First Year of Marriage

In the warmth of early spring, a massive wedding procession from the Shang Dynasty slowly entered Taihe, the capital of the Southern Zhao Kingdom. The city was packed with people. Cheers rang out from both sides of the road as the people eagerly awaited the marriage of their beautiful, noble princess to their new ruler. So a new palace was built, called the Wutong Palace. And within the Wutong Palace, a tall pavilion was raised, called the Wutong Terrace. * Before Duan Jun became king, he had traveled to the Shang Dynasty as an envoy bearing tribute from Southern Zhao. Chang’an was prosperous, the emperor was virtuous, and the young ladies were utterly captivating. An ambition quietly took root in his heart. Only after he put it into action and ascended the throne was he finally in a position to send an envoy to ask for the princess’s hand, marrying the woman he loved. He felt he had treated the princess with the utmost respect and sincerity. After their wedding, they lived together in harmony, sharing warm nights beneath their lotus-patterned bed curtains. Until one time, as he made yet another insatiable demand, he saw tears he could not hide on the princess’s face, buried in the bedding. Only then did he realize that for her, this political marriage had been something she was forced into. Duan Jun was filled with regret. “I once read a Han poem: ‘A graceful maiden is a gentleman’s desire.’ Please forgive me for being unable to restrain myself when I asked for your hand. From now on, if you don’t wish to do something, tell me plainly. I promise I will never force you.” * Before Zheng Yuru married into Southern Zhao, she was a noblewoman of the imperial clan, famous throughout Chang’an. Few knew that behind her exalted birth lay a secret she could never speak of. She never expected an imperial edict to send her to Southern Zhao as a bride. Even with the title of princess and a generous dowry, she would still be at the mercy of others on their turf. With his strong, athletic body, he overwhelmed her, and tears spilled from her eyes despite her best efforts. From then on, beneath the high bed and soft pillows, under their embroidered mandarin-duck quilt, he kept his promise and never acted rashly again. Nanny Jiang advised her that marital relations were only natural, and that by keeping the king at a distance, the princess would hurt his sincere feelings. Yuru’s expression was no longer meek. “Having sincere feelings now doesn’t mean he’ll be sincere for the rest of his life. We’re already living under someone else’s roof. If we still let him take whatever he wants, won’t he have us under his thumb for the rest of our lives?” * In the year when they laid their hearts bare and treated each other with honesty, stars filled the sky above Wutong Terrace, and the bright moon hung high overhead. Duan Jun gently caressed her face and said tenderly, “Why go to so much trouble? Just put your hand over your heart and think about it. Whenever it’s something you want, or something you ask for, haven’t I always given in to you?” Yuru thought about it very seriously, then blinked her clear eyes twice and asked cautiously, “Then, my king, can you give in to me at night too?” Duan Jun pulled her into his arms at once. This one really was out of the question. Meekness can be your true nature, or it can be your weapon | A bold, ambitious woman pursues her husband after marriage Like is uninhibited, but love is restrained | The best hunters often appear as prey [Reader’s Guide] * A healing, post-marriage romance about falling in love, with a flirtatious heroine and a straightforward hero. One-on-one, both leads’ first relationship, happy ending. * An alternate-world setting inspired by Tang and Song institutions. Southern Zhao’s geography is based on Nanzhao, but no historical figures are used as models. Everything serves the plot, so please don’t scrutinize the history. Theme: A fierce tiger in the heart, a tender kiss for the rose.