Darling

[Soft, obedient little darling & mature, domineering dom daddy who takes care of everything]

In Emperor Mingwu's eyes, Sui Sui was pretty, adorable, well-behaved, and clingy: the most perfect girl in all Yujing, indeed in the whole world, his precious darling.

The royal scions whom Sui Sui had cracked over the head with a gold brick, along with the fake heiress, wailed in agony: "Uncle, you've lost your mind!"

Sui Sui stuck her tongue out at them, her little tiger teeth sharp. Then she turned around and blinked her watery eyes at Emperor Mingwu, looking innocent and sweet.

She rose onto her toes, reached out her little hands, and said in a soft, coaxing voice, "Your Majesty, can I have a hug?"

★ According to secret historical records, Emperor Mingwu, an emperor for the ages, was born supremely gifted. He joined the army at thirteen and won great military honors; at eighteen, he became emperor. After ascending the throne, he ruled with an iron fist and immense authority, the strictest father in the Great Xia dynasty. But he had one stain on his reputation that he could never wash away.

He developed feelings for the little Princess Sui Sui he had raised himself. Defying the opposition of his ministers and the world, he insisted on making her empress and doted on her for the rest of his life.

*I raised and taught her. She should be mine.*

Reader advisory: ① First time for both, happy ending. The heroine has come of age when the story opens and falls first. The hero is chaste in both body and heart, with no harem and perfect fidelity.

The heroine is born with superhuman strength. In front of others, she's a cold-faced little menace, but in front of the hero she's a soft, adorable little darling, very pampered. Don't read if that's not your thing.

② The leads are not related by blood. The hero is not the Empress Dowager's son. The princess's mother is the Empress Dowager's niece and was never entered in the imperial register.

③ A fictional world with lots of original worldbuilding. The political scheming is kindergarten-level, so don't overanalyze it.

Coming soon: The Little Princess Consort. Please add it to your library!

[Weepy, gentle, soft-spoken girl & irritable older brother who has to patiently coax his wife] [Marriage Before Love]

In the fifth year of the Mingcheng era, the Great Zhou dynasty, prosperous for over two hundred years, began its decline. The ruler was incompetent, the people struggled to live, and foreign tribes invaded again and again.

At this critical moment, He Muzhou, eldest son of the military He family guarding the northwest, turned the tide and defeated the enemy forces.

But he was arrogant and unruly, wielding immense power and yielding to no one, whether by force or persuasion.

Fearing he might seize the throne, the emperor tried to appease him by making him Great Zhou's only prince of a different surname. He lavished him with gold and jewels and even arranged his marriage to a noble princess of imperial blood.

*

Ruan You was a princess of Great Zhou, but her birth mother was merely a low-ranking and unfavored concubine. Born prematurely, she was often sick and spent most of her time tucked away in her little courtyard, making her practically invisible in the imperial harem.

She had planned to ask the empress for a favor once she came of age, hoping to marry the son of a minor official from a small, upright family. But the situation changed overnight, and her imperial brother arranged her marriage to the notorious Northwest Prince, said to be violent, cruel, and bloodthirsty.

She was afraid and uneasy, often wiping away tears at night, but with her low status, she had no choice but to marry.

After the wedding, she was cautious and timid, never daring to approach the Northwest Prince, and often hiding in a little corner of the prince's estate.

They lived in peace, and gradually she grew bolder, often sneaking out to play with her maid.

After spending so long in the palace, she was fascinated by the lively world outside.

Until one day, she finally encountered the Northwest Prince, her husband in name.

The man was tall and strong, his intimidating presence like that of a ferocious wolf king at night. His dark gaze swept over her, and she shivered, tears welling in her eyes as she called softly, "Your Highness..."

*

He Muzhou was born wild and arrogant, and hated the incompetent, extravagant young nobles of the imperial capital above all else.

The emperor had arranged for him to marry a princess to appease him, but he hadn't even attended the wedding, clearly showing he had no regard for her.

Unexpectedly, one day he encountered a lovely woman. As if bewitched, he went up to her, only to see the beauty on the verge of tears as she trembled and called him, "Your Highness..."

[Bonus scene 1] Before meeting Ruan You, He Muzhou had no idea anyone could cry so much, as if she were made of water.

Raise your voice a little, and she cried. Touch her, and she cried. Kiss her, and she cried too.

Facing the young woman's tear-filled eyes, he irritably scratched his head and couldn't help cursing under his breath.

Ruan You: "Waaah!"

He Muzhou: "..."

[Bonus scene 2] To He Muzhou, the little princess consort was perfect in every way, except that she was too frail. So he watched her meals every day, determined to fatten her up a little.

But the little thing ate so slowly, dawdling the whole time. He couldn't stand watching any longer, so he snatched the bowl from her hands and went to feed her, snapping, "I'm in a hurry!"

The girl obediently ate, but then He Muzhou wasn't satisfied. He reached out with his long arm, pulled her onto his lap, and declared with righteous conviction, "That's too far away. It's tiring to stretch my arm."

Note: ① A sweet, nurturing romance, one couple only, both first times, ten-year age gap.

② The heroine is timid and cries easily, a true crybaby who tears up at the drop of a hat. Read with caution!

Theme: Love each other and build a beautiful home together