The Concubine's Daughter's Marriage Scheme: The Hanlin Scholar's Heart is Moved

Shen Yuan was the least favored daughter of the Shen family. Her birth mother had died early, her stepmother was harsh and unkind, and her father treated her as if she were invisible. The Shen family had long since made their plans: they would marry her off as a second wife to a forty-year-old wealthy merchant, and use the entire betrothal gift to add to her legitimate sister's dowry. Xie Huaijin was the most upright gentleman of the Xie family. At only twenty-three, he already held the rank of fifth-rank scholar in the Hanlin Academy. He kept himself pure and never went near women. Rumor had it that he kept someone from his past hidden in his heart, and would likely remain alone for the re...