Ning Zhen had no money or influence when she went to seek refuge with relatives, so she could only hide from the rain overnight in a dilapidated temple on a lonely mountain.
She opened a book to pass the time. In the dim lamplight, the respectable poetry collection turned into a picture book!
So lifelike.
The window rattled, and the wind blew out the candle.
A mouse in the corner squeaked twice and dropped dead on the spot.
Frightened by the string of strange occurrences, she hurriedly rolled out her straw mat and climbed into bed.
Suddenly, the melodious sound of a zither kept her awake.
"There wasn't anyone in this temple when I arrived..."
The music continued, accompanied by knocks at the door. She was so startled and scared that she didn't dare open it.
As wind and rain battered the temple, the door opened by itself.
A handsome young lord with a flower in his hair tenderly hid in her arms...
After her parents died, she disguised herself as a man and headed to her cousin's home under the pretext of sitting for the imperial examinations.
She had braved the elements and slept in enough abandoned temples along the way to write a whole book of travel tips.
She'd also made up false identities along the way to guard against thieves and robbers. She was experienced.
She thought she had everything covered.
But she still "fell victim to a mishap in the gutter."
This was the biggest fall of her life, and she fell straight into the arms of a ghostly young lord.
She prided herself on being an upright person with plenty of self-control. She wouldn't take advantage of a handsome young man.
On the first night, the ghostly young lord tossed her two large gold ingots.
Ning Zhen: Thanks for asking. I've already broken my resolve.
The ghostly young lord said that if she stayed a second night, he would give her even more gold ingots...
He also promised that she'd never have to worry about food or clothes again.
He even said he would be hers.
Blurb revised on 2026.2.2, with proof saved.
Theme: Creating a wonderful life
