The Lord's Joy Turns to Ashes

[Seeking follows for my next novel, Wife's Beauty]

Rou Xi, daughter of Imperial Physician Su, is gentle, refined, and exceptionally beautiful. No one who sees her can forget her. Though she comes from a modest family, her stunning face has won the hearts of countless noble young men.

In the end, Rou Xi is betrothed to the legitimate son of the Marquis of Pingyang.

Her future husband is gentle as jade, handsome, and accomplished. Rou Xi is very satisfied with the match. But as the wedding draws nearer, nightmares begin to plague her. Lately, she often dreams of sultry encounters, spending night after night by candlelight with a tall, powerfully built man whose eyes are as cold and deep as an icy pool.

Every time she wakes, Rou Xi is so frightened that she cries.

Fortunately, she has never met the man in her dreams. He does not exist, and it is all just fantasy.

Until the Hundred Flowers Banquet, when she sees the current emperor for the first time...

The emperor wears a dark crown that binds his hair. He is austere and reserved, radiating a distant, chilly air and an innate authority. His bearing, his face, even his expression are exactly like the man from her dreams!

Rou Xi's legs give out on the spot.

Half a month later, in the emperor's bedchamber...

Sandalwood incense coils through the hall, and candlelight flickers. The man advances slowly, closing in on her step by step.

Rou Xi retreats again and again, tears clinging to her lashes. Her trembling voice catches with sobs as she pleads, "This subject's daughter... is already betrothed..."

(2025.04.25)

1. Happy ending, both leads are each other's first and only

2. Coercive pursuit

3. Dramatic, sweet romance

4. Strong male lead, weak female lead

5. Romance-focused

7. Includes rivalry among both men and women. If that's a dealbreaker, please don't read.

8. The content warnings are above. You'll know after a few chapters whether it suits you. If you're not the target audience, please don't read it. No book can please everyone. It's normal to think it's good, and just as normal to dislike it. Feel free to discuss the plot civilly, but please be gracious and respectful. This isn't a classic, and I'm not capable of writing one. If it can give you a laugh or a little entertainment in your spare time, I'll be happy.

Pre-publication: Wife's Beauty

One day, two years after their wedding, Zhuo Heng finally remembers that he has a young wife living at his country estate.

His family arranged the marriage for him.

Years ago, by a twist of fate, the two families became acquainted and arranged a betrothal.

Later, her family fell into decline, and her father became embroiled in a serious legal case.

Their families had already been worlds apart in status. After that, the gap became even greater.

Zhuo Heng rose rapidly through the ranks, eventually transferring to the capital, where his power and prestige grew ever greater.

He never liked her in the first place. If his family hadn't insisted on honoring their old promise, Zhuo Heng would never have married her.

After the wedding, although he had no choice but to bring her to the capital, he didn't even let her enter the gates of his residence. He sent her straight to the country estate and never gave her another thought.

It wasn't until two years later, when his grandmother wrote to say she was coming to the capital to visit him, that he remembered he had a wife.

To keep up appearances in front of his elders, Zhuo Heng had no choice but to bring her back.

On the day she returned, Zhuo Heng regarded her coldly and kept his distance. "Remember your place. Behave properly and mind your manners in front of Grandmother. Don't say or do anything unnecessary. Once she leaves the capital, I'll give you some money and divorce you."

Jiang Sese meekly agreed.

Zhuo Heng was reassured by his obedient, gentle, and unassuming wife.

After six months, he was satisfied with every aspect of her.

Zhuo Heng thought that perhaps he could go on living with her after all.

Once his grandmother had left, he would find the right time to discuss the matter with her again.

But when the day finally came, he was out leisurely drinking with his colleagues that afternoon when, to his surprise, he saw her meeting someone too. And that someone was a man!

As luck would have it, they were at the very same tavern.

Zhuo Heng immediately went after her.

When he reached the private room, he saw everything clearly through the bead curtain.

His usually meek and mild-mannered wife was blushing as she spoke sweetly to the man opposite her: "...Once I'm divorced from him, I'll marry you."

Fury exploded in Zhuo Heng's eyes. He clenched his hand tight.

(2025.2.8)

Theme: Love transcends status