Jade Thoughts

[Age gap, size difference, sweet romance]

[Soft, airheaded beauty & older, fatherly minister]

Yu Nian was a plant growing on Xie Zhao's lap. Only when showered with plenty of love and care would she cautiously unfurl a tiny, trembling flower.

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The Xie family had served as officials for generations. Their second son, Xie Zhao, was nearly thirty and already a second-rank official, enjoying the emperor's favor.

He had a separate residence in the capital, with carved beams and painted rafters, as magnificent as a celestial palace. It was a gilded cage where he kept his beloved.

Living there was his nephew's wife, his lover, Yu Nian.

That winter, Yu Nian came from Jiangnan to the capital to marry, in the hope that her wedding would bring good fortune to her husband.

Her husband was the grandson of Xie Rum ing, the former chancellor, and the nephew of Xie Zhao, Minister of Personnel.

But Yu Nian's husband died on their wedding night.

Overnight, she went from a bride meant to bring good fortune to a bringer of bad luck. The Xie family wanted to dispose of her, and tried to freeze her to death.

Yu Nian was slow-witted, with the mind of a seven- or eight-year-old. She couldn't understand the twists and turns of a grand household. When her mother-in-law told her to stand in the snow wearing only a thin garment, she obediently did so, until she was near death.

She lay weakly in the snow. Just before closing her eyes, she vaguely saw someone rushing toward her.

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After Xie Zhao carried her to his separate residence, Yu Nian fell ill and nearly died.

Once she recovered, her little head worked even less well than before.

But Xie Zhao did everything he could to love and protect her, until at last the fragile little plant took root on his lap.

Sitting in Xie Zhao's arms, she sucked on his lips and called to him lovingly, Uncle, Uncle.

But sometimes Yu Nian dreamed of things from long ago.

Winter, late at night, the mountains.

She watched the houses below burn fiercely. Her parents were inside. She looked away and saw someone in front of her whose face she couldn't make out, reaching out to tighten their grip around her neck.

She was terrified and helpless, but all she could say was:

"Brother Xiao Zhao, loosen your grip a little. I can't breathe."

When she woke, she forgot the dream.

Just as Yu Nian had also forgotten that Uncle was Brother Xiao Zhao, the one who had strangled her.

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Pre-registration: "Pearl". Please add it to your favorites.

Story begins October 13.

[Age gap | Size difference | Sweet romance]

Innocent, spoiled darling & older, stern, taciturn man

Mingzhu was the only daughter of the Grand Princess. She was pampered but not overbearing. When she came of age, she obediently followed her mother's wishes and married Pei Han, a rising star at court and the legitimate heir of a noble family.

Although there was a slight hitch on their wedding night, Mingzhu was generally happy with married life.

It was just that, after they married, little questions would sometimes pop into Mingzhu's head.

Her husband didn't kiss her cheek when he left today. Did that mean his feelings had faded?

If she turned into a kitten, a fawn, a fish, or a shrimp, would her husband still love her?

Her husband was too strict. He was always scaring people with his ruler.

Oh, and why wouldn't her husband let her get close to her cousin, the Prince of the Commandery?

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Pei Han was a close aide to the emperor, and every day he had countless matters to handle.

The emperor was bedridden, and the crown prince was overseeing the state. As the emperor's close aide, Pei Han did his utmost to assist the crown prince, laboring tirelessly.

The political situation was unstable, and the Prince of Qishan Commandery was making connections with court officials while harboring malicious intentions.

Oh, and that two-faced prince had his eyes on Pei Han's young wife, too.

There were always ways to handle the countless complications of court politics. The hardest thing to deal with was waiting for him when he returned home after court.

Pei Han hadn't even had time to change when his little wife came over and circled him, chattering away.

"Husband, husband, if I turned into a little fruit, a sour, tart little fruit, would you eat me?"

"Husband, husband, why didn't you kiss my cheek when you left this morning?"

Pei Han washed his hands, changed clothes, picked her up, and kissed her plump cheek before answering.

"I would."

There was still one question he hadn't answered.

Mingzhu wrapped her arms around his neck, a little dissatisfied, and looked at him with pursed lips.

Pei Han smiled with a sigh, leaned over, and kissed her puckered lips. The kiss was long and deep. His young wife trembled slightly, tears shining in her eyes, and her already slow little brain became even more muddled.

Their lips parted. He brushed a finger over the damp corners of her eyes, then answered, "I did kiss you. You were half asleep and pushed me away."

Mingzhu leaned against his shoulder, breathing softly as she recovered. Her gaze was unfocused, and she had no idea what her husband had said.

· A high-maintenance sweetheart who loves to pout and get into a little trouble

· A traditional, stern patriarch who will smack her palms and butt, but really won't hit very hard

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Theme: Overcome hardship and happiness will follow.