The Noblewoman Who Married a Rough-Hewn Man

Emperor Jianxing seized power in the name of rescuing the throne and ascended it. To appease the court, he arranged a marriage between Miss Xie, daughter of the Minister of Rites and a former court official, and Zhao family son Zhao Sui, a newly risen court favorite. The Minister of Rites was the foremost of the old guard, and his family was a respected scholarly clan admired by literati across the land. The Zhao family was full of military men who had repeatedly saved the emperor during the campaign to restore the throne. They were favorites at court, with a bright future ahead of them. Emperor Jianxing congratulated himself on arranging a well-matched marriage, hoping the union would stabilize the old and new regimes. But on their wedding night, Zhao Sui roughly lifted the bride’s veil and let the men in the room stare at her with brazen eyes, showing no regard for her reputation. After they married, Zhao Sui was crude in everything he did, constantly spouting vulgar language and rough expressions. He often left the bed filthy with sweat, and tossed his underpants and socks together… Even in bed, he never held back, caring only about his own pleasure. Xie Hualing was so furious she often had tears in her eyes. She detested him and never gave him a kind word, thinking: She would divorce him, no matter what. Then, during an invasion by the Turks, Zhao Sui led troops into battle, his fate uncertain. Xie Hualing felt as if a piece of her were missing, and tears fell once more. He was a hero who defended his country. Xie Hualing thought that if he came back, she would try to treat him well. * Everyone said Zhao Sui was a mere soldier, lucky that his ancestors’ graves had sent up smoke so he could marry a noble young lady of the Xie family. Zhao Sui wasn’t angry. He thought they were right. His wife was beautiful when she smiled, beautiful when she cried. Even when he made her so angry that she cursed him, her voice was lovely. Zhao Sui thought: He would return alive in triumph. He still had a whole lifetime to be Xie Hualing’s dog. Theme: Love comes after you’ve seen someone’s true nature over time. Live well.