(1)
A piece of "good fortune" dropped into her lap: Song Yu, heir to the Duke of Zhenguo, was gravely ill, and Xu Qingdai, an overlooked concubine's daughter whose birth chart matched his, was chosen as the bride to bring him good luck.
Qingdai had no choice, so she readily agreed, but laid down two conditions: first, her birth mother must be freed from servitude; second, her younger brother must be sent to Zhangtai Academy.
The wedding was rushed. On their wedding night, she lifted her own veil and looked at the man on the bridal bed, marveling to herself: What a handsome man. What a pity he's destined to die young.
Song Yu had never used a maidservant before, but Qingdai cheerfully took over the task of looking after him. To ease her loneliness, she poured out all the secrets she'd kept to herself since childhood.
Later, Song Yu woke up.
Qingdai was a sensible girl who knew where she stood. This stunning young man had always been picky, which was why he had waited until now to marry. Their divorce was only a matter of time, and she had no desire to struggle in this grand household. So she focused on building her career, occasionally helping her highborn mother-in-law find him a suitable match.
Unfortunately, he repeatedly rejected her well-meaning efforts and even subjected her to increasingly unbearable "torment." At last, Qingdai understood: the young master probably wasn't interested in women. So she politely declined the matchmaking job, and finally found some peace and quiet.
(2)
Song Yu was born to privilege and had grown up above the clouds. He had certainly seen his share of beauties, but at twenty-two he was still unmarried, because his fated match had yet to appear.
He took an arrow meant for the emperor. As he lay gravely ill, it felt as if a dull knife were carving away at him, forcing him to feel his life ebb away. Then one day, a clear, sweet voice broke through the darkness and solitude like a ray of light, reigniting his fading will to live.
He desperately tried to open his eyes and see who had unsettled his heart.
Bonus scene:
Thanks to the Duke's household's support, her medical skills were recognized. So she gathered her courage and went to Song Yu, cautiously asking, "My lord, would you reconsider our marriage?"
Song Yu set down the book in his hand. His long, elegant fingers tapped lightly on the table as he raised his amber eyes with an amused smile. "You mean we still haven't consummated our marriage? In that case, I have wronged you. No time like the present. Tonight, your husband..."
Qingdai swore to the heavens, "I absolutely don't mean that! I mean, we're not right for each other. Someone else should take the position of the Duke's heir's wife!"
Song Yu smiled. "We've already shared a bed. Wouldn't it be awful of you to take what you want and then abandon me?"
Qingdai stared at him in alarm. "That was to take care of you! Besides, everyone knows I'm the one who married above her station. This marriage was only a temporary arrangement. Don't worry, no one will accuse you of taking what you want and abandoning me."
Song Yu smiled through clenched teeth. "You've got it wrong. You're the one who took what you wanted and abandoned me. You've already seen my body, and I've given you my innocence. You can't just refuse to take responsibility! And one more thing: I only know how to bury a wife. Understand?"
Bury a wife. Qingdai shrank back. "...I understand." She had better understand!
She had considered becoming a discarded wife, but not a dead one.
Reading guide: 1. Both leads are devoted only to each other; happy ending.
2. Set in an imaginary world.
Theme: No matter when or where you are, stay optimistic and be a happy person.
Teacher, I haven't seen you for a long time