Spring Comes Late

Blurb:

When she was young, Shi Suyue fell for Zhao Lin, heir to the Prince of Yong'an. He loved her too. They were a perfect match, deeply in love from a young age, and married according to their parents' wishes and the matchmaker's arrangement.

But the Prince of Yong'an fell from power, and the Shi family kicked him while he was down. Zhao Lin lost his father, and the two who had once been so deeply in love were suddenly divided by a sea of blood and hatred.

Shi Suyue spent three whole years imprisoned in Lin'an alongside Zhao Lin, who had been placed under house arrest.

Throughout those years, she endlessly accommodated his changed temperament and did everything a wife could.

Until Zhao Lin returned to court, helped the crown prince ascend the throne, and began settling accounts with the Shi family, preparing to divorce her.

Shi Suyue knew that her relationship with Zhao Lin had reached its end. She accepted the divorce papers and returned to her hometown in Cangzhou.

On the road, bandits attacked her boat. She fell into the water while trying to escape, and after she was rescued, she became the sworn younger sister of the Cangzhou deputy magistrate.

The deputy magistrate was framed, imprisoned, and died in jail. Shi Suyue went to the capital to clear her sworn brother's name, where she met Zhao Lin again.

Shi Suyue accused the Cangzhou county magistrate and was sentenced to thirty strokes. Zhao Lin took the punishment in her place. Later, many curious onlookers asked Shi Suyue, "What is your relationship with the Prince of Yong'an?"

Shi Suyue gave a wistful smile. "He's my creditor."

PS:

The "strangers who know each other best" trope.

Love and hatred intertwined.

The love and hate of mature adults in an ancient setting. Both leads are very mature people.

Premise: How can hatred last longer than love?