Celina seemed unsatisfied with Ilaiyd’s lukewarm response. At least a change in complexion was expected, but the Empress stood unflappable as a marble statue.
“Empress, I have a request.”
“Yes, Queen?”
“Don’t give your heart too much to the Emperor.”
A life where love is everything easily crumbles. Heart and trust between people can shatter in an instant.
Celina set down her scissors and subtly covered her mouth, a slight smirk lifting the corners of her lips.
“Oh, Empress, are you…jealous?”
A coy shadow fell beneath Celina’s eyelashes. It was a needless worry. Ilaiyd let out a frivolous laugh.
“Jealousy? If only such a feeling remained.”
Reaching for a blooming rose, Ilaiyd brushed against the thorns, leaving a red scratch on her tender skin.
Her scissors sliced through the rose stem without hesitation. The crisp snip echoed chillingly.
‘If only one could cut away a person’s heart like this.’ She would hand Claudius the scissors right away, telling him to cut off those maddened emotions. But could they even be termed emotions?
Ilaiyd placed the freshly cut rose into Celina’s basket. The vibrant fragrance of roses lingered around them.
“Sadly, the heart isn’t eternal. It can be severed in an instant, so be cautious.”
After the brief warning, only the bitter scent of the severed rose stem lingered. Alone in the garden, Celina muttered under her breath, biting her lip’s end.
“So unlucky.”
Ilaiyd, reflecting on the past, was just like those noble ladies from the capital she once admired. Beautiful, yes, but her true shine came from her grace and dignity – attributes Celina could never attain, despite her efforts. An innate aura made Ilaiyd seem more enigmatic.
‘Why does envy always accompany inadequacy?’ Celina tried shaking off the clinging sense of inferiority. She knew too well that baseless jealousy only makes one ugly.
Yet, what consumed her was a gnawing envy. If she couldn’t reach up to someone’s level, she would rather drag them down – her first lesson from the capital’s social circle.
Ilaiyd’s basket wasn’t as full as expected. She had neither the time to ponder whom to think of while picking flowers nor the energy to indulge in further conversation with Celina.
Pulling someone from the shadows of love into the light was never simple. Ilaiyd wished to offer Celina a way out of Claudius’s grasp, but Celina seemed to refuse it herself.
A part of her envied that. Does having love instill such reckless courage to offer everything for the beloved? Even so, Claudius wasn’t worth that much. Ilaiyd shook her head and hurried back to the Empress’s palace.
**
Claudius returned to the palace. Yet, there was no sign of Rebel or the mercenaries anywhere.
Was their contract over with Rosen? Surprised, Ilaiyd calmed her racing heart. Perhaps the mercenaries had directly returned to their original station.
The war with Rosen had not dragged on as expected, and Claudius’s usual approach of leaving a conquered land in ruins seemed to have changed. A shift in his sentiments, maybe?
But now, other matters took precedence. Dressed in black mourning attire, Ilaiyd headed to the hospital where the bodies of the fallen soldiers lay, intending to console their families as well.
The palace was abuzz. It seemed Celina and Claudius had encountered each other. Celina’s cries of joy at seeing Claudius safe made Ilaiyd’s head throb.
“Your Majesty, I’m so, so relieved you’re safe…”
“Yes… It’s been a long time since we embraced.”
Claudius murmured quietly, holding the weeping Celina. He glanced towards Ilaiyd’s direction. Celina, with her face buried in his chest, sobbing, was oblivious to where his gaze landed.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
