The Crown Princess's Dead Ex-Husband Has Returned

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In the tenth year of Dehua, General Tao Wenke, Defender of the West, gave his life for his country.

He had been a fierce and valiant man in life, with much of his grandfather's heroic spirit. Now a great star had suddenly fallen, and the whole nation mourned him.

By imperial order, the Crown Prince went to the Defender of the West's residence to pay his respects. In the shifting light of the snow, he gazed at Tao Wenke's widow, watching her kneel on the ground in endless grief. He clasped his hands and bowed to her. "My condolences, Madam."

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The golden incense burner had gone cold, the red silk bedding lay in disarray.

He held her close, his fingertips brushing the plain flower still tucked in her hair. He plucked it out without a second thought and casually flicked it to the floor. Then his fingers slid from her temple to her pale red earlobe.

"He's dead now. When will you marry me, Sister?"

She chided him, "Why are you in such a hurry? I'm still in mourning. If I married you just like this, wouldn't people point fingers at us and call us a pair of adulterers?"

"You do love to talk nonsense, Sister." He sighed. "But I can't wait to marry you. If you insist on mourning him for the full three years, I might die waiting for you."

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The year after General Tao Wenke, Defender of the West, died, a man who looked exactly like him appeared in the capital for no apparent reason.

Claiming to be Tao Wenke himself, the man arrived at the Defender of the West's residence with his beloved concubine and son and knocked on the door. He explained that the money and provisions he'd taken from the residence before had not been enough. Now that his beloved concubine had given birth, he demanded that his first wife, Yu Kezhen, take them in and provide for them.

The man who opened the door was an old servant he didn't recognize, with dim eyes and poor hearing, bent and frail with age.

"Tell my wife, Yu Kezhen, to come out and see me."

"There is no Madam Yu anymore," the old servant said. "The Crown Princess is staying here now."

Why would the Crown Princess be staying at the Defender of the West's residence? Tao Wenke couldn't make sense of it.

Ten days later, he caught a glimpse of her in the procession accompanying the Crown Princess on an outing to Springwood Park. One look left him rooted to the spot. The Crown Princess, pregnant and radiant with happiness, was none other than his wife, Yu Kezhen.

A spoiled, amoral, irresistible beauty x a younger, calculating, smiling wolf

Theme: Marriage must be built on sincerity.