The day he arrived in the capital owing the price of two bowls of noodles, Shen Chang’an found himself a marriage match.
He’d heard his betrothed’s family owned a grand restaurant in the capital.
It was the very First Restaurant Under Heaven, personally named by the late emperor.
So, carrying an old purse, he went to their door to become the First Restaurant Under Heaven’s live-in son-in-law.
Shen Chang’an had only hoped to get a meal and a place to stay at the First Restaurant Under Heaven.
Who knew his future father-in-law was more than just the owner of the First Restaurant Under Heaven?
His future brother-in-law was more than just the young man most valued by the officials at court.
His future wife really did have a bad temper.
And he
wasn’t Shen Chang’an from the marriage contract at all.
Qian Yanning had always thought she was the luckiest person in the world. She was born in the capital and raised at the Chengping Restaurant.
Her parents loved each other and doted on her, and her older brother always looked out for her.
To her, the lights of Chengping Restaurant seemed as if they would never go out.
Until one day.
A poor young man who owed nothing but the price of three bowls of noodles came to stand outside Chengping Restaurant, an old purse in his hand.
He said:
“Shen Chang’an, here to honor the marriage contract.”
Later on.
Some entered the court.
Some went to the border.
Some were trapped by old cases.
Some ventured out into the world.
Beneath the prosperity, the granaries began to empty.
Beyond the borders, war fires flared again.
And the man who had sheltered her from the storm was slowly walking toward the end of his fate.
Many years later.
The history books recorded:
Emperor Zhaoning ascended the throne.
She opened schools for women and established a new system.
The realm flourished under her rule.
Theme: May peace reign throughout the land.
