A Match Made in Heaven

Alternate Republican-era setting / authoritarian patriarch / scheming and coercive courtship / ten-year age gap / childbirth

Song Weien was promised to the young master of the Zhuang family from the day he was born.

Zhuang Hengxu was unruly and rebellious from childhood, while Song Weien was obedient and well-behaved. One lively, the other quiet, everyone said they were a match made in heaven.

Because of this arrangement, Song Weien grew up studying, practicing calligraphy, learning manners, and learning arithmetic alongside Zhuang Hengxu.

Song Weien's mother died when he was young, and he knew his family was in decline and that he was marrying above his station. Still, the Zhuang elders doted on him, and he looked forward to joining their family soon, settling the matter, and serving them dutifully.

Of course, that did not include Zhuang Chongchen, the Zhuang family's current powerholder and Zhuang Hengxu's younger uncle.

Zhuang Chongchen had said more than once that Song Weien was still too young and there was no need to rush the marriage.

When Song Weien was little, he heard the adults say that Zhuang Chongchen was a living King of Hell who had crawled out of a pile of corpses, a man who could survive even with a gaping hole in his chest.

Song Weien was timid, and hearing that was enough to make him cry. So when he was young, he would cry hard whenever he saw Zhuang Chongchen or caught the smell of gunpowder on him.

As he grew older, whenever he saw Zhuang Chongchen in the main hall, Song Weien would turn and run, huffing and puffing, only to trip over his own feet and fall right in front of him.

Zhuang Chongchen would smile and reach down to pick him up. His callused hand pinched Song Weien's soft cheek. "Weien, why are you running?"

Of course I'm running because I saw you!

Song Weien didn't dare say it aloud, so he only turned away and ran even faster.

The older he got, the more he realized that Zhuang Chongchen wasn't actually a bad person. Since taking power, he had supported and helped the Song family, and he treated Song Weien well, always asking after his health and studies. This man, who had weathered blades and bloodshed, was as gentle and considerate with him as an older brother next door.

Song Weien could feel his kindness, but he was still afraid of his uncle to the core. Even so, he had decided that once he married into the family, he would serve his uncle well too.

But things did not go as hoped. Zhuang Hengxu suddenly decided to study abroad for two years, leaving Song Weien anxiously waiting for his return.

Barely six months after the ship set sail, Zhuang Chongchen handed Song Weien a letter from Zhuang Hengxu.

In it, Zhuang Hengxu said he had met someone overseas who understood him, that he wanted to marry for love, and that he would no longer accept an arranged marriage.

Song Weien felt as if he had been struck by lightning. If he couldn't marry into the Zhuang family and receive their protection, what would happen to the Song family?

Clutching the cruel letter, he cried uncontrollably.

Suddenly, fingers roughened by calluses wiped the tears from his cheek. Zhuang Chongchen said calmly, "Weien, Hengxu isn't the only son in the Zhuang family. Why not marry me instead?"

Marry Zhuang Chongchen? Marry his uncle?!

Song Weien had no time to think. The Zhuang family had made their proposal, and the Song family had no choice. They could only send him to the bridal chamber with joyful smiles.

On their wedding night, Song Weien sobbed and pushed at Zhuang Chongchen, whose body was hard as iron. "Uncle... you can't."

Zhuang Chongchen said, "Weien, you should call me husband now."

--

Zhuang Hengxu returned home after a long and arduous journey, thinking he would soon marry Song Weien. Instead, he found Song Weien in Zhuang Chongchen's arms.

Zhuang Hengxu demanded an explanation like a madman.

Song Weien only said, "Didn't you send a letter home saying you'd already found someone and didn't want to marry me?"

Zhuang Hengxu shouted, "When the hell did I send a letter like that?!"

Zhuang Chongchen, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke. At the same time, his palm gently stroked Song Weien's slightly rounded belly. "Hengxu, watch your language. Your aunt is pregnant. You mustn't upset her."

Note: This is an extremely patriarchal story, and the pursuer has very little morality and is despicable!

There will be pregnancy and childbirth, and the pregnancy will probably last a long time.

Specific details are subject to revision.

Theme: True love above all.