When Nannan was fourteen, her father brought home a young man.
He said the boy was the son of a concubine from a collateral branch of the family, and would be staying at their estate for a while. They were not to disturb him.
Her mother also told Nannan to keep her distance and avoid spending time with him.
So whenever she came across the unsmiling boy with his fierce eyes and brows, she'd run away in fear, never answering when he spoke to her.
Until one night, when the estate was quiet, Nannan stumbled upon Mu Shijing. He was covered in wounds, lying on top of the wall and gasping for breath.
Gathering her courage, she looked up and asked, "Where did you go? How did you get hurt?"
The boy lowered his lazy gaze, his fierce expression still intact. "We're not close. Why should I tell you?"
"Then it must hurt a lot. I... I'll find some medicine for you." Nannan's legs went weak, and she spoke with a tremble.
After that, Mu Shijing only climbed over the wall into Nannan's courtyard at night.
Her room filled with medicinal salves.
But on the night before Nannan's coming-of-age ceremony, he left without a word.
She waited for him for two years, then accepted the marriage her family arranged.
To Nannan, the match was a bit of a stretch, but her prospective husband was so taken with her beauty that he swore he would marry no one else.
On the day their families were to exchange betrothal gifts, the heir of the Prince of Chengyang, the young general Cui Shijing, arrived. He had won great honors in battle over the past two years.
And Nannan's betrothed became him.
On their wedding night, Cui Shijing brushed his lips against Nannan's earlobe.
"Tell me, who's better, me or him?"
Nannan was so close to passing out that she didn't even have the strength to cry, let alone speak.
She could only let him take her little hand and press it against his burning chest.
"Looks like I'm better."
Reader's guide:
1. Both leads are sexually and romantically inexperienced. Happy ending.
2. The heroine is a lovely, delicate sweetheart. The hero is a total villain. If you want a perfect hero, this isn't for you.
3. Fictional setting, so don't nitpick the historical details.
4. If anything bothers you, feel free to stop reading without telling me.
Theme: Honesty
