Springtime Tales from the Duke's Estate

The spring chill still lingered when Gu Xiyan's sister-in-law arrived with her two children, seeking refuge. They were weary from the road, frantic, and clearly had nowhere else to turn. But Gu Xiyan had married into a much grander family, and now, still young and widowed, she had to depend on others for everything in the household. She didn't dare make the decision on her own. She went to ask the Old Madam for help. The Old Madam smiled kindly and spoke in gentle, roundabout terms, but her meaning was clear: absolutely not. Leaving the Old Madam's courtyard, Gu Xiyan felt utterly hopeless. She couldn't bear to face the despair in her sister-in-law's eyes or those of the two children. Just then, she caught sight of a tall, dignified figure. It was Third Master Lu, the duke's legitimate son, a favorite before the emperor with a brilliant future ahead of him. Ever since she had married into the family, he had never once looked at her properly, always keeping her at a distance. But now, Gu Xiyan tightened her grip on her handkerchief and thought, Should I give it a try? Later, Lu Chenglian rose from the brocade bed and tossed out a remark: “I'll speak to Mother first thing tomorrow.” Gu Xiyan heard him and, despite being disheveled, hurriedly pushed herself upright. “What?” Lu Chenglian calmly straightened his collar. “Change your name and identity, and become my concubine for now. We can figure out the rest later.” What? Gu Xiyan was stunned. Looking back at the bewildered woman on the bed, Lu Chenglian suddenly realized something. His brows slowly furrowed. “What do you mean?” Gu Xiyan stammered, “I... I have to remain faithful to Chengyuan...” Lu Chenglian's expression froze. Then he finally understood. He stared at her for a long moment before letting out a cold laugh. “Gu Xiyan, you were staying faithful to Lu Chengyuan, and you ended up in my bed?” Read before you start: 1) The male lead is sexually inexperienced, but the heroine is not. When they get involved, her husband had already been declared dead by the authorities for nearly two years. By modern standards, there is no moral issue. 2) Later, the heroine's supposedly dead husband returns, so the two men fight over her. 3) The heroine is a wealthy young widow who wants to remain faithful to her late husband, but her resolve is weak, and she is young, lustful, and tempted. 4) The story includes some fictionalized old-fashioned customs, and the heroine's views are relatively traditional too. I'm not entirely sure if that's the right way to put it, but probably, maybe? The blurb was written on March 1, 2025, and there's a screenshot. Completed novels: ① His Shadow Guard ② The Bewitching Concubine ③ Spring Warmth in the Brocade Palace Theme: A wealthy widow strives to build a life for herself