After Humiliating the Aloof Substitute

A powerful, unrestrained, and volatile Grand Princess × a restrained, self-controlled, cool-headed minister

Xiao Shao is the most unrestrained Grand Princess in the capital.

She is stubbornly in love with one man. Wang Xuanwei is the very picture of grace and integrity, like a clear, gentle breeze.

But he doesn't love her.

Then she meets a young man whose features bear a striking resemblance to his.

She vents all her pent-up anger over her unrequited love on the young man, tormenting and abusing him.

*

Lin Yan uses his resemblance to Wang Xuanwei to successfully infiltrate the princess's residence.

But before long, he begins to hate this face,

to hate being nothing more than a stand-in,

to hate that Xiao Shao's every joy and sorrow has nothing to do with him.

Until his identity is exposed and he becomes her prisoner,

beaten, interrogated, and tormented...

He begins to feel relieved that he still has this face.

It makes her reluctant to kill him,

and lets him stay by her side...

*

Wang Xuanwei is certain that no one in the world could endure Xiao Shao's cruelty and arrogance, and even more certain that Xiao Shao loves him above all else.

But then, to his surprise, Xiao Shao chooses Lin Yan as her consort. The people who once fawned over Wang Xuanwei all change their tune in an instant.

He goes to see Xiao Shao but is turned away. In his fury, he finds Lin Yan, the cool-headed young man who has now risen to the highest position a subject can attain and stands at the height of his power.

He taunts him coldly: "Do you know Xiao Shao is only using you as a stand-in for me?"

Lin Yan replies calmly, "Of course I know."

Wang Xuanwei continues, "If you become her consort, you'll be under her thumb for the rest of your life."

Lin Yan remains cool and indifferent. "So what?"

Wang Xuanwei frowns deeply. "Her moods are unpredictable. The slightest displeasure, and she'll take it out on you!"

The young man's lips suddenly curve upward. "Lin Yan would welcome it."

[Reader's Guide]

1. The heroine acts boldly and without restraint. The hero appears to oppose her and keeps his feelings hidden while lying low, but he has already fallen for her.

2. The heroine suffers episodes when her emotions run high. When she goes crazy, she'll do absolutely anything.

3. The second male lead gets his comeuppance.

4. Completely fictional setting!

5. One-on-one romance, both leads' first relationship, happy ending.

6. Updates follow the rankings before VIP status, then daily updates afterward.

Coming soon: "The Little Princess's Caged Palace," please add it to your bookmarks, dear readers~

Xie Yaoyi is the most doted-on little princess of Chu. She has only one great worry in life:

She is in love with her head of guards, Shang Que.

In these turbulent times, Shang Que is both her sharpest blade and her strongest shield.

But he is forever silent and taciturn, like a block of wood.

No matter what she throws at him, he never dodges.

She gives him the harshest, most unreasonable orders, and he always says only, "As you command."

The entire court knows that the little princess is hardest on Lord Shang, and him alone.

Then he disappears.

She swears that if she ever sees him again, she'll lash him until he begs for mercy, then lock him in a cage and starve him for three days and nights so he never dares leave her again.

But she searches all of Chu and can't find a single trace of him.

Later, the political situation grows increasingly turbulent, and Chu is defeated by a neighboring kingdom. To forge an alliance, Xie Yaoyi is forced to travel far away to marry the new emperor of Sui.

On their wedding night,

through layers of red drapery,

a tall, slender figure slowly approaches.

She has already hidden poison in her mouth and is on full alert,

but the man kneels slowly before her and looks up, his voice hoarse. "Your Highness, I have come to receive my punishment."

Later, the people of Sui marvel that the princess of Chu must be some kind of demon. Otherwise, why would His Majesty be unable to get out of bed for three days and nights after the wedding? Even when he finally attends court on the fourth day, his movements are unusually stiff.

[Bonus Scene]

A golden cage, not very large, stands in the dignified imperial bedchamber.

The palace attendants assume His Majesty is afraid the princess of Chu might escape in the night, and has therefore kept her in a gilded cage.

But they don't know

that the mighty and wise Emperor of Sui curls up inside it every night.

And the only key hangs around Xie Yaoyi's neck.

Theme: Look beyond appearances to see the truth.