Holding Power

【Wise, wooden girl × flamboyant, arrogant young master】 Zhang Yi, the youngest daughter of the newly ennobled Marquis’s household, has been exceptionally clever, composed, and levelheaded since childhood. In everyone’s eyes, she is the perfect daughter, perfect wife, and perfect junior. Everyone assumes she will marry her cousin, the Prince of Qin, and become his princess consort, perhaps even… empress. Until an imperial decree orders her to marry Dou Rong, a lawless, willful young man. Everyone laments, saying a bright pearl has been left in the dust. Zhang Yi remains calm, closes the Genealogy Register beside her, and obediently heads to the capital for her wedding. Dou Rong was born into the prestigious Dou clan of Fufeng. The current empress is his grandaunt. Unlike his brothers, who are either brilliant scholars, exceptional martial artists, or both, he still refuses to enter officialdom through family connections at seventeen, and refuses to marry. Call him a scoundrel, if you like, but he never abuses his power or behaves improperly. He does not visit brothels, oppress the common people, or commit the sort of murderous, villainous acts that would make him a brute. Call him ambitious, and you still cannot think of a single good thing to say about him. He spends his days doing nothing, interested in nothing. Until an imperial decree binds the two of them together. At last, he finds something he wants to do: break off the engagement. One does everything she can to escape; the other is obedient and courteous. One is carefree and uninhibited; the other follows every rule. One falls deeper with every step; the other stays calm and composed. As Dou Rong tries desperately to end their engagement, his resolve crumbles bit by bit with every encounter. After they marry, Zhang Yi is no longer as cold and distant as before. Dou Rong is overjoyed. He knew that if he kept his promise, she would come to like him at least a little. Even if it was not much, there was some affection there. Until the Prince of Qin, now Crown Prince, comes to visit and asks Zhang Yi whether she wants a divorce and to leave the Dou household. Through the door, he hears Zhang Yi answer with the same coldness as before: “The Dou family hasn’t fallen completely yet. I can’t leave.” So… so she never loved him at all… So… she married him only for her cousin… What about him, then… Note: The setting draws inspiration from the Tang dynasty but is fictional. The aristocratic clans mentioned are intended only to represent the oppression of class in feudal times, and bear little resemblance to real history. All characters from aristocratic and meritorious families are fictional. Please refer to actual history for historical facts. Theme: Ambition is never a derogatory term, nor does it belong to any one gender.