After the Sickly Second-Place Scholar Asked for My Hand

Reader’s Guide: A cool on the outside, warm on the inside, adorably contrasting female physician × a gentle, moonlike third-place graduate who’s her beloved ideal. Happy ending, both leads are virgins, sweet romance, marriage first and love later. The entire family of in-laws is on their side, and both leads shine in their own fields: you serve the nation, while I serve the people! Blurb: A story about Xinran, a girl with a tragic past who remains strong and resilient, and Feng Yu, a third-place graduate who grew up in luxury but never became spoiled. Together, they work hard and both succeed. ＊ Han Xinran’s mother doesn’t love her, and her stepfather doesn’t care for her. When her future husband’s family sends over a respectable betrothal gift, they happily seal the deal, treating her like an unwanted object. The strange thing is, the man who comes to ask for her hand is none other than Feng Yu, the young master of the Feng family, a newly minted third-place graduate who has just made a name for himself in the capital. She finds it baffling. Her half-sister, Han Yujiao, is as beautiful as a flower and one of the prettiest girls in Gegen Village. Even if the third-place graduate prefers the simple, honest village girls to the beauties of the capital, surely he would choose someone like Han Yujiao. How could he possibly settle for her? Full of questions, Xinran steps through the Feng family’s gates. She never expected anything good. If her own family treated her so coldly and cruelly, why should the in-laws who had bought her be any different? She prepares herself for the worst. The moment she meets her husband, Feng Yu, she understands why the Feng family had specifically asked for her and not Han Yujiao. The eldest young master of the Feng family looks haggard and can’t stop coughing. He clearly suffers from a serious illness and may not have long to live. As it happens, she studied medicine for several years under the village’s old doctor. She doesn’t know how the Feng family found out, but they must have chosen her because she can take care of him. That’s fine. A physician should have a compassionate heart and treat the sick. At worst, once he recovers, they can sign a divorce agreement. After all, leaving her old life behind would be a kind of liberation for her. As for what comes after the divorce… she’ll decide when the time comes. But under her attentive care, just three days later, the family is astonished to find that the third-place graduate’s condition is starting to improve! Seven days later, he can walk around normally again. A month later, as soon as his health improves, the third-place graduate hurries to the palace to receive his appointment. Xinran stays behind to help Doctor Zhou care for the villagers, who have suddenly fallen ill after a devastating flood. A quiet sorrow rises in her heart. She has always known her husband is no ordinary man. Now he’ll return with an official post. How could he possibly have a place for a commoner like her by his side? She has no time to dwell on it, and doesn’t even dare to keep thinking. Instead, she throws herself into treating the sick, almost losing track of day and night. The villagers see how much she cares and praise her as a living Buddha, a physician with a compassionate heart. They say the Feng family is truly fortunate to have her as a wife. Xinran smiles bitterly but says nothing. ＊ Several days later, a large contingent of court officials suddenly gallops toward a humble clinic in the village. Their numbers draw the eyes of every local resident. When they see the village chief leading the welcoming party himself, they finally learn the news: the newly appointed county magistrate has rushed back with relief supplies! The villagers spontaneously drop to their knees, including Han Xinran, who is busy at work. She hears hurried footsteps, then sees a pair of brand-new black official boots and the hem of a neat, pale-green official robe sweep toward her like a cloud. A voice she knows all too well reaches her ears, gentle and warm. With everyone watching, he helps her to her feet, his touch tender. “Xinran, I’ve come to take you home.” The crowd erupts at once. Their cheers suddenly surround them, and before Han Xinran can react, Feng Yu draws her into his arms and tenderly kisses her temple. Theme: You strive for the nation, and I fight for the people!