Possessive Love, Tragic Romance, and Messy Drama 强取豪夺，恨海情天，狗血

1. 1 国21+ Springtime Tales from the Duke's Estate 国公府春闺小韵事 The Queen Is Not Home女王不在家Romance566k WordsCompleted 157.4kFavorites172.9kClicks/ch141.7kGifts

   Curator note

   It's really funny. The female lead is the legendary type who's conservative in thought but bold in action. She stayed in the male lead's room to remain chaste for her deceased husband [laughing and crying emoji]. It's not exactly a love story filled with hatred, and it doesn't quite qualify as forced marriage either, but it has a bit of that feel to it. The male lead seduced the female lead, and she couldn't resist the temptation.

2. 2 花 The Darling of the Flowers 花中娇客 Duo Li多梨Romance387k WordsCompleted [This story is best enjoyed with the readers’ comments turned on. You’ll be treated to a stream of clever remarks from our lovely readers.] A Chun, a country girl, travels a thousand miles to seek out relatives. Newly arrived at a grand household, she is careful and cautious, afraid to make even the slightest mistake. All she wants is to use the household’s influence to find a suitable husband with power and status. Things go smoothly. Shen Weizhen, the distant cousin who now runs the Shen hou 327.7kFavorites332kClicks/ch167.2kGifts

   Curator note

   This kind of popular item needs no introduction, it's beautiful!

3. 3 新 My Husband Transmigrated to Steal Me From the Male Lead 新聘 Yu Shi榆莳Romance538k WordsCompleted Gu Lingyi, daughter of the Minister of Revenue, had two great regrets in her life. First, her childhood sweetheart and fiancé, Jiang Xuanqing, who had placed third in the palace exams, broke off their engagement in public: “I have no romantic feelings for you. From now on, you can think of me as your older brother.” Second, she believed Cui Yi’s empty promises that he would one day rise to the highest offices and always outshine Jiang Xuanqing. In a moment of foolishness, she agreed to marry h 307.1kFavorites265.2kClicks/ch349.7kGifts

   Curator note

   This book isn't labeled as exploitative, but I feel it deserves a mention. While other male protagonists rely on robbery, he relies on deception. From his wife to his parents, older brother, sister-in-law, younger brother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law, not one of them escapes his deception. It's just that his sister-in-law, being of a similar nature to him, learned the truth earlier.

4. 4 我 Reborn as the Widow of the Villainous Chancellor's Older Brother 我是奸相他哥遗孀（重生） Dull Scholar钝书生Romance467k WordsCompleted My new novel, Why Did You Marry My Uncle?, is now live. This novel: [Fake aloof beauty, actually a naturally wicked chancellor × weak, kindhearted, pregnant widow sister-in-law who runs away] 1. Feng Yuzhen was unloved by her parents, and her husband died young. She spent her life timidly accepting whatever came her way. Even when her cold and distant younger brother-in-law asked if she would like to live with him, she refused out of cowardice. She lived under the Cui family’s roof, working ti 227.3kFavorites317.5kClicks/ch120.4kGifts

   Curator note

   I've forgotten a bit of what I read in a while, but it was pretty angsty and melodramatic. I just remember the female lead had a really tough time.

5. 5 难 Love Beneath the Phoenix Canopy 难为鸾帐恩 Osmanthus in the Mirror桂花添镜Romance526k WordsCompleted Hu Shen grew up on the grasslands. Her elder brother was favored by the khan, and her own life was fairly comfortable. Until one day, after her brother launched a campaign into the Central Plains, he returned with a captive from there. They said the man was the legitimate heir of a powerful Central Plains family, of noble birth. They said that though he was a civil official, he fought with great courage and had tremendous potential. The khan wanted to bring him into his service, but the man w 167.9kFavorites145.8kClicks/ch87.8kGifts

   Curator note

   It's rare to see such a tragic male lead. He was forcibly taken from the protagonist in the early stages and then forced into marriage later [laughing and crying emoji]. The female lead is a bit cunning, but not an idiot; after all, she grew up in a chaotic world. The most regrettable character in this book is the older brother; his death was a necessary plot point arranged by the author.

6. 6 春21+ Spring's Colors Burn into the Bones 春色烧骨 Liu Xixi琉西西Romance293k WordsCompleted 17.3kFavorites19.5kClicks/ch4.5kGifts

   Curator note

   This book has a low collection rate and low rating, which I think is because the characters are not likable. They are not characters who are supposed to be deeply affectionate. The male lead is a power-hungry man who wants to marry a noblewoman to get promoted. The female lead is a maid who was sold to a brothel as a child. She is ordinary on the surface but actually introverted, socially awkward, and a little cowardly, but she dares to do great things. So in the early stages, the male lead wants to maintain his reputation and marry the noblewoman, but he doesn't want to let go of his true love, which makes him seem very despicable. Later, he is unwilling to give up the noblewoman, but at the same time, he gives his heart, soul, and wealth to the female lead. I'll say more, but anyway, they are a perfect match. It's a realistic character and anime romance, so it's worth reading.

7. 7 美 After the Beautiful Mother Was Taken by Force 美人娘亲被巧取豪夺后 Sleepless Lamp未眠灯Romance834k WordsCompleted [Seduction and Possessive Love, Parental Romance, Love Stories About People Over 30] ◆A Transmigrated Beauty × A Feudal Patriarch◆ Dai Li never imagined that an ordinary day at school would cost her the son who was her whole world. After putting everything in order, she went to the riverside where the school bus had crashed and threw herself into the water, hoping to reunite with the little one at home. She thought it was all over, but when she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a com 115.7kFavorites155.8kClicks/ch182.1kGifts

   Curator note

   It was quite long, so I didn't finish it. The character setup was relatively new to me. The female lead's son goes missing at the beginning, and she jumps into the water and travels back to ancient times. The male lead is immediately attracted to her. The female lead tries to escape several times but is always found. I thought the beginning was quite good; the female lead was smart, intelligent, mature, and charming, as was the male lead. [Crack] Later on, it seemed like the male and female leads were forced together. The author tied them together, but I couldn't see any necessity for them to be together. Of course, this is just my personal opinion.

8. 8 丰21+ Lush and Lovely 丰艳 Good Fortune Year After Year岁岁长吉Romance620k WordsOngoing 67.9kFavorites59.6kClicks/ch90kGifts

   Curator note

   This book is quite engaging too. I like the female lead's character – intelligent, mature, and a charming older sister figure. The male lead is a bit quiet, but he has a strong presence, and their scenes together are very enjoyable.

9. 9 我 I Refuse to Be a Concubine 我不做妾 Yudong榆冬Romance469k WordsCompleted This book has been published under the title "The Golden Record". Available on Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Dangdang, and other platforms. Shen Lan transmigrated into the body of a Yangzhou beauty, raised to be sold into a rich man’s household. With her cloudlike hair and peerless beauty, she deserved to be called the loveliest woman in Jiangnan. Because of her looks, she was to be sent to Pei Shen, the Imperial Salt Commissioner, as a concubine. Shen Lan refused to become a concubine and went t 190.6kFavorites293.6kClicks/ch135.1kGifts

   Curator note

   BG (boy-girl) romance; the female lead is clear-headed, strong-willed, and not at all coy or he

10. 10 怀 Yearning for Love 怀娇 Three Liang of White Sugar白糖三两Romance369k WordsCompleted The Wei clan, hailed as the foremost of the great and prestigious families, is renowned throughout the land. Its eldest legitimate son, Wei Jie, is a man of noble character, utterly free of worldly airs. He is an immortal banished from heaven, famed as a flawless white jade, and a model for aristocratic families raising their younger generation. That is, until a young cousin from a collateral branch arrived. She had the looks of a femme fatale and would often sway past Wei Jie, her graceful wai 190.5kFavorites193.9kClicks/ch35.8kGifts

    Curator note

    This is a heterosexual romance novel; it doesn't have much angst, and the male lead is still a decent person.

11. 11 玉 Distant Jade Steps 玉阶遥 Three Liang of White Sugar白糖三两Romance409k WordsCompleted (Originally titled The Swallow in the Cage) Before a coup left him in dire straits, Xu Mohuai was an arrogant Crown Prince, a nobleman untouched by the dust of the world. But after his pride was broken and he fell into the mire, the person who saved him was a countrywoman he had once disdained too much to even glance at. Xu Mohuai listened as Su Yan earnestly planned to cultivate a vegetable garden in the hills behind their home. He watched her count on her fingers how many coins she had spent 169kFavorites297.9kClicks/ch77.2kGifts

    Curator note

    This is a heterosexual romance novel, and the male lead is truly a scoundrel, a real bastard. The female lead must have committed some terrible sin in her past life to have met him.

12. 12 信 Pheromone Exclusivity 信息素独占 Gu Zheng故筝Danmei (BL)299k WordsCompleted *Some melodramatic tropes I want to write. It's free, not going to be paywalled. Just writing it to lift my spirits. P.S. It might actually be a sweet story.* Pan Yinchuan was an utterly ordinary Beta. The most common praise he'd received since childhood was “such a good kid.” He studied and worked by the book. Later, hoping to earn a higher salary, he accepted an introduction from a friend of his parents and went to another city for advanced nursing training. On the second day after he arrive 134.9kFavorites164.5kClicks/ch120kGifts

    Curator note

    This was originally a BI (sexual relationship), but because the victim was too sensible, the forced marriage turned into mutual affection.

13. 13 怀 Pregnant with My Ex's Older Brother's Baby 怀上前夫他哥的崽 Master Grass Lamp草灯大人Romance483k WordsCompleted [The new novel, Became the Concubine of a Cold and Aloof Powerful Official, is now open for reading!] A powerful man lowers his head | Both leads are each other's first Strong-willed, vibrant beauty x icy, abstinent noble gentleman Su Li and Cui Ming, the second young master of a prestigious family, were betrothed as children. Because of this marriage tie, Su Li often visited the Cui clan, one of the great aristocratic families. Clever and adorable, Su Li is loved by everyone. She wins over t 126.9kFavorites127.5kClicks/ch64.6kGifts

    Curator note

    It's a heterosexual romance, and there seem to be scenes of forced marriage later on, but there's no intense love or dramatic conflict.

14. 14 妄 She Who Dared to Break Her 妄折她 Si Yuqing司雨情Romance450k WordsCompleted [Author's page: Princess's Blade. Please add it to your wishlist!] [Brutish, rough-hewn man from a foreign tribe x stubborn beauty raised in a prominent family | Height difference warning] Princess Shang Ningxiu of Zhaohua was renowned as the most beautiful woman in Bianjing. One late autumn, the princess traveled south to visit her elderly grandmother. On the way, a rebel uprising broke out, and every one of the several hundred people accompanying her was slaughtered. The rebel leader had nev 121.9kFavorites171kClicks/ch27.1kGifts

    Curator note

    BG (boy-girl) story, about a princess who was kidnapped—it was indeed a case of forceful acquisition—but there's no hatred in this story; it's more of a sweet romance.

15. 15 海 Begonia Blossoms Drunk in the Sun 海棠醉日 Nanlu Xingli南陆星离Romance667k WordsCompleted My next book is a forced-love story, The Debt of Romance. Please add it to your reading lists, everyone! The forced-love plot begins in Chapter 21 | Ruthless, domineering emperor vs. patient, clever beauty After Crown Prince Zhao Mingfei was deposed, he naturally had no affection for the wife forced on him as a substitute. But Jiang Niantang loved him wholeheartedly. She secretly watched him practice swordsmanship, took care of everything in the cold palace for him, and spent night after night s 115.2kFavorites107.9kClicks/ch41.8kGifts

    Curator note

    This is a classic tale of love and hate. I thought she loved me, but it turns out I was just a substitute for the man she loved. If only this could have happened somewhere else! [Doge] I want to see a happy ending for the childhood sweetheart and the boy who falls from the sky together.

16. 16 臣21+ The Minister's Wife 臣妻 Soft Persimmons Are Easy to Squeeze软柿子就是好捏Romance563k WordsCompleted 109.5kFavorites134.5kClicks/ch61.7kGifts

    Curator note

    This is a true forced marriage, with a strong melodramatic element. The female lead transmigrates, and her ex-husband is reborn.

17. 17 他 He Said I Wasn't Worthy 他说我不配 Drinking Tea by the Lake游湖喝着茶Danmei (BL)664k WordsCompleted [Revised edition | For the complete version, look for it on Jinjiang] 1. Li Wenshui is nothing like his name suggests. He's like boiling water, scalding and bubbling over, impossible to handle. He's selfish, shallow, worldly, and vain. He loves to brag and show off. It seems you can find one or two of every annoying human flaw in him. Everyone says that, aside from his pretty face, he's good for nothing. His mother ran away, his father remarried, and his stepmother called him bad luck. Meanwhil 96kFavorites81.2kClicks/ch42.5kGifts

    Curator note

    This is a BI (bisexual) story, and while the protagonist isn't exactly a submissive bottom, he's definitely a scumbag top. (Actually, it's been a while since I read it, so I've forgotten some of the plot, but he's definitely a scumbag top, though not the kind who cheats on his wife.) This is a story of a wife-chasing-after-the-crime scenario.

18. 18 凤 Phoenix Totem 凤凰图腾 Huai Shang淮上Danmei (BL)268k WordsCompleted Whose darling has drifted into a dream, as golden wine and silver cups glow red with grapes on a spring night? Whose world lies shrouded in gray, stretching across ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains beneath a lone rider and the vast sky? They look down on countless struggles for home and country, clad in white and silver armor, surrounded by the flash of swords and the fury of blades. Rouge drifts across the waters of the Qinhuai; Jiangnan's songs never end, and spring's beauty unfolds 93.9kFavorites136.8kClicks/ch16kGifts

    Curator note

    BI, it's very exciting. I remember it's a fake father-son story, a tale of true love and hate, with very thrilling scenes of forceful taking. Those who have finished this book can search for another one by the same author, "True Father and Son," which is also very exciting, but it's not available on Jinjiang Literature City. [Doge emoji]

19. 19 折 Take Her Behind the Curtain 折她入幕 Xiu Xiuyan岫岫烟Romance634k WordsCompleted Core trope: Taking by force The Central Plains had fallen into decline, and warlords rose up everywhere. Song Heng, Military Governor of Hedong, captured Jinzhou and returned in triumph. Through the curtain of rain, Song Heng caught sight of a young woman in green, with dark green hair and rosy cheeks, her bearing as graceful as an orchid. Later, at a banquet, Song Heng learned that she was the younger sister of the man who had saved his younger brother's life. A measuring, probing look appear 83.9kFavorites112kClicks/ch22.9kGifts

    Curator note

    BG (boy-girl) – I'd completely forgotten about this one. I clicked on it and realized I'd read it before, but I didn't really remember it. The synopsis, though, was quite appealing. I'll take another look when I get back.

20. 20 外 The Other Woman 外室 Qu Zhumian曲渚眠Romance428k WordsCompleted Blurb One: Scheduled to go premium on 2021.01.04, barring unforeseen circumstances. New novel: Beauty of the Bones. Please add it to your reading list. Lu Ze, heir to the Duke of Qi’s estate, has the emperor’s favor. He oversees Zhejiang and Fujian, is mercurial, and is an expert schemer. Returning home to visit his family, he happens upon a woman walking through Yiyuan beneath an umbrella, her skin like ice and bones like jade, each step as graceful as a lotus blossom. Lu Ze hints at his int 81.1kFavorites166.5kClicks/ch33kGifts

    Curator note

    This is a heterosexual romance novel, and I absolutely love it! I read it once when it was first released, and then reread it. The female lead is a time-traveler, and she's a rare type who isn't the typical innocent, naive type; she's got the sharp mind of an adult. Ninety percent of the scenes are filled with her refusal to accept her fate—"If you can't get rid of me, I'll kill you!" [Doge emoji] The characters are very well-developed. The male lead is a true feudalistic old man, full of Confucian scholar-official ideology. The two are practically a mismatch; they only get together because the male lead is so persistent. You absolutely must read this one! However, I have a feeling the author must have revised the story. I vaguely remember the female lead having an abortion, but that was no longer the case when I reread it. Has anyone read it and can tell me?

21. 21 明 The Bright Moon Shines on the Nine Provinces 明月照九州 Nanlu Xingli南陆星离Romance478k WordsCompleted This year, I'm publishing "The Tyrant's Pretend White Moonlight" #I disguised myself as a man, but the Crown Prince found out and forced me to remove my disguise# [Cool, aloof heir in male disguise x ruthless, possessive Crown Prince] Fu Guiyi, heir to the Prince of Zhennan, guarded a secret as though walking on thin ice. She was actually the prince's biological younger sister, and had willingly disguised herself as a man to take her missing brother's place as a hostage in the capital. Fu Guiyi 45.1kFavorites73.9kClicks/ch9.6kGifts

    Curator note

    This is a heterosexual romance, and the male lead is also a jerk who single-handedly turns a potentially mutually affectionate relationship into one of forced possession, transforming his identity from a savior of his brother into a conman.

22. 22 卑 The Vile Lover [Coercive Possession] 卑劣情人[强取豪夺] Green Coconut Fairy Zongzi绿椰仙粽Romance569k WordsCompleted [My new neighboring novel, Above the Palm of Your Hand, is now out! Come on over and grab a bite (๑⃙⃘´༥`๑⃙⃘) 𐂐] ◆ Womanizer x abstinent, fatherly type ◆ Old flames reignited / powerful man bows his head / prefers mixed-race women / height difference / “brothers getting along” “They say all good boys go to heaven, But bad boys bring heaven to you.” (They say good boys go to heaven. But bad boys will make you see stars.) 01/ Lawrence first met Shen Yutang at a distinguished guests’ dinner he hos 39.9kFavorites29kClicks/ch17.9kGifts

    Curator note

    I rarely read modern novels about forced marriages and dowries anymore, but this one is truly a case of "if only we had met!" The ex-husband lost because he didn't have a younger brother who knew how to fight and grab [doge emoji]. However, the extra chapters have been updated with an "if" storyline involving one wife and multiple husbands, which I haven't read yet. This is really tempting! [Thumbs up emoji]

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