Miaojiang Snake Woman vs. Grassland Wolf King
Si Jia first met Helian Xiao not at the grand reception held by the royal court for the Holy Maiden, but in the forbidden grounds of sky burial.
Chased by people, she stumbled into the forbidden grounds by accident, only to crash into a broad chest behind the stone altar.
She pretended to be weak and collapsed to the ground, looking up with tears in her eyes as she pleaded, "Kind sir, please save me!"
The man stood ramrod straight and looked down at her for a long while before tossing out a remark: "The Nanzhao Holy Maiden certainly has all kinds of tricks for winning favor."
After that, Si Jia resolved to keep her distance and peacefully live as a canary kept in the royal court. But the man himself shut her in a dark room and pressed her at every turn.
"The old man is getting on in years. Can't I satisfy you better than he can?"
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According to the Luo Book, whoever wins the Nanzhao Holy Maiden will win the realm. Holy Maidens were sent to the royal court one after another, but few survived.
This time, though, things seemed different.
The delicate Holy Maiden stepped slowly down from her carriage. Her eyes were like those of a young fawn newly born on the grasslands, clear and bright.
Surrounded by wolves, she seemed afraid, but it all felt like an act.
Helian Xiao watched coldly as others bullied her, showing not the slightest tenderness. Even when she pleaded with him, he merely said, "She's just a slave. If she wants to put on an act, let her." How could he know that she wasn't a White Miao Holy Maiden at all, but a snake woman who had taken her place?
When thousands came to pay tribute, Helian Xiao watched his Khatun charming everyone at the banquet, and an inexplicable anger flared in his heart.
He dragged her out of the royal tent and cornered her by the Tianshui River, murmuring in her ear, "The son inherits after the father's death. As Khatun, you're not exactly marrying beneath yourself now, are you?"
Reading guide:
1. Both are romantically inexperienced, one-on-one romance.
2. The heroine is a beautiful, scheming viper. She has no feelings and is focused solely on restoring her kingdom.
3. The hero is cold at first, then becomes a lovesick puppy (not really).
4. There is a slight groveling arc. The heroine eventually comes to her senses, but fails to restore her kingdom.
Theme: Beneath one mask lies an even more beautiful mask
