When the Clouds Rise

[Coming soon: Wet Nurse. A domineering love, a wife-chasing road to ruin. Synopsis at the end]

Sold off in a single day, Lin Si Niang, a farm girl, becomes Yun Ruo, a bedchamber maid to the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, Lu.

The young master Lu is a paragon of virtue: gracious, refined, well-educated, and the most beautiful man in the capital. He is the model of a noble young gentleman.

Everyone says that being able to serve the young master is her good fortune.

But when she truly begins serving him, she discovers that he is not at all like the man of the rumors.

The daughter of the prime minister has just learned a new melody and asks the young master for his opinion. After praising her lavishly, he turns around and tells Yun Ruo, "She's not as good as me."

Princess Zhaoping confesses her love with heartfelt sincerity at the Lantern Festival. The young master is deeply moved and declines her with tears in his eyes. Then, in the carriage on the way home, he says to Yun Ruo with a perfectly straight face, "What does a little kid know about love?"

Though the young master is not what he seems, staying by his side means good food, nice clothes, little work, and plenty of money. All she has to do each day is warm his bed. He can even teach her to read and write, and take her to sample wine and admire flowers. Apart from pretending not to hear when she tells him to stop at night, he is pretty good in every other way. This really is a rare and wonderful job.

So she works diligently and serves him with care. At last, the young master passes the palace examinations with top honors and becomes the youngest top scholar of the dynasty.

Now she will no longer have to stay up late studying with him. But before Yun Ruo can enjoy even a few days of freedom, she is told that the young master no longer needs a bedchamber maid.

His future wife will not tolerate all those other women around him, and has declared that she'll pluck out every last one.

Though Yun Ruo is a little reluctant to leave him, she decides that getting away from the young master is worth it if it means staying alive. Besides, she has made quite a bit of money writing popular stories over the last few years, enough to support herself.

She plans to make a carefree departure, but the young master grabs her and pulls her into his arms, looking utterly aggrieved. "Don't leave me..."

Reader's guide:

1. Both leads are each other's only partners, one-on-one romance, focused on their relationship, with a relatively light plot.

2. At heart, this is a sweet little story. If there are any plot holes, please feel free to point them out~

3. There are quite a few liberties with the setting, so please don't overthink it.

[Next book's synopsis]

Wet Nurse synopsis:

On the day Lin Wanchan gives birth, she receives news that her husband has died in battle.

Her newborn is frail, and her mother-in-law falls ill. With no other choice, Lin Wanchan accepts a position as wet nurse to the young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's household.

The young master is precious, and he needs good milk, so the old madam has her eat nourishing food every day.

On a bitterly cold day in the twelfth lunar month, she leaves the old madam's room and runs into the heir, Xiao Qing.

Everyone says that the heir Xiao Qing was born to the imperial family, served as a companion to the crown prince, is accomplished in both literature and martial arts, and won great military honors at a young age. He is truly an outstanding man.

At their first brief meeting, Lin Wanchan thinks he lives up to his reputation.

Later, while nursing the young master in a side room, she is startled when the heir barges in. His gaze settles on her exposed beauty, and no matter how much she protests, he refuses to look away.

Xiao Qing is a true child of heaven.

From childhood to adulthood, he has always gotten whatever he wants.

One day, he visits his grandmother's courtyard to pay his respects, when a sweet fragrance makes him stop.

The source of the fragrance is lovely, slender as a willow and graceful as flowing water.

The gentle, lilting song she sings to soothe the child tugs at his heartstrings.

A temptation like her should belong to him alone.

Even if she is the widow of one of his own soldiers.

He uses both kindness and force, resorting to every means until he finally confines her in a private residence.

At first, he acts on a whim. Later, he comes to crave her and cannot pull himself away.

They share a peaceful, happy stretch of time, and Xiao Qing thinks she has fallen for him too.

But when news arrives that her husband has returned from the dead, she leaves him without hesitation.

Everything Xiao Qing has ever wanted has been within easy reach. But this time, he will climb to the very peak of power and beg for the moon's mercy.

Even if he falls and is shattered to pieces, he will gladly accept it.

1. The female lead is not the male lead's first partner.

2. A domineering love, outrageous melodrama, and a wife-chasing road to ruin.

3. The female lead is not a strong heroine. She is a sweet and resilient innocent.

4. Before he falls in love, the male lead is awful. Even after he falls in love, he is still awful.

Theme: No matter what life brings, grow toward the sun