A Marriage of Convenience

Shen Yao was stunningly beautiful, with a graceful figure, and caught the eye of the Crown Prince. Her parents, eager to curry favor with him, intended to send her to the Eastern Palace as a concubine. Shen Yao was so angry she laughed. With her unyielding temperament, how could she become someone else's concubine? Just as she was worrying over the matter, Xie Qin, the current Grand Secretary, arrived at her home with a matchmaker. His refined, peerless eyes settled directly on her. He put it simply: "I'll marry her." Shen Yao shivered and decided to take a gamble. "At least I'd be a proper wife. I may as well marry Xie Qin." Only later did she learn that Xie Qin had married her to repay a debt of gratitude. On the eve of their wedding, they came to an agreement: separate bedrooms, no managing the household, and a divorce after two years. One day after their wedding, Shen Yao was set up and accidentally ate some drugged powder. They ended up consummating their marriage by mistake. When she woke up, she felt terribly ashamed. Xie Qin had no feelings for her, and surely didn't want to be tied down either. To avoid awkwardness, it would be best to pretend nothing had happened. * When Xie Qin first entered officialdom, he was brilliant and sharp. While investigating a case, he was hunted down by the mastermind behind it, only to be rescued by a young, beautiful girl. Later, when her marriage was in jeopardy, he protected her and gave her peace of mind with a marriage contract. She didn't want them to be a real married couple, so he indulged her and agreed to all three of her conditions. But one night, the dignified beauty suddenly became alluring. Xie Qin gazed deeply at her. "Will you take responsibility?" Shen Yao's eyes were hazy with drink, and she answered without hesitation. "Isn't that obvious?" Xie Qin let her have her way. The next morning, Xie Qin woke up thinking their relationship had finally been consummated, only to see his lovely wife yawn and ask, drowsy and confused, "Where did you go last night, Grand Secretary? I waited so long for you." Xie Qin raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to deny it?" Not a chance! Marriage first, love later; unrequited love becomes mutual; domestic life. Theme: Persistence is victory.