The Chief Minister's Beloved Darling

New story coming soon: Has Fu Shaoqing Fallen for Someone Today?

★ Reborn pampered young lady × scheming, reserved minister. The heroine thinks she is acting out a chase-your-husband-to-the-crematorium story, but in truth the hero is acting out a “walk right into my trap” story.

Xie Muqing was born into the prestigious Xie family and honored with the title of Commandery Princess. She had been cherished and adored since childhood.

The year she began her studies, her father invited the newly crowned top scholar to teach her and her brother. His cool, stern manner frightened the young Commandery Princess Xie into tears after just one day.

Pei Ji had no intention of indulging this spoiled, mischievous little ancestor, and resigned the very next day while he was at it.

Several years later, on the Lantern Festival night, the beloved daughter of the Xie family got lost by accident. Beneath a sky ablaze with fireworks, she cried until her eyes were red, gazing helplessly at the endless sea of people.

Just then, a gentle voice sounded beside her ear. “Your Highness, do not be afraid. I will escort you home.”

To become worthy of him, the young Commandery Princess began to rein in her spoiled temper, learning from her mother how to manage the family businesses and conduct herself as a proper young lady.

By the day of her hairpin ceremony, the beloved daughter of the Xie family had grown into a renowned beauty of the empire. At last, she dared to confess her admiration, only to receive a polite rejection: “I am ten years older than Your Highness. I am not a suitable match.”

Fortunately, her childhood friend came to the rescue in time. After getting drunk, Xie Muqing let go of her feelings and took over the family business.

*

Pei Ji had weathered the ups and downs of officialdom with the aloof bearing of a high peak. His heart held only his country and its people, with no room for love. After following his heart and rejecting her at a banquet hosted by the Xie family, however, he felt faint ripples stirring within him. In the dead of night, he would always recall those red-rimmed eyes, which should have shone as brightly as the stars but had been left full of grievances because of him.

He had no wish to investigate the source of this strange feeling. He simply decided he had too much free time and volunteered to tour the provinces on imperial orders.

An earthquake struck Pengli, and floodwaters engulfed the countryside. When he saw her conceal her identity and quietly work among the common people, even setting aside past grievances to discuss with him what they should do, Pei Ji finally understood the source of the panic in his heart.

But a radiant pearl shines from birth, and many were drawn to the bright, kind-hearted Xie Muqing: Chou Jiang, the young sect leader of the Southern Frontier; Ling Changfeng, her childhood friend; and Yujulu Datan, a prince of the Rouran.

Watching these people express their love for her without restraint, Pei Ji grew so jealous his eyes reddened. The dignified Assistant Minister of the Court of State Affairs began to brood and go mad with jealousy, fighting to claim her for himself.

“I was blind before and failed to recognize the bright moon. Your Highness, could you love me once more?”

“Lord Pei, you jest. How could I dare trust your heart again?”

A true chase-your-wife-to-the-crematorium story!

New story coming soon: After the Tragic, Talented Crown Prince Bows to the Little Sunshine

Mute, radiant, adored-by-everyone little sunshine × tragic, talented, talkative, tsundere crown prince

Yinhua was the cherished jewel of the Prince of Zhenbei's household. Born into a noble family but unable to speak, she was nevertheless raised to be bright, sweet, innocent, and kind. While she was still in the womb, the late empress had arranged for her to marry the crown prince.

With a year still to go before her hairpin ceremony, the Prince of Zhenbei's household had already forgotten about the marriage. Then an imperial edict announcing the wedding suddenly arrived. How could the prince and his wife bear to send their daughter far away to the capital? They sent a letter that very night, politely asking to call off the engagement.

They waited half a month, but no news came from the capital. Instead, the ruthless, hard-hearted crown prince himself arrived without warning.

On the wall of the Prince of Zhenbei's estate, a charming young girl with her hair in two buns swung her legs as she happily ate a stick of cotton candy.

“Huahua, I have come to marry you.”

Xie Shiheng climbed onto the wall and gazed at her with a smile on his lips, his eyes warm and affectionate.

Their eyes met. The girl opened her clear, dark eyes wide and stared blankly at him, then quietly hid the cotton candy behind her back, looking every bit like someone protecting her food.

The young man leaned closer in surprise, reining in his flamboyant manner. After studying her for a moment, his cool, handsome face bloomed into a brilliant smile, and his eyes held a quiet certainty that he would have his way.

“It does not matter if you do not remember me, but you must keep the promise you made me back then.”

*

Born the imperial heir, Xie Shiheng was the favored son of Heaven, blessed with an ethereal, extraordinary beauty. Yet he was cold and unfeeling. When he stood in the grand halls of court, his gaze was distant and indifferent, and his reputation was far from spotless.

Three years ago, in the depths of winter, Xie Shiheng, not yet twenty, led an army into battle during a crisis and crushed the enemy. He was then pursued by assassins and accidentally fell from a cliff, where he was rescued by Yinhua, who had been sheltering from the cold in the mountains.

For three months in the mountains, Xie Shiheng stayed there to recover from his injuries, spending his days with Yinhua, who could not speak but was always cheerful.

“Painting, catching fish in the river, embroidering sachets, trapping birds...”

Xie Shiheng was nearly driven mad with annoyance. He wanted every moment to tear that beaming smile from her face, but as a guest dependent on her kindness, he could only endure it day after day.

Before he knew it, Xie Shiheng had healed. His attitude toward the girl had shifted from indifference to following her with his gaze, and a ray of light quietly seeped into the darkness that had long consumed his heart.

Before leaving, Xie Shiheng used the sweets his bodyguard had bought to coax the girl into drawing his portrait.

“A portrait is a contract, and only a wife may draw one. Since you have agreed, you must not draw anyone else. Understand?”

Xie Shiheng could not resist pinching the girl's round, rosy nose. His eyes gleamed with coaxing charm as he spoke.

“When we meet again, I will come to marry you.” The young man made a solemn promise.

*

When they met again, Yinhua had long forgotten the promise they had made that year. What she loved most was the smooth, warm white jade hanging at her waist and the soft, sweet cotton candy.

Theme: Because of you, I became a better version of myself.