In the space of half a year, Su Yuntang went from the cherished daughter of a wealthy family to an orphan whose family had fallen into ruin, living under someone else's roof after losing both parents and having her engagement broken off.
How can anyone simply resign themselves to fate?
First step: choose a husband for herself.
Hmm, that gentleman riding in the parade looks pretty good.
That could be a way forward.
So she cast a sidelong glance in the temple, letting a willing man take the bait, and passed him a flower to convey her feelings.
The gentleman was very confident and got straight to the point:
“Miss, are you interested in me?”
Su Yuntang broke into a smile, her bright eyes like water. It wasn't out of the question.
But she lowered her head with a bashful look, her pretty face blooming like a peach blossom.
And so a matchmaker came to call, and Su Yuntang became a wife of the Gu family.
Her husband was talented. He seemed ambitious, but was actually content with life and happy to let things be.
That wouldn't do.
The most important step was to push her husband to strive for success and climb ever higher.
Becoming a titled lady was the right path.
Oh, her husband was far too capable. In the blink of an eye, he became a first-rank general, and she became a first-rank lady.
*
For a hundred years, the Gu family had loyally served the throne, until the emperor grew wary of them. Their military power was taken away, and within a few years they became a family of military households in a small town.
Gu Yu wasn't too affected by this. It had happened two generations before him.
The only thing he learned was that no matter how high you climb, it can all come to nothing in the end.
Better to marry a lovely wife and enjoy a warm bed.
His wife was gentle and sensible. He'd chosen well.
His wife was so wonderful. He couldn't let her suffer, so he'd just rise a few ranks.
His wife treated him even better, and he worried the inner quarters would be lonely.
Maybe having a concubine wouldn't be such a bad idea?
He could focus on making his way in the world. The household affairs weren't a problem, were they?
So it turned out his wife didn't care about him.
His wife moved with ease among the noblewomen and managed the household impeccably.
In her spare time, she listened to music, watched plays, napped, and read poetry.
Every so often she'd read a few popular stories and laugh as she commented on them.
In conversation, she was quite dismissive of stories about young ladies who refused to behave like proper young ladies and instead eloped.
My dear wife, how can you be so dismissive of love?
“Hmm? What did you say, my husband?”
Gu Yu nodded. Seeing that she looked as usual, he kept his feelings hidden in his eyes.
“My lady, you're absolutely right.”
My wife doesn't understand love, but I love her. Maybe that's enough.
Sob! Why doesn't my wife love me?!
*
A woman who can handle any situation, graceful and socially adept, beautiful, scheming, and black-hearted, yet utterly clueless about love, female lead VS a straightforward man who loves you more the harder it is for him to say so, and gets jealous of everything under the sun, male lead
Theme: Rise above adversity and climb higher step by step
Ah ah ah, why don't you update it? It's so beautiful.