When the Wild Geese Return

- Please add my upcoming novels Silk Entwined and He's No Lecher to your collection! -

Blurb:

[Winning His Wife Back] [Secret Identity] [Marriage Before Love]

| Clearheaded, stunning little ray of sunshine vs. cool, self-possessed, sharp-tongued, calculating man |

--Completed manuscript, updates follow the rankings--Originally titled When the Geese Return

Lu Tingwan lived with her mother in Jiangling for seventeen years, learning bookkeeping, makeup, gardening, and business.

After her mother died of illness, her father brought her to the capital and arranged a scheme to make her take another woman's place as a bride. She was married into the household of Cheng Xianzhi, a powerful minister of the Great Lan dynasty.

Cheng Xianzhi was a favored official whom the emperor of Great Lan had promoted to counterbalance the power of the imperial in-laws. In fewer than five years in office, he had risen to the second rank and become Right Vice Director, with the power of life and death in his hands.

Rumor had it that Vice Director Cheng was aloof and cold, detached and ruthless. The formidable official also had a childhood sweetheart, his unattainable first love, and both women married into the Cheng household on the same day.

Lu Tingwan saw through everything. To escape the capital, she had no choice but to play along. On her wedding night, beneath the red candles, she casually used her red veil as a cushion while counting her dowry, plotting how to go into business, earn money, divorce, and flee.

Three months into the marriage, she had yet to see her husband once. Meanwhile, a merchant named Jiang Yanli became famous throughout the capital for his extraordinary business acumen.

While on official business, Cheng Xianzhi ran into Lu Tingwan, who was hiding her identity in men's clothes. She looked at the handsome official, as graceful as a pine in the breeze, and introduced herself: "I am Jiang Yanli."

Later, while investigating a case, Cheng Xianzhi was imprisoned. Unaware that this man was her nominal husband, Lu Tingwan stepped in to provide evidence on his behalf.

After that night, Cheng Xianzhi came to Yansheng Hall and confronted the person happily counting money behind a screen. "Jiang Yanli? Since when did you become the second madam of my household?"

Lu Tingwan stiffened as her identity was exposed. She decided to strike a deal with him: once he had accomplished his goal, he would give her a letter of divorce and set her free.

Cheng Xianzhi readily agreed. "Deal."

After helping Cheng Xianzhi rise in rank, Lu Tingwan demanded that he honor his promise to divorce her. But Cheng Xianzhi had already fallen deeply in love, while Lu Tingwan unexpectedly discovered a secret he had kept hidden. Was his unattainable first love actually a fake?

Later, Cheng Xianzhi watched her neglect food and sleep for another man, studying archery, and could only keep his feelings to himself. He regretted agreeing to divorce her.

When word of Lu Tingwan's divorce spread, countless men came to propose, filling the Cheng residence's courtyard and nearly knocking down its gates. Seeing the gifts piled everywhere, Cheng Xianzhi ground his teeth. "I'm not even dead yet, and you're already lining up your next husband?"

Lu Tingwan ignored him. As his feelings went unanswered, his uncontrollable emotions drove him into darkness. Beneath the lonely moon, he finally abandoned the composure and restraint he had always maintained. Cheng Xianzhi climbed through her window and onto her bed, suddenly pinning her down as he released the feelings he had suppressed for so long and kissed her forcefully. Lu Tingwan broke free and slapped him hard.

Cheng Xianzhi took the blow, her touch still lingering on his cheek, and pleaded desperately. "A-Wan? I'm your lawful husband. He can kiss you, so why can't I?"

"Stay. Stay for me, won't you?" Under his forceful embrace, Lu Tingwan closed her eyes and began to cry. Cheng Xianzhi tasted the salt of her tears and came to his senses. Fighting his own pain, he wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

She did not want him!

Geese flying south return home.

Geese flying north depart.

Reading Guide:

1. One couple, one-to-one romance, both leads have no prior sexual experience.

2. The heroine focuses on business in the early story. She stays clearheaded throughout and loves and hates boldly. Romance develops mainly in the middle and later portions, with male rivals competing for her.

3. This is a fictional setting. Official ranks are inspired by the Tang dynasty, with many original details.

- Please add He's No Lecher to your collection! -

Obsessive, loyal young marquis vs. cool beauty with a seductive plan

He thinks he's forcing her into a relationship, but she has been plotting this all along, laying her plans step by step.

Xie Lin died at the age when he loved her most.

Gu Qing was reborn at the age when she loved Xie Lin most.

In her previous life, Gu Qing was forced down into the snow by her husband, Jiang Tingyan, and watched helplessly as Xie Lin's meridians were shattered and he bled to death on a snowy night. Later, unable to endure the mental torment, Gu Qing took her own life on New Year's Eve, beneath the lights of countless homes.

Gu Qing was reborn one month into her marriage to Jiang Tingyan, on the day young Marquis Xie Lin returned victorious. From the palace wall, he saw Gu Qing, the woman with whom he had once pledged his love. They had agreed that he would come ask for her hand after returning with military honors. But now she was devoted to her new husband. Xie Lin clenched his palm until it bled, his heart torn to pieces!

The affectionate scene with her husband was only something Gu Qing wanted Xie Lin to see. Believing Gu Qing faithless and fickle, and angry that she had married another man, Xie Lin had Jiang Tingyan arrested and demanded that Gu Qing trade herself for her husband's life.

Gu Qing calmly agreed and spent the night with Xie Lin. True to his word, Xie Lin released Jiang Tingyan.

Everyone in the capital believed Xie Lin coveted Gu Qing's beauty. Only Gu Qing knew that both Xie Lin and Jiang Tingyan had fallen step by step into the trap she had laid. She had become the beast tamer, holding them both in the palm of her hand.

Later, lewd gasps sounded from the marquis's residence night after night, and rumors spread throughout the capital that Xie Lin was a lustful fiend.

Gu Qing twined her slender fingers around the sash of the new dress Xie Lin had made for her and said nonchalantly, "He's no lecher."

Gu Qing in front of Xie Lin: "My lord, my dress is dirty."

Gu Qing when Xie Lin isn't around: "Kill them all."

#Male lead: Thinks he's forcing her into a relationship#

#Female lead: Has actually been plotting this all along, laying her plans step by step#

- Please add Silk Entwined to your collection! -

In the thirteenth year of Yunhe, beneath the Yun'an Tower in the capital, a white horse raced by like the wind and blew the silk blindfold from Lan Yin's eyes. Lan Yin had suffered from an eye condition since childhood and could not see. At six, she was abandoned while out praying with her concubine mother, and spent ten years wandering in Dujiang.

Ji Linyue held the blindfold and looked up at the tower, searching for its owner.

Ten years earlier, Ji Linyue had been targeted for assassination by political enemies. He fled to Huaihua Town in Dujiang, where he was saved by the blind girl Lan Yin.

Ji Linyue's thoughts churned. Lan Yin came down the steps, supported by her maid. Her vision was blurred; she could only make out the clear outline of a young general with sharp brows and bright eyes. His face was unfamiliar, and she could not see the grief in his eyes.

The blindfold in his hand clenched into his palm in an instant. It was her!

"Miss, your blindfold."

A familiar voice reached her. Lan Yin tried to open her eyes, but that voice...

Was it him?

Lan Yin had never seen Ji Linyue's face, but she could never forget his voice. "My lord, have you ever been to Dujiang?"

"Never." He returned the blindfold, and the sound of his horse's hooves soon faded away.

During the six months Ji Linyue spent recovering in Huaihua Town, Lan Yin cared for him attentively. He watched the orphaned Lan Yin refuse to resent the world for her eye condition, and saw her gradually dispel the gloom in his heart. Yet he carried the burden of a blood feud, and they both hid their feelings.

As they prepared to part, Ji Linyue gave her a hundred gold pieces to repay her for saving his life and ensure she would want for nothing. From then on, they would owe each other nothing.

Lan Yin accepted the gold, but had just one request. "Could I... touch your face?"

Ji Linyue agreed. Her fingertips were soft and cool. As they touched him, he clenched his fists, his gaze burning as he looked at her face. Ji Linyue gave in freely to his reluctance and tenderness, but Lan Yin could not see. Her fingers explored his features inch by inch, silently memorizing their shape.

After Ji Linyue left, Lan Yin returned to her quiet life alone. Later, Ji Linyue secretly sent people to treat her eyes. She could not see as well as other people, but she regained the ability to perceive light and color. When she went outside, however, she still had to cover her eyes with a blindfold to shield them from the light.

Three years later, her clan found Lan Yin and brought her to the capital, not to enjoy a comfortable life, but to be caught up in a conspiracy. The young man's voice from beneath Yun'an Tower had never faded from her memory. Afterward, on her clan leader's orders, Lan Yin often attended banquets in the capital. When she was alone with Ji Linyue, she tested him in subtle ways, but his responses crushed her hopes.

At a flower-viewing banquet, Lan Yin did everything she could to win first place. She wanted neither gold nor jade ornaments, only the chance to touch the face of young Marquis Ji Linyue.

She held his face, confirming that he was the person who had spent every day with her in Huaihua Town. Tears ran through her veil. "You deceived me because you knew I'd never seen this face. You called me Third Miss every day, even though you knew who I was. Why didn't you acknowledge me?"

"What difference would it make if I did or didn't?"

"After you left back then, did you ever return to Huaihua Town?"

"Never." Ji Linyue turned to leave.

"My father has promised me to Prince Ning. We will marry before the end of the year. If you still care about what we shared in Huaihua Town, would you come and have a cup of wine at Third Miss Lan's wedding?" This was her last test, her last attempt.

"I wish you well!" Ji Linyue swallowed all his bitterness.

Lan Yin left, heartbroken, and her blindfold fell to the ground.

On her wedding day, Prince Ning's residence was surrounded by troops. The commander was Ji Linyue.

Later, afraid Lan Yin would not be able to see him clearly at night, he deliberately chose the daytime to consummate their marriage. When Lan Yin exposed his intentions, Ji Linyue said with a straight face that nighttime was nighttime and daytime was daytime, and they were not the same. Then he used the blindfold he had picked up that day and treasured ever since to bind Lan Yin's wrists. His lips fell to the corner of her eye and moved slowly downward...

"Lan Yin, I want you to see me clearly!"

Theme: Be like a bird flying toward your mountain.