Cui Yuheng has known since childhood that she will become the head of the Cui family. She will inherit all the family's wealth and choose a husband to marry into her family.
At eighteen, her love poison flares up. She meets a scholar, and they spend one passionate night together.
The scholar is named Yue Qing, and his family is as poor as can be.
But Yuheng likes him more and more. She thinks there is no man for a hundred miles as handsome as he is, and that he is a perfect match for her.
Most importantly, he is a gifted writer. Once he places on the imperial examination list, the Cui family can rise to prominence with him. After all, he will have to rely on the Cui family for everything.
Yue Qing is refined and well-spoken, and treats Yuheng with tender affection. In turn, she is willing to give him her whole heart.
Their affection grows with each passing day.
But who could have guessed that Yue Qing would run away on the day he was supposed to send the betrothal gifts?
From then on, whenever anyone asks Yuheng about the missing fiancé, she replies, "He's dead."
But the Yue Qing she says is "dead" has transformed into Li Yueding, an inspector from Chang'an.
They meet several times. Yuheng treats him coldly, but Li Yueding keeps helping her, whether openly or behind the scenes.
Perhaps he still has feelings for her.
Thinking this, Yuheng comes up with another plan.
She wants to make Li Yueding regret it.
-
The first time Li Yueding came to Qizhou in disguise, an unfamiliar woman took his innocence.
When the emperor summoned him back to Chang'an, he was already guilty of deceiving her. He couldn't bring himself to refuse, so he agreed to the marriage and left Qizhou before their engagement.
He thought he and Cui Yuheng would never meet again, but he couldn't help recalling the springtime at Changjin Mountain and the woman who had enjoyed the blossoms with him.
An imperial decree brought him back to Qizhou as an inspector.
Unable to forget her, Li Yueding is overjoyed when they meet again.
He thought Cui Yuheng would be even happier, but she says, "Your Excellency is far too noble. The Cui family isn't worthy of you."
He freezes. "The Cui family doesn't need me anymore?"
Yuheng says nothing and turns to leave.
Li Yueding sees it clearly: it's not that the Cui family doesn't need him. Cui Yuheng doesn't want him anymore.
Bonus scene:
Li Yueding is a master at pushing his luck. The moment Yuheng makes peace with him, he sends a letter to Chang'an saying he's going to marry soon.
Yuheng hurls the intercepted letter at him and tells him to stop dreaming.
The handsome scholar lies on the bed, his clothes in disarray. "My lady, didn't you say you'd take responsibility for me? Are you going to deny it now?"
Yuheng: "The man who spent the night with me was Yue Qing. What does that have to do with you?"
Li Yueding immediately sits up with a brush in hand and says tenderly, "I'll write to my father at once and ask him to remove my name from the imperial clan register. I'll change my name and identity, and stay with you forever."
Theme: You have to get down on your knees to atone for the mistakes you've made
Thank you to heaven, thank you to earth, thank you for your hard work~
Thank you to heaven, thank you to earth, thank you for your hard work~