The Golden Threaded Robe

In the sixteenth year of the Ding'an era, the second young lady of the Wei family was wrongfully imprisoned. Even until her death, she could not escape the label of murderer. After she died, her soul wandered the world for many years before she learned that what happened that day was not only her nightmare, but also part of a vast conspiracy. She had been picked up by Madam Wei at a Buddhist shrine. The real culprit was Madam Wei’s own daughter. Once her birth mother, the Princess Commandery, learned the whole truth, she fought her enemies until both sides were badly wounded. The Wei family reaped the benefits and rose to power. One day, she awoke half an hour before the wrongful conviction. Beneath the blazing sun, she looked at the bronze-and-wood gate that had sealed her fate, turned around, and resolutely walked down another path. “Miss, where are you going? Third Miss has been waiting for you in the back hills for ages.” Her maid tried anxiously to stop her, her voice growing shriller. “You can’t go over there! That’s His Highness the Crown Prince’s villa. He’s moody, violent, and murderous. If you trespass, you’ll die!” Wei Nian didn’t care. So what? Compared to the people around her, that man seemed downright kind. After all, on her final day, he was the one who had left her a shred of dignity. But for a long time afterward, that madman drove Wei Nian so crazy she wanted to commit a real murder for once. - The Male Lead’s Story A madman who keeps trying to infect the female lead with his madness, only to have her cure him instead. The male lead, early on: I like her. I want her to be just like me. The male lead, in the middle: I’ll build her a grand tower and make her a golden-threaded gown. The male lead, later on: Zhenzhen, don’t be mad. Please talk to me. Reader’s Guide Both leads are sexually inexperienced. One-on-one romance. The female lead’s family is a princely house with a different surname, so she and the male lead are not blood-related. If it’s not your thing, please drop it sooner rather than later. Reborn Before Breaking Off the Engagement Shen Yunshang devoted herself to her husband’s family, only to end up gravely ill while her husband planned to take a second wife. On her deathbed, she remembered that she once had a fiancé. He couldn’t say a kind word to save his life, and could make you choke just by talking, but he was handsome and well-off. If only she’d swallowed her pride back then... Pei Xingzhao worked himself to the bone for his wife’s family and ultimately gave his life for them, only to receive a divorce letter in return. On his deathbed, he remembered that he once had a fiancée. She had a terrible temper and blew up at the slightest provocation, but she was beautiful and kind. If only he’d swallowed his pride back then... When they awoke, they were back at the moment they broke off their engagement after their falling-out. Shen Yunshang peeked at the handsome young man beside her, only to meet his sparkling puppy-dog eyes. They both looked away at the same time. “We’re not breaking off the engagement!” The Shen elders: ...Didn’t you say yesterday that you’d never marry Pei Rong, even if every other man in the world were dead? The Pei elders: ...Didn’t you say yesterday that you’d rather be a lifelong bachelor than marry Shen Qing? Shen Yunshang nudged the young man with her elbow, awkwardly asking, “What do you mean by that?” Pei Xingzhao nudged her back, eyes darting away. “What do you mean by that?” They exchanged a glance, then looked away again and said in unison, “Maybe we should give it another try.” They both turned aside and smiled. Why not give it another try? Later, the truth came out. Shen Yunshang crunched sunflower seeds, arms folded, and sneered. “Well, well. You went and worked like a beast for someone else, only to get divorced on your deathbed. What an achievement!” Pei Xingzhao leaned against a pillar with a cup of tea. “You went and worked like a beast for someone else, then tried to take a second wife on your deathbed. What a talent!” They both lifted their heads to look at the sky. They were as bad as each other. Neither could get under the other’s skin. The Bride Snatcher Zhu Yu’s parents died tragically when she was young. For years, she was cautious, gentle, and demure, but on the day her elder cousin was to marry, she did something that shocked everyone. She stole the bridegroom. Red silk filled the sky, guests crowded the hall, and Zhu Yu stood alone in the center wearing a wedding dress. “I’m the true cousin of the Shi family. I’m the bride today.” The hall fell silent. Not a sound could be heard. Zhu Yu fearlessly faced her grandmother’s furious glare. But was she truly unafraid? Not entirely. Her legs were trembling. Still, there was no way she would give up her marriage while her elder sister got a wedding procession stretching ten miles, only to have Zhu Yu married off as a second wife. That simply wasn’t right. She had seen the young master of the Mu family, and she liked his face. She had given in for seventeen years, but she wouldn’t give up this man! - Mu Su had been hauled out of bed after a night of drinking to get married. He yawned repeatedly, and his patience wore thin as he waited for the bride to appear. Just then, his trusted aide reported, “Young master, someone is stealing the bride.” Mu Su immediately turned his horse around. “Let him have her.” His aide: ...The one stealing the bride is Second Miss Zhu. Mu Su froze. He was the one being stolen? “Second Miss Zhu is the true cousin of the Shi family. She says that today she either marries you, or no one does.” The sleepiness on Mu Su’s face faded, replaced by a hint of interest. This young lady certainly had a fiery temperament. “Tell the Zhu family that the Mu family is marrying a daughter of the Shi family. Today I’ll either marry Second Miss Zhu, or no one will marry at all!” He had never liked meek women. Having a spineless father at home was quite enough. A few days later Mu Su stared at Zhu Yu. “You dared to steal a wedding, but you’re afraid to argue?” Zhu Yu gazed at his exceptionally handsome face. After a long pause, she managed, “...Maybe I could try to learn?” She had spent seventeen years learning to be gentle and virtuous. Who knew that none of those qualities would be of any use in her husband’s family? There was no mother-in-law to keep her in line, and her husband was healthy and wealthy. She rather liked this marriage. If all it took was arguing, then she could learn. Mu Su: ... Zhu Yu: She acted tough exactly once, so her husband thought she was a firebrand. Now she’s trying to act fiery, but arguing is so hard. It’s much easier to hit someone. Mu Su: He thought he’d married a fiery wife, but she turned out to be a wimp. What can he do? Protect her, of course. But how does his timid wife manage to hit people while crying? My Husband Is the Sweetest Man in the World Xie Heng, the only heir of the Prince of Ming’s household, was born weak and sickly. The Prince of Ming doted on him as if he were his own life, spoiling him into a sharp-tongued brat. His words were as poisonous as the finest venom in the world, and everyone in the capital avoided him like the plague. In early spring, General Liu returned victorious, and the emperor held a banquet at the Luhua Terrace to welcome him home. Amid the festivities, the ministers offered their congratulations and the emperor bestowed rewards. The Liu family was the center of attention. While everyone was enjoying themselves, one of the emperor’s attendants suddenly hurried over and said, “A young lady got drunk and is molesting the heir of the Prince of Ming’s household. The guards can’t pull her away.” General Liu was astounded. He had been away from the capital for so long. Had the noble young ladies here become so uninhibited? Curious, he looked over, then felt his heart sink. The woman clinging to the heir was none other than his own daughter, who had returned to the capital with him. Although he had only just returned, he knew that the heir was the Prince of Ming’s beloved son. He caught sight of the Prince of Ming’s blazing eyes from the corner of his own, leapt to his feet, and shouted, “Ungrateful girl, let go of that precious treasure!” In the strange silence that followed, Liu Xiang reached out and poked Xie Heng’s cheek. “Precious treasure? He’s not made of gold. He’s soft.” “Father, I’ve snatched a husband for myself. Take a look. Isn’t he handsome?” Xie Heng glared furiously at Liu Xiang. Even his personal guards had failed to pull her out of his arms. Through gritted teeth, he said, “You’re dead!” Liu Xiang leaned in and gave him a loud kiss. “To die beneath peonies is to die a happy ghost.” - Xie Heng: Eighteen years of getting my way and bossing people around, and then I meet a madwoman. She must be my comeuppance! Liu Xiang: Eighteen years of eating sand at the border, and I get a peerlessly handsome husband. I deserve him! Theme: Hold on to your convictions and keep your heart kind.