Marrying a Demon

After Qi Jiang died, she opened her eyes to find herself reborn as a princess of a small kingdom in a chaotic age.

She had all the food and clothes she could want, was beautiful as a flower, and, most importantly, had a healthy body. Qi Jiang was quite satisfied.

But then she discovered that this was a terrifying world full of demons and monsters, and her smile vanished in an instant.

Before long, a skin-peeling demon arrived in the capital. It preyed exclusively on beautiful young women, stripping off their faces and keeping them for itself.

The skin-peeling demon set its sights on Qi Jiang. For the first time, she hated her own beauty.

Her father searched everywhere for an expert, and finally summoned a young man who looked about seventeen or eighteen. He was dressed like a Taoist priest, handsome enough, but rather scruffy.

His name was Xi Xing. Though young, he was remarkably capable. He effortlessly slew the skin-peeling demon and then wiped out the demons and monsters throughout the capital. His formidable strength left Qi Jiang starry-eyed.

After vanquishing the demons, the young Taoist ignored everyone and left the capital with carefree ease.

They met again on the road when Qi Jiang was being forced to marry into another kingdom.

The wedding procession was attacked by demons, leaving everyone dead or wounded. Just as her life hung by a thread, Xi Xing appeared once more.

Qi Jiang announced that she was going to follow him. The usually unflappable young man looked utterly exasperated for a moment. Though he was unwilling, Qi Jiang clung to this lifeline and successfully attached herself to his side.

Xi Xing protected her and taught her magic. Qi Jiang thought he had accepted her, but a few months later, he took her to the Kingdom of Yan, where she had originally been meant to marry. Her heart sank.

In a fit of anger, Qi Jiang ran away.

A few months later, Qi Jiang was fighting a vengeful ghost. She had just grabbed a talisman when a single sword stroke swept away the ghost before her.

"Fancy meeting you here."

Qi Jiang greeted him with an awkward smile. He replied without changing his expression.

"It's no coincidence. I've been looking for you for months."

The Great Zhou Dynasty was ruled by the Son of Heaven, whose authority came from the gods. As long as the imperial line endured, the fortunes of the human world would remain in balance.

But three hundred years ago, several rebel kings assassinated the seventeen-year-old crown prince. From birth, that heir had been marked by extraordinary signs from Heaven and Earth. His death threw the fortunes of the human world out of balance, unleashing demons and monsters and plunging the land into chaos.

The mighty Great Zhou soon fell apart as well, splintering into large and small kingdoms ruled by warlords.

On a rainy night a hundred years later, grave robbers broke into the tomb of the Crown Prince of Shang. A man who should have been dead for a century emerged from the tomb.

From that moment on, he was no longer the Crown Prince who had died with regrets a hundred years ago. He had become a demon ghost, nourished by yin energy.

Please add my next novel, The Ordinary Me Was Coveted by the Crown Prince, to your reading list!

Among the many refined young women of Yanjing, Liu Yun considered herself thoroughly ordinary.

Her father had spent most of his life working his way up to a lowly fifth-rank post, and she was only average in her studies.

Her looks could be described as fair and pretty, nothing more.

Her one real advantage was that she got along well with people. She never made enemies, and even the most difficult young lady in Yanjing could share a laugh with her.

If all went as expected, her parents would eventually marry her off to a young man who, like her, was not especially outstanding among his peers but suited her well.

For instance, Yang Sanlang, the son of her father's friend Uncle Yang, seemed to like her too.

Three matchmakers, six betrothal gifts, then supporting her husband and raising children: an ordinary, unexciting life.

Liu Yun was ready for it.

But at the birthday banquet of County Princess Jin Ning, she noticed someone watching her constantly.

She discreetly looked over and saw that the gaze came from the direction of Crown Prince Xiao Heng.

Still, Liu Yun didn't suspect it was him.

The crown prince was arrogant, looked down on everyone, and was exceedingly picky.

Yanjing was full of beautiful women, yet he dismissed them all as vulgar, powdered faces.

Liu Yun never gave it another thought, assuming she had been mistaken.

That is, until the Bathing the Buddha Festival at Fahua Temple in Yanjing. A group of young ladies, including Liu Yun, were kidnapped. To fool their captors, Liu Yun pretended to be unconscious.

Then Xiao Heng, who had come to rescue them, stole a kiss from her.

Liu Yun had no idea what he meant by it, and feared even more that the crown prince intended to make her a concubine. After waking, she pretended not to know a thing.

Just then, the Yang family came to propose marriage. Seeing no reason to refuse, Liu Yun was about to accept.

But instead, an imperial marriage decree arrived: she was to become the crown princess.

Now that was a little too exciting.

Liu Yun, also known as Yun Niang, was of unremarkable talent and beauty, a quiet disposition, and an unimpressive family background.

That was Xiao Heng's first impression of her when he was sixteen.

Yet from that moment on, for reasons he couldn't understand, her face kept appearing in his mind.

The following year, at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, a little snake startled the young ladies, including Liu Yun.

Seeing her look so pitiful after being frightened, Xiao Heng went off to share a romantic dream with her that very night.

At first, he suspected someone had put a curse on him. He spent months reciting Buddhist sutras, only to find it did no good.

In the third year, he couldn't resist and kissed Liu Yun.

Watching the eyelashes beneath his lips tremble rapidly, Xiao Heng knew she was fully aware of what had happened.

If so, why was she still considering marriage to Yang Sanlang, who was nowhere near his equal?

Xiao Heng was furious. That very night, he went to his father and asked for an imperial decree of marriage.

Liu Yun, you are destined to be mine.

Synopsis written on April 15, 2025

Reader's Guide

A sweet romance focused on the relationship

Gentle little moonlight sweet girl vs. emotionally steady, straightforward young dad

Fantasy elements, with original worldbuilding

Theme: Life endures and renews itself