The Bewitching Beauty of His Concubine, While the Powerful Minister Only Wants to Take Her to His Bed

When Fu Tan was a singsong girl in Yangzhou, she had no choice but to become Pei Suqing's kept woman for a year.

She didn't know what rank he held in the government. She only knew that he was measured in his conduct, eloquent in conversation, never showed his emotions, and never once overstepped the bounds of propriety.

Throughout that year, he sent her room a steady stream of pearls, jade, and silks. He also taught her to read and write, to reason and discern right from wrong, giving her the knowledge and confidence to stand on her own in the world.

Yet when Pei Suqing was promoted and transferred away from Yangzhou, he made the unprecedented decision to take her back to the capital and make her his concubine.

But Fu Tan never wanted to be anyone's concubine. She had had no choice before, but now the jewelry and shops she'd saved up over the past year were enough to keep her comfortable for the rest of her life.

She wanted to run away, but she had no strength or allies, and feared that if the truth came out, she would anger this powerful lord.

Just then, her birth parents found her, and a fire burned away her past in Yangzhou.

From then on, she was the fourth young lady of the Earl of Zhongyi's household, lost to them in childhood. She read and studied, and met prospective husbands, just like every other highborn young lady.

Even if she married as a legitimate wife in the future, she would never again have to bow her head or curry favor.

Now of marriageable age, Fu Tan set her sights on the sixth son of the Duke's household. He was no great talent, but he was gentle and well-mannered. She thought they could treat each other with respect and live a peaceful life together.

That was until the six rites had been completed, the wedding date had been chosen, and the wedding day was drawing near. The Pei and Ye families went together to a temple to pray.

Amid the curling incense, she lifted her eyes and saw a familiar figure standing beside her fiance. It was the man who had tangled with her night after night in Yangzhou... Mr. Pei?