A prince of the Jin Dynasty suffers a relapse of an old illness, and his life hangs by a thread.
The emperor orders that the birth dates and times of all unmarried women across the land be collected, so that a bride can be chosen to bring good fortune to the great general Wei Mian.
An imperial decree arrives at the home of Ruan Qingjie, a sixth-rank official, and his legitimate daughter is chosen.
The legitimate daughter throws a fit, cries, and threatens to hang herself, refusing to marry a "living corpse." With no other choice, Ruan Qingjie comes up with a switcheroo: he brings back the concubine-born daughter he sent to live on a country estate as a child.
Though Ruan Ruan doesn't believe the old Daoist priests' fortune-telling, she thinks it over and realizes marrying a general with one foot in the grave isn't such a bad deal. At least she'll have enough to eat and warm clothes every day.
She won't have to fulfill her duties as a wife, which is much better than marrying some other stinking man!
She plans to be a dutiful widow, but on her wedding night she discovers--
Her unconscious husband's eyelashes flutter.
His complexion gets better by the day.
Not only does he look healthier, even his half-paralyzed leg has recovered!
Later, the secret of the switcheroo is discovered.
With her life at stake, Ruan Ruan packs her bags in the dead of night and prepares to run. But as she tries to leave the city, someone stops her.
The man rides a tall horse and fixes her with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "My lady, where do you think you're going?"
Her escape fails, and Ruan Ruan is dragged back to the prince's residence.
People later say that ever since the great general married a bride chosen to bring him good fortune, not only did his illness get better, but his personality changed too.
Only Ruan Ruan knows, as she supports her slender willow waist day after day and scowls while muttering, "You old fox."
*
[Little scene]
Wei Mian always remembered the snowy night when he was on the verge of death and a little girl saved him.
Years later, when they meet again, his little savior is counting on her fingers to work out when he'll finally die.
"Since you're in such a hurry, my lady..." He smiles and presses her into the brocade quilt. "Why not help this general bring some good fortune first?"
[Screenshot saved]
Theme: You have to go through hardships to find beautiful love.
