Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king - The ploy of Arlania

Yan Qingsi was a woman so captivating that she could change the lives of anyone she crossed paths with. Shunned, shamed, and abused by her family, they wanted nothing more than to see her turn up dead. She had other plans though — she was determined to exact revenge on all who have wronged her, and her main target was her own blood. The first step in her quest for revenge? Seducing Yue Tingfeng — the richest, handsomest man in Luo City, who also happened to be her aunt’s fiancé. Vengeance aside, she also seeks a change of fortune by pursuing a career in acting. Throughout Yan Qingsi’s journey, there will be murders and mayhem aplenty as she paves her way to movie stardom while eliminating her enemies one after the other!

- Description from Novelupdates

When Evelyn’s loser fiance steals her company's secrets and elopes with her prostitute mother, she finds herself facing impending bankruptcy. But unexpected help comes in the form of an unusual offer from her business rival and ex-boyfriend, Alexander Langford.“Bear my children, Eve, and I’ll save this precious company of yours.”To everyone else, Alexander is the heir to a billion dollar fortune, and the acting industry’s handsome darling. But to Evelyn, he is nothing more than a cold-hearted, arrogant man she dumped for being a compulsive liar years ago - but unknown to her, he has never lied about his love.How could Alexander miss the golden chance to hit two birds with one stone? He gets his inheritance, and a family with the love of his life. Now, if only dear Evelyn would stop thinking the worst of him…[Strong female lead x doting male lead.][EXCERPT]“You’re out of your mind,” Eve snaps. “You could have any woman in this world, and you want ME to be the mother of your children?!”“Why not? You’re smart, savvy, and fucking hot,” Alex says as he takes a step forward, trapping her body between his muscular arms. His dark blue eyes gaze deep into hers with unbridled lust. “I want our children to have the best from both of us. Our children could take over the world.”“There is no ‘our’,” Eve says coldly, pushing him away. “I will be the surrogate for your children. This is nothing but a business deal. There is NO love in this contract. But in exchange, you need to do something else.”“And what is it?”“Help me take down my ex-fiance. That bastard deserves to die after fucking my mom and ruining my life.”Alex chuckles. “It’s a deal then, sweetheart.”It was nothing but a business deal at first. But what if the line between business, love, and hatred were getting blurry as they got entangled too far and too long?[Power couple, slow burn, getting back together.]

As part of the imperial family, every move by Chu Yuan in this game of chess is made with apprehension, fearing that with a moment of inattentiveness, the whole match will be lost in a single move.

Ascending to the throne at eighteen, not half a year passes before civil strife erupts in Yun Nan. Though the thoughts of the old guard at the imperial court are not exactly identical, they are all waiting to see how the new emperor will put an end to this.

Unexpectedly, before this side could make a move, a few thousand miles away, the King of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue, had already personally commanded troops to attack in all directions; not half a year had passed when peace was restored.

Sparse moonlight shines into the palace; Chu Yuan stamped the wax seal himself, and had a secret letter sent urgently to Yun Nan 800 miles away — this time, what must we(1) give in exchange?

Brush marks passed through the back of the paper; it almost can be seen, when writing this line, how angry the young emperor was.

Duan Bai Yue spread out a piece of paper unhurriedly, replying with only one word.

You.

Notes:
(1): Chu Yuan is using the royal ‘we’ here.

- Description from Novelupdates

He chose her out of curiosity, and she chose him for a good sleep.In this one-year hidden marriage, they agreed to take what they needed and have only pleasure without love. But the reality was that he was very domineering. He could bully her, but if anyone else did the same, they would face severe consequences.Many people felt sorry for him and thought that she didn't deserve him. However, they discovered that her real identities were stunning and extraordinary.She was a genius hacker, a skilled miracle doctor, and even a deadly ghost...Now, people felt sorry for her. How could an astonishing woman like her marry a disabled man?Suddenly, a man who had been in a wheelchair for several years stood up and revealed the business empire he had built during those years.Later on, people started to envy the couple's talent and beauty.While the heavens favored them, she suddenly realized that in his heart, she was nothing more than a substitute...Love was just like poison hidden in sugar. If you believe in it, you lose...