Marrying My Stepsister's Fiéancé

(Arranged marriage then love, sweet, 1v1, happy ending)

Cui Lingyan is an unfavored legitimate daughter of the marquis mansion. Due to her birth chart, her biological mother sent her to live permanently at her maternal family's home. Unlike her, her stepsister Cui Linghui, born to the first madam, has been pampered since childhood. Even the mother who treats her coldly shows endless affection to this stepdaughter, treating her like her own daughter. She has envied Cui Linghui since childhood, feeling that heaven truly favors her.

Later, while at her maternal home, she heard that Cui Linghui had a good marriage prospect. Her future brother-in-law is Lu Bingzhi, the heir of Duke Wei, whose mother is the late Princess Shuning. His status is noble, elegant like a jade tree orchid. She thought once again that heaven treats this stepsister so well. Could it be that the stepsister did good deeds in her previous life, so heaven granted her such a fine marriage?

Cui Lingyan thought this in her heart, but she knew the matter had nothing to do with her. Even if she was brought back to the capital and met Lu Bingzhi, this future brother-in-law, she would only politely call him brother-in-law. One is in the mud, the other in the clouds. A man of such noble status could only be aspired to by Cui Linghui.

However, Cui Lingyan did not expect that Cui Linghui's marriage would go wrong. After the palace and the marquis mansion weighed their interests, this marriage unexpectedly fell on her. Lu Bingzhi, whom she thought she would never dare to marry in her lifetime, actually became her husband.

She wore a red wedding dress into Duke Wei's mansion, but deep down, she did not believe she could be the heir's wife for life. This was because she harbored a secret: on the way to the capital, she had a dream revealing Lu Bingzhi's true identity as the emperor's own son, destined to become the crown prince in the future. Someone of her status, even as his principal wife now, would surely be discarded later.

Hiding such thoughts, she told herself not to develop improper feelings. What she wanted was not Lu Bingzhi's heart, but through being sensible, obedient, and dutiful, to earn a bit of his favor. That way, when he was recognized back into the palace and became the crown prince, he would at least leave her a way to live.

On the wedding day, she pleaded with him: "If I am dutiful and care for the heir with devotion, might the heir one day agree to one request from me?"

Under the flickering red candlelight, the young woman's eyes were like autumn waters, gazing into the man's eyes with a mix of plea and unease, as if awaiting a judgment of fate.

Their eyes met. Lu Bingzhi, usually cool and somewhat indifferent, suddenly felt a softening in his heart. He thought, what could an inner residence woman possibly ask for? Just granting her some dignity. Considering she was married to him merely as a pawn, he nodded in agreement.

"Good."

Cui Lingyan felt relieved and worked hard to be a good heir's wife and Lu Bingzhi's spouse, believing he would soften toward her because of this.

But she did not expect that by being this heir's wife, she would step by step enter the Eastern Palace as crown princess, and finally enter Kunning Palace to become the noble empress.

Content tags: Rebirth, light-hearted daily life, arranged marriage then love

Cui Lingyan, Lu Bingzhi, Cui Linghui

Other: Inner residence, palace, marquis

One-sentence summary: The fiancé my stepsister doesn't want, I'll take.

Theme: Learn to love yourself.