Love's a liar, so where is your conscience?
Young Lady Jiang Yu, Princess of Zhaoyang, was summoned to the palace as a child. Among the noble young ladies, she was outstanding in learning, character, and looks.
The Empress Dowager doted on her and was determined to marry her off to her nephew, Xie Zhiwei. They would be betrothed as soon as he passed the imperial examinations.
After Jiang Yu left the palace, plenty of young noblemen tried to win her favor. Pei Jin, heir to the Marquis of Dingyuan, was especially persistent. Relying on his handsome looks, he showed up wherever the princess went, whether it was a spring outing, a horse ride, or a poetry gathering.
The heir's old friends suddenly noticed that their good buddy seemed bewitched. He'd given up being the capital's number-one playboy, picked up books for the imperial examinations, and declared that he was going to become the top scholar.
Friend: ?
That autumn, when the provincial examinations ended, people across the capital chatted about three things over tea. First, Young Master Xie Zhiwei of the Xie family had indeed come first in all three stages of the examinations and passed as the top scholar. He was riding high.
Second, two days after the top scholar's parade, rumors spread that the palace intended to marry Princess Zhaoyang to him. It was truly a double celebration for the Xie family.
The third thing was strange. The famously carefree heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan had made the list too, and the emperor himself had named him third in the palace examination. It was simply astonishing.
The Prince of Xuan's household grew ever closer to the Xie family. Their marriage alliance seemed all but certain, and everyone praised the pair as a match made in heaven, a perfect union of beauty and talent.
Pei Jin, gritting his teeth: ? You people must be blind!
Listening to the rumors outside, Jiang Yu closed the lid of her teacup and could only sigh. "Our parents arranged this match, and the matchmaker has made the agreement. Pei Jin, don't make things difficult for me."
His long eyelashes glistened with tears as he ground his teeth and shouted, "Jiang Congxin, do you have a conscience?!"
When Jiang Yu entered the palace, she had no one to rely on. In order to live up to the words "kindhearted and intelligent," she did many things against her own wishes. But when it came to her own marriage, she decided to follow her heart for once.
(That's what happens when a little dog, drenched by the rain, runs up to her whimpering.)
After the wedding, a friend asked Jiang Yu why she had agreed to marry into the Marquis's household.
Jiang Yu could only sigh again and spread her hands helplessly. "I couldn't help it. You don't know how pitiful he looked."
Pei Jin objected. "Anyone with eyes can see you should choose me over Xie Zhiwei."
Jiang Yu: ^_^
Pei Jin: O.o Wife, cuddle me!
Before you ever came my way, I'd already run ten thousand steps toward you.
Noble lady X playboy
Theme: Follow your heart
