Seeking a Better Match: I Refuse to Be the Heir Apparent's Wife

[Pure historical romance + no rekindling after a breakup + regretful pursuit + second male lead wins]

Shen Youyan is the daughter of a low-ranking official, a woman of humble birth who, by a twist of fate, marries Lu Biechen, heir to the Marquis of Xuanping, and becomes his wife.

Everyone says she has been blessed beyond measure, but she has hardships she cannot speak of.

Lu Biechen is in love with Yun Yao, the late daughter of a Grand Tutor. For her sake, he refuses to touch Shen Youyan throughout their three years of marriage and treats her with utter coldness.

She has admired Lu Biechen since childhood and firmly believes that sincere devotion can melt even a heart of steel.

But just as she is finally beginning to warm his heart, Yun Yao returns from the dead. Having lost her memories, she moves into the Lu residence without a care in the world.

From then on, Yun Yao is all Lu Biechen can see.

When bandits abduct Shen Youyan, she cries out to Lu Biechen for help, but he resolutely watches her fall off a cliff for Yun Yao's sake.

She barely survives at the bottom of the cliff and finally understands that his heart is as hard as iron. She must stop clinging to false hope.

She presents him with the divorce papers, but Lu Biechen regrets it. He locks her in a secret chamber like a madman and says in a hoarse voice, every word deliberate: “A Yan, in this life, the only way you can leave me is over my dead body.”

Without hesitation, Shen Youyan stabs Lu Biechen and escapes without wasting a moment.

Later, Lu Biechen humbly begs Shen Youyan to look at him just once more.

The new Prince of Jing, rumored to be cold-blooded and ruthless, steps forward slowly and wraps an arm around Shen Youyan's waist. Frowning, he asks, “What mad dog is barking here and disturbing my wife's peace?”