Gu Jiayue was the childhood friend of Prince Lu Yan. They had known each other since they were young and shared a deep love. To claim the throne, Lu Yan married a noblewoman from a powerful family, while a twist of fate led Gu Jiayue to marry Xie Yuanrang, Lu Yan's trusted aide.
Xie Yuanrang was as refined as an orchid and as bright as the moon. He treated her with courtesy, consideration, and care. But his heart belonged to someone else. They were less like husband and wife than host and guest.
Gu Jiayue always believed Xie Yuanrang had married her only as a stopgap, to help Lu Yan eliminate a potential worry. Once everything was settled, they would naturally divorce. It wasn't until the day she saw the normally impassive Xie Yuanrang with bloodshot eyes, punching Lu Yan hard enough to split his lip, that she heard him snarl, "Stay away from my wife!"
Only then did she realize that Xie Yuanrang seemed to be... hopelessly in love with her.
Xie Yuanrang was born on the same day as Lu Yan, but his life seemed to be nothing more than an extension of Lu Yan's. As Lu Yan's cousin on his mother's side, he had been taught from childhood to put Lu Yan first in all things, and never to surpass him, however extraordinary his abilities might be.
He could read people's hearts and never competed with anyone. Gentle, courteous, respectful, and self-effacing, he kept a low profile while waiting for the right moment to climb higher.
But after meeting Gu Jiayue, for the first time in his life, he found something he had to fight for.
He wanted to claim every bit of her goodness for himself.
Prince or emperor, it made no difference. This time, he would not yield.
A deceptively gentle, calculating, cold-hearted minister x a kindhearted, fallen noblewoman
Blurb written August 8, 2023, and archived.
Theme: Cherish the present
