Alas, My Cousin Is Too Gorgeous

It's finished! Thank you, dear readers, for supporting the official version! My upcoming novel, The Graceful Wine Maiden of Hexi, will launch in January. Its blurb is below!

---- This novel's blurb ----

Liu Yinyin, born to an old aristocratic family in Jiangdong, had fair skin, a lovely face, and a graceful figure. Many came to ask for her hand in marriage.

Her worldly-wise cousin helped her judge the suitors, offering these assessments:

"This one has questionable motives."

"That one's manner is frivolous and lewd."

Well, perhaps his opinions were reasonably fair.

But the more urgently her family pressed her to marry, the more distracted Yinyin became.

One night, she wandered around and found her cousin leaning on a couch, his clothes half undone.

He looked up at her. His face was as stern as ever, but the corners of his eyes were flushed, his gaze alluring, and his air of restraint shattered.

Yinyin's mouth went dry as she looked at him. My cousin still has plenty of charm, too.

---- A little scene ----

After getting engaged to her cousin, Yinyin's immediate problem was finally solved.

On their wedding night, Yinyin felt guilty about forcing her cousin into the match. She raised her hand and swore she would never let him down.

Her cousin listened attentively, then calmly brought over a cup of nuptial wine. "It's late. Time for bed."

Reader's guide:

1. Both leads are each other's first, and they are not related by blood.

2. Set in an alternate Northern and Southern Dynasties. The author takes many liberties, and no one is perfect.

3. A sweet, healing story about a young love that is still finding its way.

4. If you'd like to offer writing advice, please leave a comment. I'll do my best to improve.

---- Blurb for The Graceful Wine Maiden of Hexi ----

When the copper bell of the Hexi tavern shattered the morning light, Jiu Niang was on tiptoe, taking down the last jar of pear blossom wine beneath the eaves.

She had no idea that this jar would draw her into the vortex of imperial power.

Not until the young man who always sneaked sips of her leftover wine after dusk grabbed her and pulled her onto a carriage bound for Shengjing, his eyes red.

"It's only half a month's journey." Rong Chen gripped her wrist, the corners of his eyes faintly red. "My elder brother has to decide my marriage. He... will surely like you."

Jiu Niang went with him, full of hope for their future together.

But that night, beneath bed curtains steeped in dragon's-amber incense, she saw clearly the elder brother the young man had spoken of: the reigning Emperor. She also heard him say, each word distinct, "Now that you're inside these palace walls, don't dream of ever leaving."

Five years later, black-iron armor trampled the green bricks of the Taiji Hall.

Rong Chen held a bloodied sword, his foot on the imperial yellow robe. He pulled the person he'd longed for over the past five years into his arms. "Jiu Niang, I've come to take you away."

From then on, Jiu Niang had a new identity: Qu Daizhi, the Regent's Princess Consort.

She remembered the pear blossom wine brewed on Hexi's land five years ago, and the dashing young man beneath the swaying wind chimes.

She remembered how they met, and the promise they made.

But she always felt she'd forgotten something.

Rong Chen said, "During the palace coup last time, you hurt your head and lost some memories. It doesn't matter. I've kept all the important things in mind for you."

She always believed him, until one night she stumbled upon him kneeling in the Buddhist hall, copying the Rebirth Mantra over and over...

Theme: Love yourself before loving others