Did You Write a Divorce Letter Today, My Lord?

[Marriage First, Love Later] [Chasing His Wife After Realizing His Love]

As an illegitimate daughter of the Song family who is never welcomed, Song Zhiyu has spent years living at a country estate outside the city, never mixing with the noble families.

Those who know the story know that her face is disfigured, ugly enough to frighten children into silence. The only reason she never appears in public is that the Song family is afraid she'll bring them shame.

The Song family acts as though they have no such daughter, and Song Zhiyu is content to keep her peace. She only wants to wait until she's old enough, marry her way out of the house, and become a veiled tutor, living a simple, contented life.

Then an imperial decree betroths her to Xie Yu'an, a rising star in the empire.

Born a commoner, the young general has earned outstanding military honors and, at just over twenty, been promoted beyond his rank to Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Garrison. The princes want to win him over, the noble families want to marry into his family, and even Princess Minghua has fallen for him.

Even Song Zhiyu knows she is marrying far above her station.

Sure enough, on the second day after their wedding, her husband tells her gravely:

"Since neither of us wants this marriage, when the time is right, I'll give you a divorce letter. We won't hold each other back."

Song Zhiyu agrees. And before the day comes when he gives her that letter, she gets impatient and runs away.

Two years later, the old emperor passes away and a new emperor takes the throne. Xie Yu'an has become the Northern Frontier Governor, commanding the armies of several border regions. He is now the Marquis of Ningbei, a man whose slightest cough makes the enemies beyond the border tremble.

She is momentarily dazed, but thinks no more of it. When she turns around, she sees Xie Yu'an right outside her home, asking everyone if they have seen his wife.

*

Xie Yu'an has always been arrogant. He sees governing the country and keeping it safe as his sole duty. Marital affection and romance are beneath his notice.

Besides, he and his new bride are nothing alike. They can't even find anything to talk about. She's so delicate that she gets winded after walking a few steps. What would be the point of spending time with her?

Yet he can't explain why his ears burn and his heart feels restless whenever he sees her. He gets annoyed when she seeks him out, and even more annoyed when she doesn't.

And when she finally manages to say something to him, the first thing out of her mouth is, "When will that divorce letter you promised me take effect?"

Xie Yu'an impatiently brushes her off. "What divorce letter? My hand hurts. I can't write."

*

The people of the capital have always treated the marriage between the Song and Xie families as a joke.

That is, until one day, Xie Yu'an, who is usually anything but proper, strides grandly out of the imperial palace carrying his veiled wife in his arms.

Overnight, Song Zhiyu goes from being a famously hideous woman to a bewitching enchantress who can change her appearance at will and steal men's hearts.

Passerby: "If she isn't an enchantress, how did she bewitch such a fine young man?"

Song Zhiyu: "..."

She turns to look at Xie Yu'an, who is dressed in red and wearing a sword today, all because yesterday she praised another young man for looking good in red...

So which one of them is bewitching the other?

Note: The female lead really is disfigured, but her appearance will be restored later.

Theme: Be self-reliant in life