[Wily, money-minded little fox vs. dark, scheming general] + [Marriage before love + hidden identities revealed + mutual salvation]
Ye Huairan “died in battle” on the field, and Gu Shanyue promptly collected her chastity arch and reward money. But on the very day the arch was erected, her “dead husband” returned victorious and caught her trying to run off with the cash!
From then on, the General’s Manor was turned upside down:
She diligently falsified the accounts and embezzled public funds;
He calmly laid traps, waiting for her to walk right into them.
Ye Huairan’s daily barbs: “A woman’s virtue lies in gentleness. Someone like you... Tsk.”
Gu Shanyue fired back: “A general should die wrapped in his horse’s hide. Someone like you... Oh.”
When someone publicly taunted her, “If you loved your late husband so deeply, why didn’t you die with him back then?”
Ye Huairan only sneered in response: “I hear you and your late wife were deeply devoted, and you write poems in her memory every year on the anniversary of her death. If you miss her so much, why not join her?”
Later, when Gu Shanyue’s true identity came to light, she discovered that she... already had a fiancé?
Ye Huairan dropped the act and cornered her against the wall. “You’re not allowed to so much as look at those other men out there.”
Gu Shanyue smiled sweetly. “Husband, does your face hurt?”
