My Wife Is Cold and Cruel

Lin Dai has superb martial arts skills and leads an organization that helps girls escape after their parents sell them off against their will. One day, she slips up and helps Zhang Niu, the newly betrothed bride of the Song family’s second son, Song Lihe, escape. With Zhang Niu gone, Lin Dai is forced through threats and inducements to take her place as the bride. Song Lihe suffers from an eye condition. His moods are unpredictable, and he is exceptionally perceptive. Lin Dai has to give it everything she has to convincingly play the role of his wife. - Song Lihe gradually senses that something is strange about his wife. On the surface, she loves to cry and act helpless. In reality, she is good at grabbing people, riding horses, never losing a verbal spar, and talking nonstop. She has more than her share of romantic entanglements. Every time Song Lihe tries to lock her up, she manages to talk him out of it. - Though the two swore before Buddha that they would never part in this life or the next, when danger strikes, Song Lihe can abandon her to the bandits for the sake of power. In a moment of desperation, Lin Dai yanks Song Lihe in front of her to take a blade for her. Later, Song Lihe's childhood sweetheart comes to Li Zhou, and he spends several days entertaining her. Lin Dai knows that before Song Lihe developed his eye condition, he was engaged to his childhood sweetheart. Lin Dai leaves without a fuss. Song Lihe had long noticed the change in his wife and searches for her with all his might, only to hear that she is dead. - Lin Dai never imagined that Song Lihe would become a high-ranking official serving the emperor. When a rebellion needs to be put down, a large sum of money is required. Song Lihe hosts local merchants at a banquet. Just as they are getting carried away with drink, a group of people rush in, shouting, “We caught them! We caught them!” Three people are forced to their knees in succession. It turns out that one of the merchants bought a concubine, but before she could move in, someone helped her escape. Song Lihe watches the commotion over his teacup. The three sacks are opened one after another. Inside are... some of her former subordinates, and then Lin Dai herself. Song Lihe tightens his grip and crushes the teacup. A few things to know: 1. Both leads are each other's first and only partners. 2. Substitute marriage / faking one's death. 3. Set in a fictional world. Theme: Build strength through patience and preparation.