[A Married Couple's Daily Life, Marriage First and Love Later + Rekindled Romance + Their True Selves Revealed]
Cui Shen, the eldest legitimate son of the century-old Cui clan, married Zhu Shitao, the legitimate daughter of the Chancellor.
Everyone praised the pairing of a refined gentleman and a gentle, virtuous lady from a distinguished family. They said the two were a perfect match, made for each other.
After they married, even in the bedroom they observed propriety and restraint.
On the rare occasion that things got out of hand, Zhu Shitao would ask him to slow down, and Cui Chen would stop and apologize. They truly seemed like a model couple, respectful and courteous to each other.
A month into their marriage, banditry in Jiangnan grew rampant. Cui Chen was ordered to suppress the bandits, and he was gone for two years.
In the winter of the third year of Xuanwu, the bandits were finally wiped out. He raced back to the capital ahead of schedule, only to find Zhu Shitao nowhere at home.
When he finally found her at the Zuichun Brothel, the room was filled with a subtle fragrance and layered gauze curtains. Several bare-chested young men played the zither and danced with swords.
And his well-behaved, decorous wife was reclining on a soft couch, covering her mouth as she laughed. She held a vermilion brush and slowly traced its tip over the man kneeling before her.
Cui Shen dragged his spear across the floor, shattering the room's languid atmosphere. His face frosty, he said, "My lady, you're certainly enjoying yourself."
Silence fell over the room. The vermilion brush paused in Zhu Shitao's hand, leaving a scarlet dot on the jade-like skin beneath it.
She gave a soft click of her tongue and raised her eyes coolly. "Since you're back, sign this divorce agreement."
Cui Shen had no idea why, but he had no wish to drag things out, so he agreed.
On the third day after their divorce, a friend discreetly showed concern. "There's a famous doctor outside the capital who specializes in private ailments."
Only after Cui Shen pressed him repeatedly did he learn that the Zhu woman had been telling people their marriage ended because he was no good in bed.
Cui Shen later found Zhu Shitao and trapped her between his knees. Watching her try to avert her eyes, he asked, "My lady, tell me then. Am I any good or not?"
Afterward, the people of the capital realized that Zhu Shitao might not be gentle and virtuous after all, and Cui Shen was certainly no refined gentleman. But the two seemed even better suited to each other now, in a way that struck fear into people's hearts.
Theme: Dare to be yourself
