The Younger Cousin Reigns Supreme

Bao Lu came from a humble family in the city. Since childhood, she had admired her cousin Pei Yuheng for his exceptional talent. In the second year after her coming-of-age ceremony, she finally married him as she'd always hoped. They were deeply in love and devoted to each other.

But during the Lantern Festival, the prefect's son harassed Bao Lu in the street. Her cousin stepped in to protect her, only to be thrown in jail and have both his legs broken.

Seeing their son-in-law disabled and with no hope of passing the imperial exams, likely to depend on their daughter to support him for decades to come, Bao Lu's parents were so worried they couldn't sleep at night.

*

One day, Bao Lu's parents brought a man home and pleaded with her: "Divorce Ah Heng and marry Young Master Xie instead."

Bao Lu stared at the fierce, domineering Xie Yuzhi, her face burning with anger and shame.

After she was forced to marry him, he dragged her into his bed that night to consummate the marriage. Hearing what was happening next door, Bao Lu wished she could grab a pair of scissors and put an end to him.

*

In the autumn of Yongping Year Three, Pei Yuheng went to the capital to sit the imperial exams, promising to marry Bao Lu again once he passed.

But the following summer, the emperor died and a child emperor took the throne. Xie Yuzhi raised an army in rebellion. The realm plunged into chaos as warlords fought for supremacy, and the land was torn apart.

Overnight, Bao Lu became a rebel and found herself on opposing sides with her cousin, who sat high in the imperial court. Knowing there was no hope of reuniting with him, she spent her days in tears.

Xie Yuzhi had been fighting for days and was exhausted from the strain. When he returned to the manor that night, he had to listen to her crying and blaming him. Leaning against the couch, he rubbed his aching forehead. "Stop crying. Tonight, I'll send you to meet your cousin, that jade-like gentleman."

"General, do you mean it?" Bao Lu wiped her tears and opened the wardrobe to pack her things.

Xie Yuzhi's face darkened at once. "Don't even think about it."

[Temporarily 1v1, don't read if that's not your thing]

Theme: You can't know if a forcibly picked melon is sweet until you try it