Married First, Love Later
A lovesick powerful minister and a career-minded female historian
Xu Wei, a court historian, was about to retire and return to his hometown. Everything had been going smoothly.
Then Wen Ren Cheng, the chancellor feared by everyone in the capital, objected. He claimed the Xu family had once promised him a marriage alliance, and he demanded they keep their word. Otherwise, Xu Wei would have to remain a court historian until the day he died.
His words sent the entire Xu family into a panic.
Just a month earlier, the eldest Xu daughter had gotten engaged to the Censorate's family. He knew that perfectly well.
But Chancellor Wen Ren did not care. "The eldest Xu daughter is already married off, but there's still the second daughter. In any case, I will marry someone from the Xu family."
At the time, the youngest Xu daughter, Xu Fengyuan, had just returned from studying abroad. When she heard about this, she went to the chancellor's residence herself to argue with him.
Looking at the young woman before him, he threatened her. "You know my standing at court. If you offend me, do you think your Xu family will have any peaceful days left?"
A few days later, the Xu family gave their answer.
"The third daughter is willing to marry into the chancellor's household."
Wen Ren Cheng was already overjoyed when he heard the news.
Blurb Two: Xu Fengyuan had studied away from home since childhood. After many years, she returned and took her second sister's place in marrying the powerful minister Wen Ren Cheng.
After taking up the post of court historian, she intended to keep her head down, do her job, and wait for the right chance to divorce Wen Ren Cheng. But as they spent time together, she unexpectedly discovered that they had met ten years earlier.
Back then, Wen Ren Cheng had been penniless and nearly frozen to death in the snow. Xu Fengyuan had reached out and saved him. They had not met again in the ten years that followed. Xu Fengyuan traveled far and wide with her master, while Wen Ren Cheng climbed step by step to the position of chancellor.
For power and status, he remained unfailingly loyal to the emperor, never showing the slightest disobedience.
She, too, carried the world in her heart, worrying for her country and its people, and devoted herself entirely to the prosperity of Daxing.
But when the times changed and enemy forces invaded once more, seeking to seize Daxing, they finally saw another side of the empire.
"This subject has someone he loves, someone who stands above all the people."
I can die for Daxing, and I can also willingly become a traitor to Daxing for the person I love.
Theme: Sincerity is rewarded when you give it wholeheartedly.
