Six Years After the Wedding

Gentle, down-to-earth woman x stern, old-fashioned patriarch

Marriage first, love later / slow-burn romance / family life / everyday story / sweet romance / both are each other's first

Blurb:

As the only daughter of the first top scholar after the founding of the Great Wei dynasty, Su Lingwan was betrothed by Emperor Yonghe to his third son, Prince Liang, when she came of age.

Prince Liang was handsome and stern, a man of impeccable propriety. Although he had become her husband overnight, Su Lingwan had never dared to grow too close to him.

For the six years of their marriage, she and Prince Liang treated each other with respect. They were not especially intimate, but their life together was peaceful and harmonious.

Prince Liang had no interest in women. He had never touched the two maids his mother, the Noble Consort, had sent him. So ever since Su Lingwan married into the prince's household, the inner quarters had been peaceful and quiet, unlike those of her sisters-in-law, who were often caught up in petty troubles.

After giving birth to Huan, Su Lingwan thought she would spend the rest of her life treating Wei Zhun with respectful distance.

That was until the New Year's Eve banquet in the sixth year of their marriage, when Emperor Yonghe publicly mentioned that he intended to choose secondary consorts for several of his sons. Her husband, Prince Liang, was among them.

The heart Su Lingwan had kept calm for so long finally began to panic.

She feared that if Wei Zhun had sons with another woman, Huan's position would be threatened. So one night, she finally worked up the courage to ask Wei Zhun about taking a secondary consort.

But Wei Zhun replied, his expression unreadable, "It is in keeping with proper etiquette. You have never been a jealous woman."

Hearing this, Su Lingwan took it to mean that he wanted to take a secondary consort, and her heart shattered in an instant.

She decided not to ask any more questions and to put the matter behind her. Fighting back tears, she turned away and said she would make the arrangements.

But the usually stern Prince Liang suddenly pulled her into his arms and bent down over her.

Su Lingwan looked up in shock and anger, only to hear him speak in a low voice. Every word was calm, but his dark eyes burned like fire:

"We have too few children. I cannot disobey my father. But if we have another child before a secondary consort is bestowed upon me, I will have grounds to refuse."

Su Lingwan froze, and before she could gather her wits, the usually stern and reserved Prince Liang had pressed her onto the bed. She was swept up in a passion as overwhelming as the one they had shared on their wedding night.

Theme: Love should be spoken honestly and openly.