The Heir Apparent Takes a Bride by Force

Wu Yuan was lovely and graceful, with a tranquil, refined manner. She was a celebrated talent in Yangzhou, and after coming of age, she married her childhood friend and cousin, Yuan Su.

Yuan Su was a man of polished virtue, and a newly appointed jinshi. He was an excellent match, and everyone said the union of the Wu and Yuan families was a marriage made in heaven.

But their happiness didn't last. After just a year, her husband's family divorced her, claiming she was barren and immoral.

Heartbroken, Wu Yuan returned to Yangzhou. To escape the gossip, she temporarily took refuge in a Taoist temple.

Just as everyone thought she would spend the rest of her life among the monks and their lamps, Zhao Yue, heir to Prince Gong, arrived at her door to propose.

Zhao Yue was of royal blood and a trusted aide to the emperor, a man of unassailable status. Wu Yuan, though born to an official family, was merely the daughter of a low-ranking prefectural judge, and had also been cast aside by her husband's family. Their stations were worlds apart, and they were a most unsuitable match.

Wu Yuan's heart had long since turned to ash. She had no intention of marrying again, and sent someone to refuse the proposal. But when Zhao Yue heard, he came to see her in person.

Yangzhou was rainy, and its muddy roads were hard to travel. Zhao Yue came through the rain, so Wu Yuan had no choice but to meet him.

Her face full of apology, she told him plainly that her status was too low and she was not worthy of him.

Fortunately, Zhao Yue did not insist when Wu Yuan refused.

But two months later, an imperial decree announcing their marriage came down with the force of a thunderbolt, leaving Wu Yuan no choice but to wed him. To defy the decree would mean the execution of her entire family.

She had thought Zhao Yue was easygoing. He had accepted her refusal that day without anger, remaining as gentle as ever. Who would have guessed that he had agreed to her face, then secretly petitioned the emperor for an imperial marriage decree?

With matters come to this, Wu Yuan had no choice but to marry again for her family's sake.

After their wedding, Zhao Yue treated her wonderfully, putting her first in everything. Wu Yuan had given her heart to Yuan Su long ago. All she felt for Zhao Yue was gratitude, and all she wanted was for them to treat each other with respect.

But that was not enough for Zhao Yue. Having won her hand, he now hoped to win her heart.

Wu Yuan smiled bitterly to herself. How could anyone be so greedy?

[Reading Guide]

- The heroine is not a virgin, but the hero is. Please don't read if this bothers you.

- Set in a fictional world modeled on the Northern Song Dynasty.

Theme: Pursuing freedom