Return to You (Reborn)

In her previous life, Ming Qian and Crown Prince Zhao Zhan grew up together and were childhood sweethearts. Everyone considered her his future crown princess, and all she had to do was wait until she was old enough to marry into the Eastern Palace.

But fate had other plans. Ming Qian was set up and ended up sleeping with Prince Qi, Zhao Hong, leaving her no choice but to marry him.

Only after she died and became a lonely ghost did she learn that Zhao Zhan had deliberately arranged that “accident.” He had merely been using her as a pawn.

She acted as his inside agent and was placed under house arrest by him. In the end, a bowl of abortifacient cost her life.

Reborn, Ming Qian wants only two things:

She will take Zhao Zhan’s life and everything he cares about with her own hands, then destroy it all.

As for Zhao Hong, the husband she felt little for in her previous life, she has no intention of dragging an innocent man into this. He avenged her and took care of her body, so in this life she will let him be with the woman he loves, repaying the kindness he showed her in her previous life.

But she never expected Zhao Zhan to be reborn too.

Nor did she know that, as she pursued revenge, Zhao Hong would clean up every mess she left behind.

*

After a palace banquet, Zhao Zhan cornered Ming Qian in the shadows beneath an ornamental rockery.

The reborn crown prince had none of his former confidence. His eyes were bloodshot. “Se Se, come back with me.”

He regretted not recognizing his own feelings sooner. Only after truly losing the woman he loved did he realize he was no better than a walking corpse.

In this life, he would treat her well and make sure the tragedy never happened.

Ming Qian gazed at him in silence, pulled out a specially made hairpin, and stabbed the crown prince.

He looked down at the blood on his hand, unable to believe it. “Why?”

Ming Qian smiled faintly and wiped the blood from her hand on the crown prince’s brocade robe.

She had someone more important to see. What he thought didn’t matter to her.

*

Bonus scene:

Returning from an evening of socializing, the usually taciturn Prince Qi said nothing as he pressed Ming Qian into a corner by the wall.

Ming Qian laughed. Silly man, she already knew that she was the woman he loved.

She rose on tiptoe and kissed his lips. “You’re the one I love.”

Zhao Hong: “But you were looking at him just now.”

An hour later, Ming Qian nestled in his arms. “Are you done being jealous?”

Zhao Hong cupped her face, his voice low and husky. “From now on, you’re only allowed to look at me.”

Coming soon: The Powerful Minister’s Doomed First Wife

Xin Wei is the daughter of the Minister of Rites. She is learned, sensible, and beautiful, but a childhood trauma left her unable to speak, making it difficult for her to find a suitable match.

When Xin Wei was eighteen, her father betrothed her to one of his students.

Her friend felt sorry for her. With Xin Wei’s talent and looks, she could have become an imperial consort if only she could speak. Why should she have to marry a poor scholar?

Xin Wei thought the marriage was acceptable.

Her husband’s family was not particularly distinguished, but he was accomplished in both letters and arms. It was only a matter of time before his success brought honor to his wife and family.

So she devoted herself to managing the household, raising their children, serving her mother-in-law, and looking after her sister-in-law.

Then one day, she dreamed she was a minor character in a storybook.

In the story, her husband did indeed rise to the highest ranks, but neither she nor the children she bore him benefited from his good fortune.

He was not only the heroine’s idealized first love, but also had a kindred female confidante. In the story, she appeared in only a few lines, remembered by him as the mute wife who died young whenever he saw their useless son.

Xin Wei woke in fright and pushed away the man who was about to consummate their marriage.

*

At first, Cui Ling was unhappy about the marriage, but he could not refuse his teacher’s kindness, and he needed support when he first arrived in the capital.

As they spent time together, Cui Ling discovered that though his wife could not speak, she was gentle and virtuous. She was fair in her dealings, knew how to conduct herself, and cared for him and his family in every possible way.

Lately, he had noticed that his wife seemed to have changed.

She no longer took care of him personally and had stopped putting so much effort into the household. Whenever he showed even the slightest confusion or displeasure, his wife would ask him with her eloquent eyes: “Why not get a divorce?”

*

Bonus scene:

Returning late after his night shift, Cui Ling found that his wife had already gone to sleep with the children.

He carried the children out and handed them to the wet nurse, then returned to the bed and drew his wife into his arms.

Half asleep, Xin Wei lifted her eyes to look at him, found a comfortable position, and went right back to sleep.

By lamplight, Cui Ling gazed at the wife he was falling more and more in love with. Unable to resist, he kissed her lips until incoherent cries of “My husband, my husband…” came from inside the bed curtains.

There are several other completed stories in my collection. Feel free to check them out.

Theme: When the mountains and rivers seem to end, a willow-shaded path and bright flowers appear ahead.