A folk song about the noble lady Xia Chenyan spread among the people: "Lady Xia's beauty surpasses the world." Even the young emperor had heard of it. During the imperial selection, Xia Chenyan tried to escape. The emperor, however, waited patiently until she appeared and chose her. People said, "Xia Chenyan may be beautiful, but she is not gentle enough. The emperor rules the world; he will never favor a woman like her." Yet the emperor flipped her token at the very first attempt. For half a month, he stayed in her palace every night. Whispers spread, "The Xia family is already too powerful. To maintain balance, the emperor will not favor her for long. At most, she can only become a consort." But the emperor made Xia Chenyan empress. He dismissed all other palace women and decreed that no more consorts would be chosen. The entire nation was stunned. Few knew that before the coronation, the emperor lowered his gaze and personally tied the ribbons on her ceremonial gown. "Chenyan," he whispered. "Yes?" she replied. "Don't leave me." A Blatant favoritism, open indulgence. And so, this entire Imperial City bowed at her feet, swearing allegiance to her.

It was said that Yu Hanshen, the sovereign of the illustrious Yu family, was a man of solemn demeanor-upright, austere, and indifferent to women. Si Tong had believed so as well. Even when her heart raced and her face burned under his gaze, she convinced herself it was nothing but her own overactive imagination. After all, he was a decade her senior, a figure of authority, her elder-moreover, the former fiancé of her nephew. Yet, on a fateful night, when the man trapped her in his embrace, his calloused fingers trailing brazenly along her skin, she finally realized-she had stepped into the lion's den. Before meeting Yu Hanshen, Si Tong had been nothing more than an abandoned child, a girl whose father was unknown and whose mother had cast her aside. But after crossing paths with him, she became the cherished treasure of the wealthiest family in the nation. Madam Yu declared, "Tongtong is the beloved daughter-in-law of our family."

Zhong Yang, as a little unlucky in the entertainment industry whose scandals are more popular than her works, originally planned to use money to terminate the contract in exchange for freedom, but unexpectedly, she accidentally provoked Pei Yunzheng, a powerful boss in the imperial capital. Zhong Yang was terrified, thinking that he was going to ban her, take her away, humiliate her, persecute her, and even... well, she didn't need to worry. This cold Pei not only invited her to dinner, gave her a place to live, helped her clean up, and sent her resources... but he was also a pure love brain!

There are three treasures in the imperial city: Me, my husband and my mother-in-law. Su Guifei¹ was favored and envied by countless imperial consorts in the harem. Chen Wang² grew up with His Majesty showing favoritism to him. However, anyone, who was more or less educated, would sigh with regret and say that this pair of mother and son were sure to come to a bad end in the future. Ming Jiuzhu, who was about to marry Chen Wang: Really? I don't believe it. Chen Wang in Jiuzhu's eyes: a beautiful and kindhearted little fairy boy vs. Chen Wang in the eyes of others: His Majesty and his favored consort's hedonistic son. Jiuzhu often wondered why people always gazed at her and Chen Wang with a 'you are doomed one way or another' look. Could this be the ugly side of jealousy? Aiyah, the hearts of these people are so dirty. ----- ¹ Guifei - Noble Consort ² Wang - Title given to adult sons of the Emperor. For Offline Reading Purposes Only

In her past life, Yu Lingxi fell from grace and was forced to marry the Regent Prince, Ning Yin. The man was breathtakingly handsome yet crippled, cruel and paranoid, a murderer of his own kin. What she feared most was the moment he would smile with blood on his hands and call softly, "Lingxi, come here." Two years after the wedding, Yu Lingxi died suddenly. After her death, Ning Yin held no funeral, set no mourning hall. Instead, he lost what little reason he had left and drowned the capital in blood. --- When she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the age of fifteen, still the highborn daughter of a powerful general's household, while Ning Yin had yet to become the ruthless regent who ruled above all. Fueled by hatred, she set out to find and planning to teach him a painful lesson as payback for her past life. But when she saw him pinned down in the mud, about to have his leg broken, she realized how pitiful his past truly was. Instead of hurting him, she saved him. With no other choice, Yu Lingxi took the pitiful boy in and tried to raise him into a kind, upright young man. Yet as time passed, his eyes grew darker and more possessive, as if hiding something dangerous beneath. --- His POV: At his lowest, Ning Yin was no better than a stray dog, until Yu Lingxi found him, brought him light. He cleaned his hands of blood, restrained his claws, and tried to become the man she wished for. But just when he thought he could finally keep her, she smiled gently and said, "You've grown into a learned and virtuous man. You should return to the palace and claim your title, Your Highness. I have to prepare for my wedding." The warmth drained from his face. The jade hairpin he had meant to gift her pierced into his palm, drawing blood that dripped down his fingers. He laughed as he placed the blood-stained ornament in her hair, voice hoarse and trembling on the edge of madness. "Then let this life of mine be my wedding gift to you."

Qi Cunxin was only a fire-tending maid in the Eastern Ling residence. Day after day, she crouched by the smoky stove, her face and hands covered in ash. Life was dull, money was always tight, and the little copper coins she earned never seemed enough. To survive, she secretly worked outside, washing clothes for courtesans at the pleasure house. It was exhausting work, but it gave her a few extra coins to hide away. Then one day, her life changed. In the back courtyard of the flower house, she saw him. A beautiful young man locked in an iron cage. His face was pale, his breath weak, his life hanging by a thread. The madam who had bought him already despised him, calling him useless and a waste of money. Qi Cunxin was sitting on a stool, scrubbing clothes. When she lifted her head, her eyes met his. His gaze was so bright and beautiful that she forgot to breathe. That day, she emptied the little silver she had saved for so long. She bought him, and carried him back to the residence. From then on, he became hers. He was quiet, gentle, always following her like a shadow. He smiled sweetly, clung to her with every step, and looked at her as though she was his entire world. More than that, he was impossibly handsome. Qi Cunxin swore that one day, when she was free, she would marry him. But she never guessed the truth. Xie Miao once thought the most exciting thing in life was watching people's final struggles before death, or stepping on them with power. Until he met her. For the first time, he wanted to pretend: to act pure and flawless, like snow in spring or willows in the wind. At first, it was just a game: to toy with her innocent heart. Yet in the end, the one who was captured... was him. --- ML: Cold and ruthless in public, but in private a spoiled, clingy and obedient. (Obsessed and possessive) FL: Kind and adorable.

Princess Xue Junyi was born with snow-pale skin and flowerlike beauty, gifted with grace and intelligence. Yet she was never favored by the emperor, and after falling victim to her jealous sister's schemes, her legs were crippled and she was left bound to a wheelchair. The proud and untouchable beauty of the past was now trapped within the high palace walls. Xue Junyi's heart sank into despair. Until that day, when she entered the Second Princess's chambers and saw the boy. He was covered in blood, tortured until his body was on the verge of breaking. Half-hidden behind the bed curtains, he knelt in pain upon the mattress, enduring to his very limit. Yet even then, he only bit his lip, refusing to make a sound. When the soft grind of wheels crossed the threshold, he looked up in fear. A pair of trembling eyes, like shattered jade, met the cool gaze of Xue Junyi. Later, Xue Junyi thought: She and Wu Lang were the same. Both were the ones never chosen. If she was destined never to stand again, then at least, she would help this pitiful boy nearly destroyed-stand tall, and walk the road she could not. "To be loved is to grow flesh and blood anew. She, and her little wolfdog, both will." *** Note: This novel contains dark themes. Read with caution.

As Crown Princess, Wen Tingwan was the palace's laughingstock. People whispered that she was so obsessed with the Crown Prince that she bartered away a priceless heirloom just to marry him, humiliating herself with endless foolishness yet never once winning his affection. But one day, after falling into the water and waking up, she realized something: she no longer loved him. Looking back, her former devotion seemed absurd. So what if he never spared her a glance? So what if he never summoned her? Wasn't tending flowers, sipping tea, and enjoying the moonlight far sweeter? That same day, Crown Prince Jing Zhan awoke to a startling change his mind was filled with nothing but Wen Tingwan. He had despised her, yet now every smile and frown of hers seemed unbearably charming. Very well, perhaps he should indulge her a little. Except-why was she suddenly avoiding him as though he were poison? When he finally ordered her to his bedchamber, she sent word back: she was unwell. Enraged, he stormed to her quarters, seized her hand, and asked tenderly, "My love, where does it hurt? Shall I call the physician?" Wen Tingwan: ...Call him to treat your head. Go away! Months later, the love-swapping spell that bound them was undone. Jing Zhan thought she would cling to him again. Instead, she only smiled calmly: "Your Highness, rest assured. I will never trouble you again." For the first time in his life, panic struck. Even without the spell, he could not let her go. Servants soon saw the once-proud Crown Prince pinning his wife against a wall, his voice trembling with desperation: "Wen Tingwan, what must I do for you to forgive me?" Note: 1. Entire story is "chasing wife to the crematorium" trope. 2. At first, the Crown Prince's feelings were manipulated, but he was still a scoundrel. Later, he falls for her genuinely. 3. The spell only swapped their feelings for each other, not their personalities, intelligence, or memories.

Wei Ying lost her memory, but at least she still had a husband who seemed perfect in every way. Xie Lin was tall, handsome, and decisive in public-yet behind closed doors, he was gentle, attentive, and full of charm, even more alluring than the men described in romantic tales. Later, when her memories returned, she slapped him across the face in front of everyone. After they separated, Wei Ying thought that would be the end of it-he would go back to being the untouchable noble heir, and she would return home to live freely and happily. She never expected him to keep pursuing her. One moment, he stood at the hunting grounds, dazzling in his fine clothes and commanding presence; the next, he avoided the crowd, bent his tall frame before her, and took her hand to press it against his cheek. Like a proud yet easily tamed beast, he said softly, almost pleading, "Hit me." - Xie Lin had been scolded by Wei Ying countless times. At first, he thought it was because she despised him. Later, he realized she didn't only scold him when she was angry. She did it when she was being affectionate too-sometimes even when she was feeling good. The worst part was that he enjoyed it. - Notes: 1. A proud young noble who willingly becomes a lovesick fool × a spoiled, straightforward girl who's an expert at "training" her man. 2. Heavy on romance, with a long teasing and flirtation phase, lighthearted and drama-free. 3. The male lead doesn't enjoy being scolded-he just loves the female lead, so he enjoys everything she does, even when she's bossy or sulky. 4. The story shows both perspectives: not only the heroine's feelings but also the male lead's lovestruck, head-over-heels point of view.

Yin Lanying ended her own life in front of whom she used to love, now hating him and her half-twin sisters for executing her eldest sister and adoptive elder brother for her false infidelity and crimes. However it may be, the thought of revenge was never set into motion after going back through the time before she became the Empress of the Yang Kingdom. There were changes unfamiliar to her and new destinies awaited for her return. Just what was it that made everything she knew becoming a lie all along? ---- My first Ancient Eastern novel(or is it?~) And I'll try my best. Book cover made with photo manipulation and original art belongs to rightful owner. [DISCONTINUED]