【Down-on-her-luck merchant’s daughter vs. unhinged heir | Single-couple romance: devoted, lovesick, doting】
Shen Yaoyi is the daughter of Jiangnan’s richest merchant, but fate is against her. Her family’s business is framed by villains, and her mother is imprisoned for supposedly forging salt permits.
She travels alone to the capital, hoping her betrothed, the newly crowned top scholar, will save her mother’s life.
*
Upon first arriving in the capital,
people everywhere are saying, “The merchant’s daughter from Jiangnan whom the top scholar is going to marry.”
The implication is clear: Shen Yaoyi isn’t good enough for him.
*
When she first arrives at the Yongning Marquis’s residence, everyone treats her coldly.
“She’s nothing but a merchant’s daughter, and now the Shen family is implicated in a salt-smuggling case. How could she possibly be the heir’s wife?”
A secret meeting in the study:
In public: “Miss Shen, visiting a man late at night. Have you no sense of propriety?”
In private, he holds her tight and refuses to let go: “Suisui, why do you look so haggard? My heart aches.”
*
Praying for blessings at the Huguo Temple
“Miss Shen, someone above has plans to marry the princess to the top scholar.”
“You understand what that means.” He turned a string of fragrant sandalwood prayer beads in his hand.
“This prince would like to make a deal with Miss Shen.”
*
On the day the imperial decree is issued, she tears up the betrothal agreement.
“Suisui, the way I treated you before was all an act in public.”
“Xie Wenqing, I won’t be a concubine.”
*
“Yaoyi, would you be my empress?”
“Regent, have you forgotten? Between us, there’s only a deal.”
“I don’t want that.”
Word spreads throughout the capital: the merchant’s daughter from Jiangnan is about to become the empress of Great Yu.
The top scholar seeks her out in private. “Suisui, please don’t marry him, okay?”
On the day the regent issues his decree, the top scholar rebels and tries to seize the bride.
“Suisui, don’t you like imperial power?”
“Suisui, tell me you love me.”
