For nine generations, the Duan family produced only one heir at a time, each one a loyal minister, a great general, and a peerless martial talent.
But this generation, they somehow produced a good-for-nothing, a dandy with no talent for either letters or arms.
The dandy knows every kind of pleasure, from fine food and drink to cockfighting and hunting dogs. Yet he has one grand ambition that no hero of the realm or scion of an aristocratic family would dare pursue:
To marry into the Northern Garrison General's household!
His father beat him with a stick for twenty years, until at last he gave him a heartfelt blessing: "Get lost! The farther away, the better!"
So the dandy happily packed his bags and headed north to find his bride.
-
Born into a family of military officers, Shan Zhi wielded a sword at three and was battle-ready by eight.
At sixteen, she took up the military banner after her father died for his country. After three months of bloody fighting, she cut down the Northern Di commander herself.
Thus she became the first female general in Da Qi's history.
The nation and its people to protect, a blood feud to avenge.
An inscrutable ruler, ministers wary of her.
After years of facing all this, her heart had grown cold and hard. Then one day... a dandy barged into her life.
He couldn't lift a finger or carry a load. He seemed useless, yet he could:
- Lavish gold on the soldiers until the army became decadent and lost its will to fight.
- Infiltrate enemy lines to steal intelligence, only to be captured. She even had to go rescue him herself...
But before he passed out, he remembered to deliver the intelligence first. Then, with his last breath, he told her, "Whatever you want, I'll give you."
He leaned closer, weak as could be. "I was wrong before. From now on, I'll do whatever you say."
Then he took the chance to snuggle against her. "I can do anything. Could you... please not send me away?"
Shan Zhi: ...Are you done?
The soldiers: Are you going to die or not, damn it?!
-
Military supplies were scarce during wartime, with the treasury able to provide less than a third of what was needed. As the soldiers prepared to fight the rampant Northern Di with their own bodies, the dandy, who had never been reliable, somehow arrived with thousands of carts of weapons, horses, and provisions!
The quantity and quality of the supplies surpassed even that of five national treasuries!
Shan Zhi frowned at him. "Where did you get all that money?"
Duan Xun waved a hand nonchalantly. "No big deal. It's the dowry I've been saving up all these years so I could marry into the general's household. Do you think it's enough?"
Shan Zhi: ...Are you ever going to stop?
The soldiers: This sister-in-law is great! He's really willing to spend when he's got money!
Everyone was swept up in the joy of being well supplied for battle. Only Duan Xun noticed the faint blush that crept across the face of the usually stern general.
He immediately snuggled up to her like he had no bones, fiddling with her armor as he said in a pitiful voice, "I've spent all my dowry now, so you can't turn me away."
This work was archived on 2022.10.31, with a screenshot uploaded.
Theme: Dare to dream and dare to act.
