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The Empress He Could Not Replace

You were sent here to be forgotten. Instead, you've made yourself impossible to lose. Lady Xu Lianhua never expected to be chosen for anything least of all marriage to the most powerful man in the empire. She's the illegitimate daughter, the family disgrace, the beautiful mistake her father's wife pretends doesn't exist. When the Imperial summons arrives demanding a bride from the prestigious Xu family, everyone knows it should be her legitimate half-sister, Xu Mingzhu the golden daughter, beloved and perfect in every way. But Mingzhu is in love with someone else. And desperate families make cruel choices. On the eve of the wedding, Lianhua is drugged, dressed in her sister's red bridal robes, and sent to the Imperial Palace as a substitute. The plan is simple: once the marriage is consummated, the Emperor will discover the deception and discard her. Mingzhu will be free to marry her lover. Lianhua will be exiled or worse and the family's honor somehow preserved through this twisted logic. Except no one anticipated the Emperor himself. Emperor Shen Yuzhi is a living legenda warrior who claimed the throne at sixteen through blood and brilliance, who crushed three rebellions before his twentieth birthday, whose cold beauty is matched only by his ruthless reputation. They say he has no heart. That he married for politics, not love, and expects nothing from his Empress but silence and an heir. He knows about the substitution the moment he lifts her veil. He sees the fear in her eyes, the drug still clouding her system, the desperate way she tries to hide her terror. He should have her family executed for this insult. Instead, he offers her a choice: Stay and be my Empress in truth, or leave tonight with enough gold to disappear forever. Lianhua, with nothing to lose and nowhere to go, chooses to stay. She expects neglect. Coldness. To be a decorative ghost in the palace, useful only for producing heirs. What she doesn't expect is to be summoned to the Emperor's study three nights later not to his bed, but to his war council. Or for him to slide a stack of military reports across the table and ask: What do you see? Growing up invisible taught Lianhua to observe everything. To read between lies, spot patterns in chaos, understand the games people play when they think no one's watching. She spent years in her father's library, devouring strategy texts and historical records no one thought a daughter should read. And now, with nothing left to fear, she tells the Emperor exactly what she sees: the border conflict isn't random raid sit's a coordinated invasion. The merchants requesting tariff reductions are funding rebels. The peace envoy from the Western Kingdom is an assassin.
agathaaregu676 · 7.5k Views

Not Official Yet Yours

In a world where kindness is mistaken for weakness, Darielle Highmore learns that not every friend wishes her well. A quiet, hardworking lady at a bakery, Darielle dreams of building a better life despite the shadows of her past — a near assault in high school that shattered her trust in people. Just as she begins to heal, she catches the attention of Alexander Wright, a gentle yet ambitious man competing for the CEO position in his father’s company. Their growing closeness stirs hope in Darielle’s heart… and sparks deadly jealousy in another. Her supposed friend, Sheila Scott, cannot stand to see Darielle have what she’s always wanted — the madam’s praise, Alexander’s affection, and genuine peace. Together with Frank Thompson, a selfish and manipulative ally, Sheila plots to ruin Darielle’s life by using her deepest desire — a new job — as a weapon. But revenge has a price, and soon a gunshot shatters everything. Sheila lies in her own blood, leaving Darielle trapped in a web of blackmail, deceit, and fear. Haunted by a mysterious assault and convinced Mr. Bruks was the culprit, Darielle spirals into guilt and shame — unaware that darker truths are being buried around her. With Frank Thompson, Sheila’s secret ally, manipulating events from the shadows, Darielle must find the courage to face her trauma, uncover the truth, and decide whether love — and forgiveness — are still worth believing in. As Alexander fights to protect his reputation and win her trust, and secrets threaten to destroy them both, Darielle realizes that sometimes the greatest battle is not against others — but against the pain we hide within.
Ami_Writes · 11k Views

My Billionaire Husband is My Lecturer

[Mature content] [WSA 2022] || Vol 1-3 END "So, you are, my lecturer?" Audia asked as the two of them were on their way in Alvin's private car. Alvin cleared his throat once. "Yes, that is so." "No wonder I feel like I know your face," said Audia, matching her memory. "What do you teach, huh?" "Architecture." Audia nodded her head while her mouth formed an 'o' shape. 'Uh? .... Wait ... what?' Suddenly the nerves of her brain suppress the memory in the hippocampus. "Mr. Mandala?" Audia asked for sure. Which immediately got a nod from Alvin. "No way!" Audia screamed in disbelief. Her eyes narrowed at Alvin. "Why?" asked Alvin in surprise. A Mandala H, that's what Audia remembers when the new lecturer introduced himself when he first taught. Wearing a plaid shirt, smooth hair, neatly slicked back, glasses always perched on his sharp nose. Came with a bag containing his laptop and a textbook for teaching. Lecturer arrogant, pretentious cool, stingy smile, flat face, killer. Very different from Alvin who is now her husband. Unexpectedly 'that Mr. Mandala' and Alvin—her husband, turned out to be the same person. 'That annoying person turned out to be my husband?' she thought. 'Oh noooooo!' * * ******* ** The bride-to-be suddenly withdrew from the marriage due to an arranged marriage. Then run away and the news is not known. The groom-to-be was left speechless in front of the invited guests. Worry for a moment. Canceling the marriage contract or looking for an impromptu replacement bride. Until his eyes caught a woman in a white dress sitting among the invited guests. The other ones were students at his campus where he had just taught. As a substitute teacher. How will the story of their marriage continue? Will the seeds of love grow between these two strangers? With a myriad of question marks in the bride's heart, why was she chosen among the many other single women who were also present at the grand wedding of the son of one of Indonesia's well-known real estate entrepreneurs. cover: www.freepik.com === DON'T FORGET, A 5 STAR REVIEW YES! THANK YOU
Serenity_Lee · 366.1k Views

Substitute Marriage: Reborn As The Top Big-Shot

[Number one romance novel in the universe—face slapping, scum-torturing, power couple!] Isabella Thompson, who was abandoned in a village was suddenly brought home by her rich parents. Her father: You are different from your sister. She has a bright future ahead and is destined to be a phoenix who would soar the skies! There's no way she would marry a cripple! You are getting off easy here! Her mother: The Yu family is rich and powerful. Standing in for your sister in marriage is your food fortune! Know what's good for you! Theodore Yu used to be a famous prodigy, but lost his glow after a car accident and didn't even make it to high school. With one being a poor village bumpkin and the other a well-known piece of trash, they were a match for each other. But while everyone was waiting for Miss Thompson to make a fool of herself, she and that piece of trash appeared at a banquet where big shots gathered. Isabella Thompson: I came to work as a waitress. Theodore Yu: What a coincidence, I'm here to work part-time as well. Hence, everyone watched as they carried trays around for the whole night. *** On the day of their marriage, every important figure in the capital attended. Big Shot One: I'll help make arrangements for Mr. Yu's grand wedding! Big Shot Two: Welcome back to the capital, Miss Thompson! Big Shot Three:... Seeing those big shots who persistently made headlines, Grace Thompson was filled with regretful tears.
Deutsche Unforgotten · 4m Views