Hollow Ascension - Chapter 119: The Resistance Within

The journey of a generation’s male empress started because of four words.

“Send a dowry escort.”

During the 19th year of Yuanqing, Qi Yunruo boarded a carriage and entered through a corner door of the second prince’s estate. Then, across the watery corridor, he gazed at the prince from afar.

Notes:

For aristocratic women in imperial China to marry into a family part of the upper nobility, they must be of the legitimate line and must also have an escort/dowry maid that married into that family. That escort would be a “ying” (媵) and could be considered a concubine.

- Description from Novelupdates

As soon as Luo Yan graduated, he immediately got an offer from a prestigious gaming company. He thought all his hard work finally paid off. And he would finally reach the pinnacle of life. But then, on his first day of work, a potted plant fell on his head and he died.Surprisingly, when he thought he would cross the Yellow River, he suddenly woke up and found himself in the body of a 17 year old boy. This body had the same name as him but completely different background. Because the original was the second young master of the Luo family - one of the most powerful family in S City.Luo Yan almost cried. God probably took pity on him and decided to give him a loving family with a wealthy background. He didn't have to work hard anymore. Studying like his life depended on it and pretending to be a holy father just to cater to people.So Luo Yan decided to be a salted fish and just shamelessly sell meng.A certain male god who always bought Luo Yan's meng: Yan Yan is so cute! Why is Yan Yan so cute??Cold faced on the outside, a cinammon roll on the inside Gong X Super beautiful, black-belly Shou.Cover art by Revereine

Alex Jin was just another overworked nobody until a truck crash sent him into the body of Valerian Nightshade—the cold-blooded villain from a popular fantasy novel. Destined to die early as the stepping stone for the “hero,” Valerian was powerful, rich, and feared… but ultimately doomed.That is, until the Villain Evolution System activated.Now, every villainous act rewards Alex with unimaginable power. Crush a rival? +100 Strength. Manipulate a noble house? Unlock a rare bloodline. Kiss the heroine meant for the hero? Well... let’s just say the rewards aren’t all measured in stats.To survive, Alex must outwit plot armor, bend fate, and ascend to the throne of power in a world that expects him to lose. But the deeper he goes, the more he realizes—being the villain might be the only way to save this twisted world.This time, the villain won’t die early. He’ll rewrite the story, one ruthless step at a time.

“I’ll clear your mother’s debt entirely. In return, you’ll marry me.”“Are you out of your mind? Do you really think I’d agree to such an absurd proposal?”“Possibly. But it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. You keep your shop, and I get what I need.”“And what exactly is it that you need?”“That’s none of your concern. All you need to know is that this deal benefits both of us.”Two years ago, Lunara entered a marriage she never wanted. Desperate to save her mother’s flower shop, she was cornered by Eryx, a man with a hidden agenda. With no other choice, she agreed, and found herself bound to him in a transaction of convenience—he needed something from her, and she needed him to prevent her world from falling apart.But after the papers were signed, he disappeared without a word, leaving her with nothing but unanswered questions and lingering bitterness.Now, fate has thrown them together once more but with a cruel twist, Eryx doesn’t remember her at all.Lunara believes she’s long since moved on. But when she sees him again, a stranger who has no recollection of their past, old wounds resurface. What was the truth behind their marriage? And why, despite the resentment, does her heart still stir when he’s near?