Jade Behind Vermilion Gates

Hu Ningyu was born into a humble family.

The Hu family had a tradition of farming and scholarship. Though they were not especially prominent, they were considered a major clan in Qingshui Town.

With her hardworking mother and ambitious father, their branch of the family prospered after they split from the rest, accumulating a modest fortune.

They had enough money to support her father's studies and his pursuit of an official career. He lived up to everyone's expectations, steadily advancing until he passed the highest imperial examination.

Hu Ningyu went from being the daughter of a licentiate to the young lady of a provincial graduate, and then to the daughter of a jinshi.

Her father was appointed to an official post away from the capital, and she and her mother went with him. They watched him rise from a lowly county magistrate to a prefect, and then to an assistant commissioner in a province.

More than a decade flew by. Her father's career went smoothly, and the family enjoyed a comfortable life.

The only unexpected turn came in the eighteenth year of Pingwu, when Hu's father went to the capital to report on his duties. The emperor issued an imperial marriage decree, naming his daughter as Prince An's consort.

And that Prince An turned out to be the beggar boy who had once stayed with their family as a companion for his daughter.

Bonus Scene:

The marriage decree had been issued. As they left the Hall of Diligent Governance, Hu's father broke out in a cold sweat and stopped Prince An.

“My daughter was young and foolish back then. I hope Your Highness can forgive any offense she may have caused. But she is simple-minded and carefree, utterly unfit to be a princess consort. I beg Your Highness to explain this to His Majesty, so he can revoke the decree before it is too late.”

Prince An stopped Assistant Commissioner Hu, who was about to bow, and took a letter from his sleeve.

“A-Yu only wants to be a princess consort. Why are you standing in the way, Father-in-law?”

Assistant Commissioner Hu recognized his daughter's handwriting. The letter contained only a few lines, but every word was brimming with petulance.

“A-Mao. My sworn enemy has married into a powerful marquis's family in the capital. Last time, you said that if I became a princess consort, nobody would dare step all over me again. Please make it happen for me. I'll be going to the capital with Father soon. It would be best if you could make me a princess consort.”

Hu's father clutched the letter and ground his teeth. That scoundrel had been away from the Hu family for years, yet he had kept writing to his daughter and sweet-talking her all this time.

When Hu Ningyu was little, she had a Pekingese. When the dog died of old age, Ningyu cried for two whole days.

She cried until she was exhausted, then fell asleep. When she woke up, she cried again.

To cheer her up, her father carried her out to the street and promised to buy her anything she wanted.

Ningyu pointed at Qi Tingyue, who was fighting a beggar for food, and, through tear-filled eyes, told her father she wanted to buy the little beggar who couldn't win against the others.

Ningyu brought him home and named him A-Mao.

Her dog had been called A-Mao, and this A-Mao could never win a fight for food either.

Like a tumbleweed blown by the wind, I was fortunate enough to catch the moon's eye.

*Slice of life / Childhood sweethearts / A happy family's everyday life / The story begins in childhood

Theme: Being someone's favorite