Unparalleled Favor

Qingyu's family fell into disgrace. The men were sent to the army, and the women were enslaved. She was assigned to a low-ranking soldier at a frontier garrison. Once a pampered young lady from an official family, she had fallen lower than mud.

At least it was better than being forced to serve as a camp prostitute, Qingyu told herself, lowering her head as she followed the man. Even an ant clings to life. She was just a young woman who wanted to live.

But the man went missing on the battlefield, and there was no word from him for years. When he returned, he had become the emperor.

Qingyu calmly looked at her former husband in his imperial robes. "Your Majesty, I remarried many years ago."

Her former husband didn't mind at all. "Then marry again. I need an empress to fill my central palace."

Qingyu had once heard people say that the new emperor was cold and ruthless.

He killed civil officials, slaughtered generals, wiped out powerful in-laws, and had countless lives on his hands.

He seemed to have no heart and had never shown tenderness to anyone, man or woman.

She never expected the new emperor to be her former husband. Even less did she expect the supposedly cruel, bloodthirsty emperor to gently hold her hand and coax her affectionately. "A Qing, would you marry me once more?"

If she would only say yes, he would cherish her in the palm of his hand for the rest of their lives. He would make sure her life was free of storms and muddy roads, and stand with her atop the highest mountains, taking in all the splendor of the world.

Here's a little skit. The male lead doesn't even have a name yet o(╯□╰)o

General: "Your Majesty, I present you with two stunning beauties to enjoy."

Cold sweat ran down the emperor's back. "Does the empress know about this?"

The general shook his head.

Emperor: "Wonderful. Send the two women to the imperial kitchens to work as firewood gatherers."

General: "..."

Emperor: "Ahem. I'm afraid of my wife."

Emperor: "Pass on my decree: anyone who dares offer me beauties again will have their legs broken!"

Officials: "We won't dare, we won't dare."

Theme: A husband and wife who were young together will keep one another company in old age. Hand in hand, they will grow old together.