Reborn Before Seducing the Aloof Heir

[New Historical Romance] Collecting bookmarks for "The Third Year of the Substitute Marriage." Visit the author's page to find it.

Blurb:

Shen Yunzhi is a young lady from a branch family, living as a guest in the Prince of Chu's manor.

She has her eye on Cui Huai, the heir of the manor: an aloof, noble young man with the grace of a moonlit breeze and a pristine reputation.

At a family banquet in the manor, Cui Huai is drugged. She takes the opportunity to seduce him, but the incident becomes the beginning of a nightmare. Remembering the miserable fate she suffered in her past life, trapped in a dim room, and knowing all too well how obsessive and mad he can be, Shen Yunzhi wants nothing more than to stay away from Cui Huai this time around.

She turns her attention to other young gentlemen, carefully considering who might be worthy of her trust.

Unbeknownst to her, Cui Huai sees her from afar, looking obedient as someone else pins a flower in her hair. His gaze immediately turns dark, and he crushes to pieces the little clay figurine she once gave him.

*

Cui Huai had always thought he would never be entangled in the mundane affairs of love.

Then he fell for Shen Yunzhi.

Watching coldly as she got involved with one young man after another, Cui Huai finally felt the flames of jealousy ignite in his heart. He promised her the position of heir's wife and vowed that she would be the only woman in his life, believing she would settle down by his side from then on. Instead, after placating him with false affection, she abandoned everything and faked her death to escape.

Cui Huai did not understand.

But he still went and brought her back.

In front of the writing desk, Cui Huai held Shen Yunzhi in his arms. Scroll after scroll lay open before them, and every painting depicted her.

"Cousin Zhi, I only want your love. What have I done wrong?"

Cui Huai asked with a soft laugh, his voice hoarse.

Shen Yunzhi flushed red, gritting her teeth as she endured his indulgence. At last, unable to bear it any longer, she tore his paintings to shreds.

A scheming young lady from a branch family vs. a seemingly abstinent, aloof nobleman who is not what he appears; one-on-one romance; a groveling chase; a powerful man who humbles himself for love.

Collecting bookmarks for the upcoming historical romance "The Third Year of the Substitute Marriage" >▽<

Blurb:

When her elder sister runs away from her wedding, Shen Yuan, who has been raised on an estate, is pressured by the Shen family into going to the capital and marrying Xiao Shiyan, heir to the Prince of Yan, in her sister's place.

The Shen family hopes to find her sister and set things right, restoring the proper order. Shen Yuan is forced to hide her true self and pretend to be her sister, learning to imitate her every word and action until the day they can switch back.

But her sister's whereabouts are unknown, and no trace of her can be found.

For three years, Shen Yuan lives in constant fear in the Prince of Yan's manor, walking on eggshells.

In the third year of the substitute marriage, her sister finally returns.

Over the years, Shen Yuan has been constrained by the Shen family at every turn. She has had to scheme and maneuver, navigating between a harsh mother-in-law and an indifferent husband, while bearing her sister's name and becoming, in the eyes of outsiders, the gracious and accomplished wife of the heir.

But her sister's return changes the situation and turns everything upside down.

When her father summons her and demands that she switch places with her sister, Shen Yuan smiles faintly, no longer soft and meek as before.

"Is this how Lord Shen asks someone for a favor?"

Because the Prince of Yan owed the Shen family his life when he was young, the prince's manor and the Shen family arranged a betrothal between their children. The match fell to the prince's heir, Xiao Shiyan. Following his father's wishes, he married a Shen daughter and made her his wife.

After their wedding, his wife was gentle, obedient, and attentive in every way, and he gave her the respect she was due.

Together, they tacitly played the part of a courteous couple who treated each other with respect.

Who could have guessed that one day he would see his wife tugging at the sleeve of the newly crowned top scholar, acting coy as she said, "Cousin, could you wait for me a little longer?"

At her words, Xiao Shiyan narrowed his eyes.

It suddenly occurred to him that his wife had never been so affectionate toward him.

After leaving the Prince of Yan's manor, Shen Yuan accepted her cousin's proposal of marriage.

On their wedding night, she sat on the edge of the bed in her phoenix crown and red wedding robes. After a commotion outside, the door was pushed open.

Familiar footsteps drew closer, one step at a time.

Her red veil was suddenly lifted. In the flickering candlelight, she saw the face of the man she had loathed for three years.

Outside the wide-open door, her cousin had been forced to kneel in the corridor.

Their wedding night was ruined. Furious, Shen Yuan slapped Xiao Shiyan across the face. "You're insane!"

But Xiao Shiyan smiled, pressing her palm against his reddened cheek. His gaze was dark and distant. "Shen Yuan, the only person you can marry is me."

*

Xiao Shiyan: When Ah Yuan slapped me, the first thing that reached me was her fragrance.

Theme: True sincerity deserves true sincerity.