The Poor Little Thing Became a Second Mom After Being a Replacement Bride

* A male-disguise, marriage-substitution trope: spirited young master gong x down-and-out, broken substitute bride shou

* No ghosts or supernatural mysteries, grounded suspense

* A fictional setting with a pseudo-Republican-era feel, no real-world parallels or political content

*

Tao Shiyuan has only a hazy memory of his chaotic childhood.

The red silk ribbon wrapped around him, the eyeless paper effigy that slept beside him, the faint crackle of firecrackers, and the unpleasant smell of incense that never seemed to fade.

His maternal grandmother sold him, posing as his younger sister, to the fifty-something-year-old Master Fu. She gave him no dowry, only a little doll tied with a red ribbon.

*

"This young bride is a year younger than the young master."

Amid deafening gongs and drums, Tao Shiyuan sat in a bridal sedan chair dressed in wedding clothes, taking his sister's place as the bride of the fifty-something-year-old Master Fu.

The lavish decorations and bizarre ceremony. Amid the jeers, he crawled through a dog hole and was married to a rooster.

In that absurd wedding hall, he noticed a young man dressed in a black Zhongshan suit.

The young master, a year older than he was.

On their wedding night, the lanterns in the neighboring Fourth Branch were lit high, while his room remained pitch-black. Hiding behind the door, he heard Master Fu say:

"If I didn't need this little ghost girl to protect the house, who would marry such a jinx?"

He secretly slipped out of the mansion and ran into the young master.

Fu Yizhou took Tao Shiyuan by the hand and helped him climb over the high courtyard wall.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Tao Shi..."

The last character caught in his throat. After a long silence, he lowered his head and said his sister's name.

"Tao Shiyu."

*

The fire was so great that not even a torrential downpour could put out the flames consuming the mansion.

"Are you satisfied with this ending?"

The firelight illuminated his face.

Whatever his reasons, he had actually slaughtered the entire Fu family.

"You..."

He removed the hairpin, and her long hair fell loose.

"Let's go cut our hair."

His smile was reflected in the shimmering firelight, amid countless debts of blood.

"Tao Shiyuan."

*

Please note:

1. Includes major twists and a mutual romance. Misunderstandings will be resolved.

2. No infidelity! It starts with a substitute marriage! Their romance only begins after the old master is gone!

3. A fictional setting, a fictional setting, a fictional setting! It's just a love story!

Theme: Cast off feudal remnants and embrace a new world.