One glance in the corridor of Qixia Temple stayed with Regent Xiao Jue for three months.
Three months later, an imperial decree arrived at the Duke of Zhenguo's estate: The duke's legitimate daughter, Su Wanqing, was to marry the Regent. The wedding would take place on an auspicious day.
Everyone in the capital knew Su Wanqing was sickly, born with a heart condition and unlikely to live past twenty.
But Xiao Jue didn't care.
On their wedding night, she coughed blood all over him. He said only, “Send for the imperial physician. If they aren't here within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they can all get lost.”
Soon, the whole capital was abuzz: the Regent had married a frail, beautiful princess consort and doted on her beyond all reason. He took nourishing soup to court so it wouldn't get cold, hurried straight home the moment court ended, and even held her on his lap while he read memorials.
Someone asked, “Your Highness, what do you see in her?”
Xiao Jue lowered his eyes to the sleeping woman in his arms. His voice was soft. “The way she coughed that day made my heart ache.”
He cherished her. He cherished her. And that's how he cared for her for the rest of her life.
