Must I Bear a Child Even After Becoming a Widow?

Widowed from the start · a parasitic vine who turns dark · a tense battle of romantic rivals · the man chases his wife to the crematorium · n men competing for one woman

Rumors of an arranged marriage were still circulating in the capital when the Xu family's legitimate eldest daughter, known as "too frail to look after herself," married the Rong Marquis Manor's second son in the last rainstorm of early autumn. He was the younger brother of her former betrothed.

The bridal sedan entered the manor, the wedding candles were still burning, and before the third-day visit to her parents' home, the groom suddenly died.

"What a poor thing, the Xu family's second young lady is widowed at such a young age."

"I heard they didn't even get to consummate the marriage. A wedding turned into a funeral."

The whole city sighed over it in their idle chatter.

But no one knew that on the night of the funeral, the new widow, who was supposed to have "fainted from crying in the mourning hall," was kneeling before the heir to the Rong Marquis Manor, wrapped in plain mourning clothes.

The man's fingers were cold as he gripped her chin, as if holding a white rabbit that had wandered into a wolf's den.

"Beg me."

He bent toward her, his voice low and hoarse, carrying the cold scent of coffins mingled with sandalwood. "And I'll give you a child, so you can keep up the appearance of a widow in this manor."

The candle flame flickered.

Xu Zhaozhi lifted her neck. Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, but she insisted on smiling.

"Why are you in such a hurry, My Lord?"

Her voice was as soft as falling snow, but every word was clear. "First, let me think about it."

A month was enough time to choose a better branch to cling to.

On the night Xu Zhaozhi became the legitimate eldest daughter, her birth mother pressed a hairpin to her lower back and taught her the first words she was to memorize:

"Sincere love is the cheapest thing in this world. If you want to survive, you must first learn to be like a parasitic vine: choose the right tree."

The tree couldn't be old, ugly, or short-lived.

So, on her first night as a widow, she wrote down every "lofty branch" worth considering in the capital:

Too old, crossed out;

Too ugly, crossed out;

Already has a wife and is hard to kill, crossed out;

In the end, only one name remained: Prince Ming, Xiao Yinjing.

The emperor's full brother, twenty-four years old, with a beauty that outshone everyone in the capital, yet rumored to "prefer men." His manor's back courtyard was full of young men.

Xu Zhaozhi closed her little notebook, the corners of her lips lifting.

"He prefers men?"

"No matter."

Man or woman, to her, it was only a branch to cling to.

All she wanted was a branch high and sturdy enough to help her turn the whole capital upside down.

Later...

Her list of potential husbands gained a few more names:

The Rong Marquis Manor's eldest uncle, cold and heartless, his tokens of affection: calligraphy and paintings, along with a heart worth nothing

The heir to the Ningguo Manor, skilled at disguises, cheerful and full of tricks, showed his love by booking out the entire Dayong Restaurant

His Highness Prince Ming, steady and ambitious, promised her the position of principal consort and half his kingdom

The current emperor, a refined gentleman (crossed out), her late husband who died young (marked in red)

Please check out my upcoming story, Beneath the Begonia Blossoms. If it sounds interesting, please add it to your collection!

Here's the blurb:

When Jiang Haitang transmigrated into a book, she was bound to a System for a restricted-content romance novel. She had to win over her new husband according to its instructions. Luckily, he was refined and graceful, charming and free-spirited, ruthless and vicious, shy and adorable?

That's right!

Jiang Haitang looked at the affection score the System displayed: 80+. Her husband was gentle and considerate one moment, bewitchingly seductive the next, then blushing shyly... She quietly reassured herself that he might be a little fickle, but at least he was still a normal person. No need to panic!

But why, after she'd tried so many times, did he keep saying he loved her and liked her, yet the affection score still wasn't full?!

Outsiders didn't know the Zhen Guo Manor had three young masters, brothers born as triplets.

But because the emperor was wary of the military power held by the Zhen Guo Manor, only one of the three brothers was allowed to show his face in public. The other two disguised themselves and followed behind to help with their plans.

Then the emperor arranged a marriage, and a new wife arrived at the Zhen Guo Manor... The brothers had been taking turns appearing in public each day. To keep their identities hidden, they decided...

The eldest was as gentle as water, his eyes full of affection. "My lady, are you feeling better today? I've had someone prepare bird's nest soup with rock sugar..."

The second had a face as fair as jade, a faint smile on his thin lips. "My lady, be harsher with the servants. Since he was caught stealing, let's... flay him and make an example of him!"

The youngest's cheeks were rosy and his earlobes hot. "My... my lady, I carved this jade hairpin myself to show you... how much I like you..."

Theme: Only by loving yourself can the world treat you kindly!