Spoiled, looks-obsessed young lady x stoic, restrained crown prince
Gu Wanzhi, the only daughter of the Gu family of Jiangnan, had always been spoiled. Recently, she had done something truly earth-shattering.
Unhappy with the marriage her parents had arranged, she pointed at a suitable-looking man on the street at random. "That one. I want him."
Without a word, her personal guards went up, tied him up, and brought him back to the Gu family.
Her father tried to reason with her. "Dear, your birth charts don't match."
Gu Wanzhi scoffed. "So what if they don't match? Is he going to bring down the whole Gu family?"
Her mother also tried to gently persuade her. "Dear, this man's background is unknown, and his looks..."
Gu Wanzhi's eyes widened. "Mother, don't lie with your eyes open."
Her mother was at a loss for words. It was true... The man was strikingly handsome, like the breeze and the moon.
Well, never mind. As long as Wanzhi was willing to marry him, the Gu family could afford anything.
They could just consider it... taking in a son-in-law.
\
And so, the Gu family hastily brought a husband home.
Though rushed, the wedding was anything but shabby.
Ten miles of red wedding finery and eight sedan chairs loaded with betrothal gifts: this absurd marriage was celebrated in the grandest style.
But not long after Gu Wanzhi and the "wife" she'd paid a fortune to marry into the family had fallen in love, he disappeared.
In full view of everyone, under a tight guard, he vanished into thin air.
Gu Wanzhi didn't particularly care.
She had only grabbed a man on the road to avoid marrying into another noble family. Now all of Jiangnan knew she had a husband, so no one would bother her about it again.
\
Three years passed in a flash.
She was admiring the willows by West Lake when, in the distance, she saw a man galloping along the official road on a white horse with a silver saddle.
Wasn't that her missing, bargain-bin son-in-law?
She waved to him cheerfully. "Hey~"
Before she could finish, two guards in black armor stepped in front of her. "What kind of commoner dares show such disrespect to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
The word "wife" caught in Gu Wanzhi's throat.
Cover art by: Cat Head Shake Shake
Theme: Everyone is equal
