Pregnant with Her Ex–Husband’s Elder Brother’s Child

The talented, vivid beauty × the iceberg–cold, abstinent noble heir

Su Li was betrothed to the second young master of the aristocratic Cui clan, Cui Ming, since they were children.

Because of this marriage, she had always moved in and out of the great gates of the Cui family. She was clever and adorable, pleasing the old and young of the household—yet only the eldest son, Cui Jue, treated her with icy detachment. No matter how diligently she curried favor, he remained unmoved and even forbade her from approaching his living quarters, the Shuyue Pavilion.

Until the day she was finally wedded into the Cui family… and Cui Ming died on their wedding night.

Pitiful Su Li became a widow while still a virgin.

The Cui family cherished her; to give the lovely widow someone to rely upon, they asked the eldest son, Cui Jue, to "inherit both branches" and provide her with a child to secure her future.

Su Li knew full well that Cui Jue disliked her and assumed he would refuse outright—yet the servant returned with an invitation for her to come to Shuyue Pavilion, for Cui Jue had given a single-word answer: "Agreed."

The Eastern Wu Cui, a clan of towering power. Their heir, Cui Jue, is spotless in conduct and dazzling in intellect; everyone believes that under his leadership the family will remain illustrious for another century. Such a lofty, jade-like eldest son is revered by all, and no one dares transgress him.

But the young sister-in-law is pitiable and wants to remain chaste for her dead husband. The Cui, who watched her grow up, can’t bear it. In two years Cui Jue will in any case marry; rather than let some serving-girl benefit, why not offer this kindness to the widowed Su Li and leave her with a son or daughter?

Fortunately Cui Jue, out of consideration for his late brother, pondered for a long time and finally consented.

Su Li understands that Cui Jue is indifferent to women. Each encounter is a transaction: he never kisses her, never caresses her; once done he leaves without a backward glance. She knows her place—after she conceives she will stay far away and trouble him no more.

But nearly a year passes and no pregnancy comes.

Then one day, desperate to escape the clan, she feigns pregnancy, saying she needs to spend her confinement in the countryside. Yet on the very day she abandons her carriage and flees, Cui Jue leads troops to surround her. Blocking her path, his phoenix eyes icy and terrifying, he grips her chin and demands:

"I have taken contraceptive decoctions—so tell me, whose bastard is in your belly?"

Reading notes: very strong flavor; male lead is extremely "dog". If you can’t accept such tastes, read cautiously and respect differing preferences. 1. Both leads are virgins; contains forced love + frosty noble goes yandere + lots of melodrama. 2. The first husband is dead for good—this is simply a widow marrying her former brother-in-law. 3. Fictional dynasty; 90% anti-theft. 4. Only the double-virgin guarantee is certain; other tropes come unfiltered. Proceed with caution.