In my previous life, my legitimate elder sister pushed me into the Seventh Prince's manor to bring him good luck. Everyone waited to see the day this widow would cry.
But the prince didn't die. He became the regent, with power over the whole court. My sister was so consumed with jealousy that she joined forces with her "future chancellor" husband and sent me a jug of warm wine, wiping out my entire family line.
Reborn once more, I return to the night before my hairpin ceremony. My sister is crying and trying to get out of this "death sentence" of a marriage. I sweep up my skirt and kneel:
"Since your heart belongs to someone else, Sister, let me have the Seventh Prince's marriage match..."
"Zhiyi is fated to have a short life and doesn't deserve good fortune. I only hope that if His Highness should meet with misfortune one day, I can become a wealthy widow."
The whole household bursts into laughter, saying I'm asking for death.
They don't know that I haven't snatched a marriage to bring good luck. I've snatched the future regent, seven years from now.
After the wedding, I keep twirling my handkerchief and playing the pitiful one, sighing about my hard lot whenever I meet anyone. My "sickly" husband watches me perform with cold eyes as he coughs up blood.
Until one day beneath the palace walls, he stops me, his eyes red. "You were the one who begged for this marriage. Have you been hoping every day that I'd die soon so you could be a rich widow?"
I blink and answer timidly, "Your concubine prays for Your Highness's good health before the Buddha every day."
His fingertips tremble with anger. In the end, he can only manage, "...Go back to your room."
He knows I'm putting on an act.
But he still can't do a thing about it.
Looking forward to it!