Forced to Marry the Regent King: I'm Pregnant So Why Are You Crying?

Jiang Chuyue is the adopted second young lady of the General’s Manor, raised by Old Madam Xiao after her parents died in battle. For ten years, she has harbored a secret, unrequited love for her elder brother, Xiao Ji, the young and accomplished general who commands the Xuanwu troops. To him, she is merely a beloved sister, a role she accepts while watching him take concubine after concubine. Her devotion is absolute; she prays for his safety, molds her personality to match his preferences, and suppresses her own desires. The arrival of the Ninth Concubine, a skilled pipa player who captures Xiao Ji’s favor, deepens Jiang Chuyue’s isolation. She witnesses his intimacy with the new concubine and realizes that no matter how many women enter the manor, she will always remain an outsider, unable to claim his heart.

The narrative shifts when Jiang Chuyue is invited to a welcome banquet for Xie Linyuan, the Regent Prince, known in the capital as the "Ghost Yama" for his cruelty and immense power. During the event, Jiang Chuyue is abandoned by Xiao Ji, who rushes back to care for the Ninth Concubine after she feigns illness. Left waiting in a sudden rainstorm, Jiang Chuyue collapses and is rescued by Xie Linyuan’s men, spending the night in his lakeside villa. This encounter marks the beginning of Xie Linyuan’s interest in her. He observes her from afar, noting her fear and her hidden feelings for Xiao Ji. Meanwhile, Jiang Chuyue attempts to move on, considering the marriage portraits presented by her grandmother, but finds herself unable to feel anything for the eligible bachelors.

Conflict escalates when Madam Wang, a resentful relative, conspires with the Liu family to harm Jiang Chuyue. Liu Qingshu, the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue, drugs her and attempts to assault her in a carriage. Jiang Chuyue escapes and inadvertently seeks refuge in Xie Linyuan’s carriage, lying that she is the Regent’s concubine to deter her pursuers. Xie Linyuan, amused and intrigued, orders his shadow guards to throw the attackers into a moat and returns her safely to the Xiao residence. This incident reveals the extent of Xie Linyuan’s protection over her, though Jiang Chuyue remains terrified of him. Xiao Ji retaliates violently against the Liu family, breaking Liu Qingshu’s legs and ensuring the family’s downfall, further cementing his reputation as a ruthless protector of his own.

Despite Xiao Ji’s fierce defense, Jiang Chuyue’s emotional world continues to fracture. She witnesses Xiao Ji welcoming his Tenth Concubine, Jiang Caiyue, a young woman who resembles her in name and gratitude. Xiao Ji’s growing affection for Jiang Caiyue is evident, and he even drops a personal jade pendant while rushing to her side, an act that shatters Jiang Chuyue. She realizes that her brother’s heart belongs to others, and her own position in the manor is increasingly precarious. Xie Linyuan, meanwhile, continues to watch her, tearing up a portrait of her that was intended for the Emperor, thereby preventing her from being forced into the palace harem. His actions suggest a possessive interest that contrasts sharply with Xiao Ji’s oblivious affection.

The story moves toward a critical turning point as Jiang Chuyue faces the reality of her unrequited love. She decides to give up the pipa, the instrument she played for Xiao Ji, symbolizing her attempt to let go of her past hopes. However, her path is intersected by Xie Linyuan’s persistent presence. He saves her from bandits hired by the Liu family, searching for her through the night while Xiao Ji is delayed. When Jiang Chuyue is found, she cries in Xiao Ji’s arms, unaware that Xie Linyuan watched from a distance, his expression darkening at her reliance on another man. The narrative establishes a complex triangle where Jiang Chuyue is caught between the brother she loves and the regent who desires her, setting the stage for a struggle between duty, love, and power in the treacherous political landscape of the capital.