Stealing the Peach by Replacing the Plum

My gentle concubine, who came from the life of a "blind courtesan," turned out to be the deadly shadow guard serving a princess of an enemy kingdom.

[Two-Faced Undercover Shadow Guard × Scheming, Ruthless Second Prince], mutually devoted

[Blurb]

Yan Suizhi, the second prince of Dai, was born to the emperor's favored consort, Noble Consort Rong. A refined young gentleman of unparalleled beauty, he was captivating to behold. It was said that many noblewomen had fallen for him, longing to join their families through marriage and share a lifetime of wedded bliss.

Years earlier, while traveling through Ningzhou incognito, the second prince was presented with a blind courtesan named Yun Lian by local officials eager to curry favor with the young "Inspector Censor." She was awaiting her first client.

Yun Lian was gentle and alluring. At a moment of crisis, she risked her life to test a poison and saved the second prince. Moved by her willingness to risk everything for him, he defied everyone's objections and brought her back to the capital, where he pampered her in his princely residence.

The usually mild-mannered second prince even dared to defy his father and mother, the emperor and his consort, hoping only to secure Yun Lian the status of his principal wife and a bright future for the child she carried.

Alas, the concubine's life was cut short. While traveling into the mountains to pray at a temple, she was caught in a landslide. She and her carriage plunged down a cliff, leaving no remains behind. All she left were her six-month-old baby and a second prince nearly broken by grief, with only each other to cling to.

From then on, the second prince changed completely. No longer the humble and gracious man he had once been, he grew deeply gloomy and vowed to remain faithful to Yun Lian for the rest of his life, raising their child alone.

The second prince kept to himself, raising his young son in seclusion, until he spotted a familiar figure in the procession escorting a princess of the Canaan Kingdom to marry abroad: Jiang Qie, the shadow guard assigned to Princess Zhaoyao.

Jiang Qie wore her hair tied up and carried a sword, her bearing bold and spirited. Her bright eyes shone with life, and her silver darts never missed. She was skilled at killing with poison, and was Princess Zhaoyao's most trusted shadow guard.

Though she had exactly the same face, how could this woman possess even a trace of Yun Lian's gentle nature?

Everyone around him refused to believe that Jiang Qie and Yun Lian were the same person. Only Yan Suizhi was utterly certain. He took his child and went to claim her.

Jiang Qie wiped the still-fresh blood from her dagger and said coolly, "Your Highness, you're joking. I grew up in Canaan and have never been to Dai, let alone Ningzhou. How could I be your princess consort or the mother of your heir?"

Yan Suizhi remained calm, testing her deliberately. "Miss Jiang, don't deny it so quickly. Would you dare let me check? Yun Lian has a red mole on her waist, vivid as blood. I could never get enough of it. I think of it day and night."

Note:

1. Both leads are devoted to each other, and neither has had other partners.

2. Both leads are ruthless and will kill without batting an eye. They are not ordinary good people.

3. The leads grow over time, each with their own interests and schemes. Their beliefs will continually clash, and they will have conflicts later on. Neither is perfect.

The next book is now underway: "The Bedchamber Attendant" [Coercive Possession]. Add it to your favorites~

[Cautious Bedchamber Attendant × Young Emperor Who Bided His Time]

Both inexperienced + three-year age gap + older woman/younger man romance + he falls first + mild coercive possession

[Blurb]

A new emperor ascends the throne and names his reign Zhengshi. The whole realm celebrates.

The palace is transformed from top to bottom.

At twenty, Lu Yinzhu becomes the youngest female palace supervisor, serving as a bedchamber attendant in the Taiji Hall.

Though young, Lu Yinzhu has earned the emperor's deep trust.

It is because she spent several years relying on him for survival in the Cold Palace. During the perilous struggle for the throne, she armed herself and stood between him and danger. Their bond, forged through shared hardship, is beyond compare.

Whenever the young emperor is consumed by rage, no one dares approach him. Only Auntie Yinzhu can calm him and bring him back to himself.

Over time, everyone in the court learns that you can offend anyone in the palace, but never Auntie Yinzhu. Her surname is Lu, the imperial surname bestowed on her by the emperor himself. She is also the only person in the entire palace permitted by the emperor to meet with officials and consorts without performing palace etiquette.

Everyone assumes that Auntie Yinzhu will spend the rest of her life in the palace, relying on the emperor's affection for her.

Only Lu Yinzhu knows how unpredictable and ruthless this young emperor can be. Too many examples have taught her to stay cautious at all times. She would never dare take his favor for granted.

Lu Yinzhu is focused on saving money. She hopes to leave the palace at twenty-five, buy a house and some land, and run a little business to support herself. If she gets the chance, she'd like to find someone who understands her, have two or three chubby babies, and build a warm little home where she can spend the rest of her life. That would be enough for her.

As her savings grow and the day she can leave the palace draws closer, Lu Yinzhu feels better and better.

Already beautiful, Lu Yinzhu gradually catches the attention of many guards. They eagerly bring her gifts, hoping to win her favor. Several officials who know her even compete to say they'd like their sons to marry her and make a happy couple with her.

All of Lu Yinzhu's hopes and dreams for the future come to an end in the Taiji Hall after a palace banquet. As she is making the bed as usual, the drunken Lu Yicheng suddenly forces her down onto the imperial couch.

The hot breath of wine washes over her. The young emperor grips Lu Yinzhu's slender wrist tightly, his hoarse voice close to her ear as he asks, each word full of anguish, "Is staying by my side really so unbearable to you?"

"Lu Yinzhu, you promised you'd stay with me for the rest of my life!"

Note:

1. Both leads are inexperienced; this is a fictional setting.

2. The male lead is moody and unpredictable, secretly in love with the female lead, and has kept himself chaste.

3. Mild coercive possession; the female lead is weaker and the male lead is stronger. Neither is perfect.

Theme: The future is bright and full of promise.