The First Year of the Political Marriage

In the warmth of early spring, a vast bridal procession from the Shang Dynasty slowly rolled into Taihe, the capital of Nan Zhao.

The streets were packed with cheering crowds, all eagerly awaiting the marriage between their new ruler and the beautiful, noble princess sent to marry him.

So a new palace was built, named Qiwugong. Within it, a tower rose, named Qiwutai.

*

Before Duan Jun became king, he had visited the Shang Dynasty as an envoy bearing tribute from Nan Zhao.

Chang'an was prosperous, the Son of Heaven virtuous, and the young ladies were utterly captivating.

Ambition began to take root in his heart. Only after he acted on it and ascended the throne was he finally in a position to send envoys to ask for a marriage alliance and seek the hand of the woman he loved.

He believed he had treated the princess with the utmost respect and sincerity. After their wedding, they lived together in harmony, their marriage warm and tender.

It was only when he made another insatiable demand one day and saw the princess's little face buried among the quilts and pillows, streaked with tears she could no longer hide, that he realized this political marriage had been forced upon her.

Duan Jun was consumed with regret.

“I once read a Han poem: ‘A graceful, virtuous maiden is a gentleman’s ideal match.’ Please forgive me for being unable to restrain myself when I asked for your hand. From now on, if you are unwilling, tell me plainly. I promise I will never force you.”

*

Before she was sent to Nan Zhao as a bride, Zheng Yuru was a noblewoman of the imperial clan, renowned throughout Chang'an.

Few knew, however, that behind her distinguished birth lay a secret she could never speak of.

She never wanted to be sent to marry into Nan Zhao, but an imperial decree left her no choice. Even with the title of princess and a lavish dowry, she would still be at the mercy of others on their own turf.

His strong, well-trained body left her no room to resist, and tears welled up in spite of herself. After that, beneath the grand bed and soft pillows, under the embroidered mandarin-duck quilt, he kept his promise and never again acted rashly.

Nanny Jiang urged her, saying that marital relations were only natural and that by keeping the king at a distance, the princess would wound his sincere heart.

Yuru's meek expression disappeared.

“Having a sincere heart now doesn't mean he'll still have one forever. We're already living under someone else's roof. If we let him take whatever he wants, won't he have us under his thumb for the rest of our lives?”

*

It was New Year's Eve.

On Qiwutai, Yuru gazed toward her homeland, alone and forlorn.

Below, Duan Jun looked up at the increasingly slender figure on the tower and humbly sought Nanny Jiang's advice. “The queen misses her homeland and is heartsick. I cannot bear to see her this way. Nanny, do you have any good ideas to help me lift her spirits?”

Nanny Jiang understood at once. “If Your Majesty can win the princess's heart, then her feelings and affections will be yours. From then on, her heart, thoughts, longing, and even resentment will all be bound to Your Majesty.”

Meekness is my nature, but it can also be my weapon | An ambitious, take-charge schemer who dares to dream and act, pursuing his wife after marriage |

Liking is unrestrained, but love is restraint | The best hunters often appear as prey

[Reader's Guide]

* A healing story of love after marriage, a flirtatious temptress and a straightforward pursuer, one-on-one romance, both leads sexually inexperienced, happy ending

* A fictional setting inspired by Tang and Song institutions. Nan Zhao's geography is inspired by Nanzhao, but no historical figures served as models. Everything is in service of the story, so please don't overanalyze the history.

Theme: A fierce tiger in the heart, a tender kiss for the rose