Still, his cautious nature had been helpful. However, she couldn’t know how long such protection would last.
“If Ariana causes another problem, Father will sever ties with me. It’s easier to cut ties than to keep solving these troublesome issues.”
Being the daughter of the Western Emperor, there were many perks. Even if he severed ties with her, she wouldn’t be completely free of his influence.
“I must avoid being severed at all costs.”
Rachel recalled Ariana, who had been woeful throughout the trial.
She wanted to strangle Ariana, who had been working to bring her down, but she had to restrain herself for now.
She had to act the part of a perfect mother to ensure Ariana couldn’t escape.
+++
Ariana stayed up all night, staring into the void.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t come up with a solution to her current situation.
The Bronthe mansion was relatively liberal. However, she had no opportunity to move freely under the surveillance of the Western Emperor.
“I wonder what the Northern Emperor would have done?”
She didn’t know why he crossed her mind at that moment.
But she felt Cyrus would have coolly resolved even such a moment.
“Was the Northern Emperor ever in a situation where he couldn’t see anything?”
After the previous Northern Emperor and his wife died, the North fell into chaos. To escape a faction that wanted to dethrone him, Cyrus had to leave the North.
Suddenly, a conversation they had shared in a cave crossed her mind.
“Your eyes always shine with desperation. I’ve seen such eyes in one other person.”
When asked who that was, he pointed to himself.
Ariana had these eyes because she had been thoroughly used, abandoned, and died. That meant Cyrus also lived a life as desperate as Ariana’s.
The noble Northern Emperor didn’t just happen overnight.
“He overcame that desperation and brilliantly reclaimed the North. He must have faced situations even more challenging than what I’m going through now.”
Light returned to her clouded eyes.
“I can find a way, too. I can’t crumble at just this.”
Ariana looked at the food that had been sitting on the table. The food that the maids brought last night. She shoved the stale food into her mouth and chewed slowly.
“Think, Ariana. You can’t stop thinking just because it’s dark.”
Ariana stared at the fork and knife she was holding. When she entered, Seojehoo had ordered the maids to meticulously search her body, so all the daggers she had been carrying were confiscated.
The fork and knife were dull, but not to the point where they couldn’t inflict wounds.
“I’m not afraid of the wounds on my body. What I’m more afraid of is being dragged away as a captive without being able to do anything.”
Taking advantage of the moment the maids turned their eyes away, Ariana tucked the fork and knife between the sofa cushions. Then, with both arms, she swept the table clean.
Crash!
The dishes that had been set fell to the floor, breaking into pieces with a loud noise. The maids were startled and approached.
“Let me go!”
Ariana shouted.
“Let me go! I want to go back! I’m not supposed to be here! Let me go! Please!”
The maids were taken aback by Ariana, who had until now been behaving demurely like a doll. They grabbed Ariana by both arms and called for a servant to clean up the broken dishes.
The servants, busy cleaning amidst the commotion, did not notice the fork and knife had disappeared.
“It’s done.”
Even after the servants left the room, Ariana kept struggling and screaming.
At that moment, the door opened and Seojehoo entered.
Seojehoo frowned, visibly displeased, and glared at Ariana.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Please let me go. I beg you. I will never say anything detrimental to Your Highness Seojehoo. I will never open my mouth. So please… please let me go. Okay?”
“Hmm…”
“Please save me, Your Highness.”
Although Ariana pleaded with tears in her eyes, Seojehoo continued to scrutinize her without any change in expression. While his cold eyes were focused on her face, Ariana continued to scream and beg.
Seojehoo’s eyes narrowed.
“Why the sudden whining like a child? What are you hiding?”
Seojehoo signaled the knights with a nod. The knights who had been guarding the door came in and thoroughly searched the room while Seojehoo ordered the maids to search Ariana again.
As she was dragged into the bedroom and subjected to a rough body search, Ariana clenched her teeth and glared at the door.
“The knights shouldn’t find it.”
When the search ended and she left the bedroom, the knights had already left the room.
“Did they find it?”
Seojehoo’s expression, as he quietly observed Ariana, was unreadable. Seojehoo slowly walked towards Ariana.
As Seojehoo got closer, Ariana felt as if she were being crushed by a massive mountain. The Third Prince and Seojehoo, the two towering pillars Ariana had to overcome in this lifetime.
Stopping in front of Ariana, Seojehoo bent down to match her eye level. Fixing his shimmering blue eyes on her, Seojehoo said,
“You must want to escape, Ariana. You must be hoping for a good opportunity. Right?”
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.]
