[A self-disciplined emperor x a rebellious schemer, a wise ruler x a wicked empress]
Heaven let Chu You have an easy life. Born into a wealthy family, with an aunt who was the Empress Dowager and a doting mother, she was spoiled rotten. Her greatest wish was to eat, drink, play, throw her weight around, and sleep with handsome men.
But Heaven played a cruel joke on her. Just as she thought she was about to become Empress Dowager and enjoy a life of honor, her dead emperor husband issued an edict on his deathbed, taking her down with him.
Chu You was reborn. At the time, she had yet to enter the palace and was still the treasured second daughter of the Chu family.
The first thing she did after being reborn was find a handsome, talented man to marry, so she could stay far away from Xu Can, that poisonous husband. If she couldn't be empress, so be it. Being a wealthy noblewoman who could enjoy a life of luxury would be fine too, and certainly better than being dragged down by that poisonous man.
After considering her options, Chu You chose Xu Can's younger brother, the Prince of Qinghe. One moment she was declaring she wanted to spend her life with Xu Can, just the two of them, and the next she was marrying his younger brother, the Prince of Qinghe, in grand style.
The Empress Dowager bestowed the marriage, the emperor attended in person, and Chu You happily entered the bridal chamber with the handsome Prince of Qinghe.
She believed Xu Can was a hypocrite who cared most about his reputation. The most outrageous thing he'd done in his previous life was bring her, a woman of ill repute, back to the palace, depose her younger sister, and make her empress. She had spent ages whispering in his ear to make it happen.
So surely he wouldn't steal a subject's wife or his brother's wife, would he?
The feather fan was moved aside. Instead of the Prince of Qinghe's handsome face, she saw Xu Can's terrifyingly calm eyes.
Chu You went pale with fright, but forced herself to say, "Brother, did you come to the wrong room? This is the bridal chamber for me and Eighth Brother."
Hearing her fondly call another man Eighth Brother, Xu Can's expression did not change in the slightest. But beneath his sleeve, his hand had clenched so hard it drew blood. He smiled with his usual gentleness. "Has the empress had too much to drink? This is clearly our wedding day."
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Xu Can spent his whole life restraining himself and abiding by the rites, holding himself to the standards of a wise ruler. Only for Chu You did he break the rules, time and again.
In his previous life, he thought she loved him desperately, so he indulged her when she kept his other consorts from seeing him. He deposed the empress without cause and made her empress in her place, left the harem empty for her, and painted her brows and lips.
It all shattered in a great storm. He was fighting for his country, suffering from illness on the front lines, when news came from Luoyang that she was keeping male lovers in the palace. He refused to believe it. She had to love him desperately.
Then came word that Chu You had practiced witchcraft and cursed him to die.
He was filled with regret and hatred. He had misjudged her, and he had indulged her.
When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to his youth. Looking at her radiant, captivating face, Xu Can made up his mind: he would never break the rules for her again, and he would never let himself be seduced by her.
Reader's Guide:
1. Both leads are reborn. In their previous lives, neither was a virgin. In this life, the heroine is not a virgin, while the hero is. The heroine has other romantic storylines.
2. Set in an alternate version of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
3. The hero is a patriarchal man of his time, and the heroine is irresistible to everyone.
4. If anything is uncomfortable, it's because I didn't write it well. Please don't insult my female characters; feel free to insult me. Thank you.
Theme: I ask for no true love, only wealth and luxury
