The Demon Riddle

This story has little to do with the fake marriage and identity reveal. It's mainly about the love and hate between the couple, with plenty of back-and-forth between the two lovebirds and a twist at the end.

My ongoing serial, Sword Shadows Among the Crabapple Blossoms, is in the same setting and series as my upcoming novel, Don't Mess with That Good-for-Nothing Everyone Hates. If you're interested, please add them to your favorites!

[Alluring, powerful, tragic beauty who loves to tempt × Pure-hearted, sweet-faced, calculating emperor]

In a fantastical world of wonders, immortals, demons, humans, and monsters clash endlessly, and war rages on.

Jiu Fang Xiao, crown prince of Nanan, was once a brilliant, spirited prodigy. But ten years ago, friends and family betrayed and framed him, leaving him on the brink of death. At that moment, he discovered that he was the reincarnation of the demon god Su Tian. But it was too late to change anything. His enemy had cut out his demon bones, and he died in bitter defeat on Langzhou Mountain.

After ten years of cultivation, driven by a single unwavering obsession, Jiu Fang Xiao finally found a chance to return to life. To reclaim his lost demon bones, regain his power, and save the people, he disguised himself as a woman and married the ruler of Beichen, Bai Linyu, in his sister's place. But what awaited him was an ill-fated bond...

A sea of blood and vengeance lies between Jiu Fang Xiao and Bai Linyu.

To survive, Jiu Fang Xiao has no choice but to sheath his claws, swallow his pride, and use his beauty to serve his husband. He swears to turn his enemy into his beloved wife...

Bai Linyu went to great lengths to arrange a marriage alliance with Nanan, hoping to bring peace to the lands and prosperity to the people. Who could have guessed his carefully laid plans would be turned against him, until all his scheming left him caught in a web of love...

[An abstract spoiler]

I, Jiu Fang Xiao, was once a crown prince high above all others and the foremost cultivator in the realm. But in a single night, I fell from grace and died with my heart full of hate.

Ten years later, I returned to life. To reclaim what was mine, I had no choice but to disguise myself as a woman and marry the emperor of another country.

On our wedding night, I acted delicate and devoted, but the man across from me kept a grim face, as if I owed him money. No matter. I have all the patience and tricks in the world. Sooner or later, I'll have him right where I want him.

But things gradually started to go wrong...

The emperor has been awfully cooperative lately, and keeps blushing. Could he really have fallen for me?

Wait... Why are you suddenly leaning in? How dare you kiss me by force?!!

I, Bai Linyu, am an emperor with power over all. I knew someone would come, so I carefully set a trap and waited for that phoenix in distress to walk right into it.

He wants to pretend to be a woman? Wonderful. I'll go along with it and marry him. Let's see what kind of tricks he can pull.

He thinks he's the one seducing me, but he has no idea that I'm the one who set this whole thing up. I play along as he puts on an act to seduce me, calling me "husband" in a sweet voice and moving like a fox spirit. I'll wait for him to slip up, then watch his scheme end in tragedy.

But as we kept acting, things gradually spiraled out of control...

Wait... Does my enemy really want to fall in love with me?

When I kissed him just now, why didn't he pull away? And why did he say my kissing was terrible and offer to teach me...!

[Reader's Guide]

1. The top is the strongest character in the entire novel. He only wears women's clothes at first and never turns into a woman. He reveals his identity at the end of Volume One, then returns to his original body and wears men's clothes.

2. The main couple are very much in love, with strong feelings on both sides. There is one fight to the death, and things get a little angsty toward the end of Volume Three, but there are sweet moments too.

3. Traditional xianxia, no System. A little melodramatic. The top gets hurt, and the bottom has to pursue him.

4. Side couple: the Demon God × Yi Ziming. The Demon God is a fallen god with the traits of a bone spirit and a vampire. Yi Ziming is a vengeful person with obsessive and yandere tendencies. They're both villainous and hateful, and they both die. They have very little page time.

5. No switching or reversals, no bottom-top, and no straight sex. The main and side couples have no romantic entanglements with each other, and both couples are faithful.

6. No dream sequences, and I don't favor one character. I'll try to give them equal attention, but honestly, the top spoils the bottom a little more. I can't help it: the characters have minds of their own.

The worldbuilding is shaky, so feel free to drop it if it's not for you. Please think carefully before buying the entire novel at once!!!

Theme: Save the world and its people, punish evil and promote good.