--

*The princess and her female consort

Deliberate exploitation vs. love at first sight

Tips:

Huaning takes the dominant role, but Jiuzhao won't simply be a pillow princess. Top and bottom are just labels; trading roles is what life is about (.

A self-indulgent passion project. Set in an ancient-style world, with a more serious tone. This is not a world where same-sex marriage is legal, and she won't stay disguised as a man forever. Read with caution if that's a dealbreaker.

Theme: Love requires honesty.