The Powerful Minister Below, the Princess Above

[Resilient Princess x Restrained Powerful Minister | A Sage's Hidden Desires | Angsty Love in the Middle and Later Stages] [Shura Field: Marriage First, Love Later vs. Rekindled Romance | One-on-One, Both Leads Untouched] Blurb: Princess Shang Jin of the Shen Kingdom is gentle yet resilient, talented and beautiful, and renowned far and wide for her looks. When her homeland is besieged by a great army, she is forced to marry Wei Che, a powerful minister of a mighty state. She knows this is merely an exchange of interests and gives it no sincere feelings. · Just as expected, on their wedding night, Wei Che stood in the bridal chamber, his expression cool. He said bluntly, "You are my wife, and I will treat you with respect. We both know why this marriage came about. As for love, I have no such feelings for you, and you need not expect any." Shang Jin sat upright at the edge of the bed. The vermilion ribbons hanging over her forehead swayed gently as she nodded. She had someone else in her heart, too, so Wei Che's words came as a relief. Each had their own thoughts, and after the wedding they treated each other with courtesy and respect. Their days were peaceful and polite. · Until that night, when they returned from a banquet. Shang Jin accidentally drank medicinal wine. As soon as she lay down, an unbearable heat rose within her, and her breathing grew ragged. Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and a chilly night breeze swept in. Through her misty vision, she could just make out a man approaching: her husband, Wei Che, the very man who had no feelings for her. He seemed to have been drinking too. His gaze was startlingly dark, but when he touched her burning cheek, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly. That night, the red candles burned on, and the curtains fell around them. All his restraint crumbled. · Later, Wei Che was away on an assignment for a full month. Deep in the night, just as Shang Jin was about to retire, she heard a noise outside. Before a maid could announce anyone, the door had already been pushed open. Shang Jin's heart tightened, and she rose, putting on her robe. The visitor was covered in dust, his lapels damp, as if he had ridden through the night to return. It was Wei Che. Before she could speak, he seized her wrist. His fingertips were cold, but he took her hand without allowing refusal and pressed it to his chest. Beneath her palm, his heart beat fast and hard, each thud making her fingertips tingle. "Can you feel it?" He lowered his head and pressed a burning kiss to the center of her brow. His voice was so hoarse it could barely be recognized: "Here, I've been missing you for an entire month." [Bonus scene 1: Xiao Che] In the corridor late at night, he leaned against the railing, gazing at the moon. When he turned, he saw someone approaching. She lowered her head in greeting and never once raised her eyes. Footsteps drew nearer. "Madam, are you afraid to look up because you feel guilty toward me?" [Bonus scene 2: Wei Che] The agonizing pain of an arrowhead lodged in his body swept over him, and hot blood kept streaming down. Knowing he could not hold on much longer, he gathered what strength remained and looked at her. Word by word, he asked the question that had haunted him most: "Tell me, deep in your heart, did you ever have feelings for me?" Tips: 1. Set in an alternate Warring States period. Some characterizations and events are drawn from Records of the Grand Historian. 2. One-on-one, both leads untouched, happy ending. [Lip contact does not count] Theme: Two intertwined hearts will walk the same road.