The Brooding Powerbroker Has Loved Me for Years

Marriage before love | Mutual salvation | Childhood sweetheart fakes his death

Quick-witted general's daughter who hides her talents x calculating, gloomy imperial tutor

Huo Li, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Cavalry General's mansion, had been unloved since childhood. At nineteen, an imperial edict forced her to marry Xie Cui, the imperial tutor.

But rumors said Xie Cui was cold and ruthless, a man of iron-fisted methods. Aside from his peerless good looks, he was hardly a suitable husband. So after the wedding, Huo Li did nothing but play the devoted wife newly in love with her husband while plotting an escape route for herself.

After all, everyone has to look out for themselves!

She thought a den of vipers awaited her. Everyone around her was looking forward to seeing her make a fool of herself, but reality gave them all a brutal face-slapping:

He stood up for her whenever she was bullied, whether by nobles or members of the imperial family.

When she had a fever, he let her cling tightly to his waist, even though the second before he'd looked so cold that no one dared approach him.

He teased her until her face turned red and she called him "husband."

He grew jealous and scowled when she got close to other men, yet stubbornly waited for her to come and make it up to him...

And in life-or-death moments, he shielded her, looking ready to kill anyone who stood in his way, man or god.

As they spent day after day together, she found herself opening up her cold, hard shell. She began to rely on him, and even gradually came to enjoy the "services" this vivid, irresistible man offered.

He helped her understand that she, too, could be someone's first choice.

At first, Huo Li didn't believe him when he said, "I've been in love with you for a long time, Madam." But little by little, she began to believe him.

In fact, Huo Li had long suspected that Xie Cui was no ordinary, frail scholar. He was a master of martial arts, his hand swift and merciless as he struck down his enemies. He was like a god of slaughter reborn, and the countless terrible scars on his back were proof enough.

But she never suspected that the boy she'd been betrothed to as a child, the one who should have become a wandering ghost fourteen years ago, the one whose empty tomb she'd built herself, was still alive. He had returned to the capital and spent years lying low, his identity unknown to all.

That day, Xie Cui held her tightly in his arms.

The man's hot breath brushed her delicate neck as his chest rose and fell violently.

His voice was hoarse, and a dark, obsessive flame burned in his eyes.

"Now that you've chosen to stay, stay by my side forever."

"A Li, you were mine to begin with, so you must be mine. You can only ever be mine."

[Little Scene]

When they were children, Mei Changqing often visited the little courtyard in the Huo family residence. But the Huo family said it would damage their reputations if word got out, so from then on, he silently climbed over the wall to get in.

A winter jujube tree stood in the secluded courtyard, where a little "foodie" lived.

"Brother Changqing, I want that one."

Little Huo Li pointed at the biggest, reddest winter jujube on the tree, her eyes shining.

Mei Changqing smiled faintly, leaped up into the tree, and picked it for her.

Little Huo Li clapped softly, then pointed to another spot. "Brother Changqing, I want those two as well!"

Mei Changqing couldn't help laughing. He picked a few more jujubes before returning to her side and gently pinching her soft cheek. "A Li, you're such a little foodie."

Little Huo Li frowned and dodged his hand in annoyance, reaching for the jujubes.

Mei Changqing stood on tiptoe to tease her. When little Huo Li grew tired of trying to snatch them, her eyes filled with tears. Mei Changqing's heart clenched. He put all three jujubes into her little hands. "Don't cry, A Li. You can have them all."

Little Huo Li stopped crying at once. She lowered her head and ate the crisp, sweet jujubes. Halfway through, she gave one to him. "Have one, Brother Changqing."

Mei Changqing's heart melted. His peach-blossom eyes were filled with laughter. "I'm not hungry. Just watching you eat makes me happy."

"Whatever you want, A Li, I'll give it to you from now on. All right?"

"All right! I like you best, Brother Changqing."

[Reading Guide]

One-on-one, happy ending, both virgins. Enjoy!

P.S. Xie Cui is pronounced "cui."

Theme: Like drifting duckweed, we met by chance, unlike the carefree days of youth.