The Minister's Wife

[Blurb] On a stormy, rain-soaked night, candlelight shimmers through the imperial palace. A beauty stands like jade. The young First-Rank Lady of the State comes before the emperor to beg for her brother's life. The emperor, consumed by obsession, presses his face close and asks, "I want you for a lifetime. Will you agree, Madam?" The woman sinks to her knees and lowers her head, like a white crane bending its neck, crushed by overwhelming power into a posture of despair. Her voice is low and cold. "It is my good fortune, Your Majesty." Another stormy night, a year later, the emperor lingers in the Noble Consort's palace, refusing to leave. With a frown, he says, "The rain is coming down so hard. What if I slip and fall when I leave?!" His attendant chimes in solicitously, "His Majesty's health must not be harmed in the slightest. It would be best for him to spend the night in Your Highness's palace." The emperor murmurs, "Mm," then sneaks a glance at the Noble Consort, the one who holds his heart. The beautiful Noble Consort acts as though she has heard nothing. Her expression remains indifferent as she silently turns another page of the book in her hands. Coming soon: Forced Marriage In this life, Xie Shu hated Ruan Wanwan most of all. She was engaged to his younger brother, but when the Xie family fell on hard times, she called off the wedding. His brother was so enraged that he died in battle. As soon as Xie Shu rose to the highest ranks of government, he used his power to ruin the excellent match Ruan Wanwan was about to make, forcing her to marry his younger brother's memorial tablet. On their wedding night, the bridal chamber was draped in white funeral banners. When the frail, delicate bride's veil was lifted, tears streamed from her beautiful eyes, like pearls shattering on snow-white skin and a face as lovely as a flower, so heart-rending that it seemed to shatter the soul. Everyone present knew Ruan Wanwan's notorious reputation for breaking off the engagement, but faced with such a fragile, lovely bride, they couldn't help feeling pity. Only Xie Shu was hard-hearted, deeply satisfied with his revenge. But just as satisfied as Xie Shu had been then, he would later spend many sleepless nights in regret, his heart breaking with remorse. When Xie Shu forced Ruan Wanwan to marry the memorial tablet, he wanted her to spend the rest of her life drowning in regretful tears. In the end, he got his wish, though in a different way: Ruan Wanwan would spend every night weak and helpless, her eyes misty with tears. Theme: May we find one another's heart and stay together until our hair turns white.