The Divorce Papers Were Just Signed When the God of War Arrived with the Iron Deed of Merit

Lin'an, during the Shaoding era of the Southern Song dynasty.

Jiang Yunshu is the daughter of a fallen military family, betrothed since childhood to Pei Wenyuan of the Pei family. After Pei's father curries favor with the Zheng family, he deems the Jiang family too lowborn and forcibly breaks off the engagement, claiming their birth charts are incompatible. The scandal sweeps through the city, and Jiang Yunshu becomes a laughingstock.

On the day the engagement is broken, she goes to Lingyin Temple to pray and meets a young man in a dark cloak. He kneels for a long time before the Buddha, his back lonely and solitary. When he turns around, Jiang Yunshu sees a coolly handsome face and a slight limp in his right leg.

He is none other than Gu Xingzhou, the legitimate eldest son of the Gu family, known as the “Limping God of War.” His leg was broken in the Battle of Caizhou three years ago, and ever since, he has rejected countless marriage proposals.

The next day, the Gu family sends an extravagant betrothal procession stretching ten li. At the head of the gifts is an iron document of hereditary privilege, earned by Gu Xingzhou at the cost of his life.

On their wedding night, Gu Xingzhou lifts her veil and says calmly, “I’m marrying you not out of pity, but because I admire your backbone.”

At court, the advocates of peace demand he give up his military power, claiming his disability makes him unfit to serve. In the inner quarters, noble ladies like Zheng Minglan mock Jiang Yunshu for “marrying a cripple.” Through every storm, husband and wife support each other. He teaches her archery and horsemanship, and she studies medicine for him. He answers the court's doubts with brilliant military victories, while she uses her talent for mathematics to help the Lin family investigate a corruption case, bringing the Zheng family down in the process.

When Pei Wenyuan kneels and begs her to take him back, Jiang Yunshu gives a cold laugh and sweeps away her sleeve. “What you threw away like trash is a treasure others can only dream of.”

When enemy forces approach the border and the court considers ceding territory to make peace, Gu Xingzhou stands in court, leaning on his cane. “The backbone of the Great Song has never been in its knees.”