The Prince Keeps Trying to Die

Arranged marriage to love / angsty redemption story

[Calm, highly intelligent female archaeologist x volatile prince who's barely alive]

Li Lingyan is the person in the entire world most afraid of Qi Yan dying.

And Qi Yan is the person in the entire world most eager to die.

*

In history, the treacherous held power in the Zhaoming Dynasty, and the people lived in misery. The dynasty fell after only three generations.

During an archaeological dig, Li Lingyan uncovers half a tombstone inscription and unexpectedly transmigrates to the Zhaoming Dynasty. By imperial decree, she is married to Prince Jing, Qi Yan, the least powerful and least influential prince in Jingzhou.

In the original history, Qi Yan drinks poisoned wine and dies on the eve of his wedding. But the imperial decree has already been issued, so his bride-to-be enters the prince's residence carrying his memorial tablet. The woman is infamous, and soon dies a horrible death after being implicated in a case.

The history books sum up her fate in eight characters: tendons pulled out, skin flayed, tongue torn six inches.

Li Lingyan feels her tongue tighten and immediately begins doing everything she can to stop him from taking his own life.

He drinks poison; she cries and makes a scene.

He wounds his own arm; she jumps into a lake to force him to rescue her.

He's falsely accused and resolves to die in prison; she defies the powerful and overcomes every obstacle to protect him.

But he still wants to die, so she might as well keep up the act.

One day, she sees that he's in a foul mood, his face dark with displeasure. She asks him all day long, but he won't tell her why. She assumes he's about to make trouble again.

That night, however, he simply holds her in his arms, eyes red, looking as though he's suffered some great injustice. "Why didn't you call me your husband today?"

*

As a discarded pawn, Qi Yan suffered bullying and humiliation from childhood, and never fought back.

He doesn't care what people take from him. The empire, power, and riches are all illusions. He has never wanted anything in this life.

But Li Lingyan, slender as she is, always insists on standing in front of him. She helps him clear the names of loyal officials, works for the people's welfare, and guides him step by step to the throne.

His wife is too dazzling, and there are always people coveting her. Watching her smile at someone else, Qi Yan suddenly feels something growing wildly inside his heart.

What is it?

He begins to feel afraid, afraid that he doesn't possess what she wants. He gathers the courage to approach her, but she instinctively draws back.

Is she deceiving him?

She must be deceiving him.

Then he'll just keep her tied to him forever.

Later, on the battlefield, covered in blood, he still refuses to sign the divorce papers, even at the cost of his life.

Does his clever wife really not know that a drowning man will never let go of the only boat he has?

Reader's guide:

1. Li Lingyan (Ling, second tone)

2. Shuangchu, one-on-one, happy ending

3. No real-life inspirations; please don't overanalyze

Theme: Live well