Glitz and Glamour

Su Yuzhao comes from a family of artisans. Her ancestors have all made jewelry, and their craftsmanship is superb.

She runs her jewelry shop in the capital to great success, raking in money every day. By comparison, the calligraphy stall run by the scholar across the street is far more humble. He sits there from dawn to dusk, yet earns barely a hundred coins, not enough to cover even his basic needs after paying for his studies.

But the scholar is handsome, dignified, and composed. As he writes, a glimpse of his exquisitely formed wrist appears from beneath his sleeve. His fingers are long and slender, his knuckles distinct, and every stroke seems to be written on people's hearts. On a bitterly cold day, Su Yuzhao walks over and teases him, "Young sir, marry into my family. I'll make jewelry and support you." The scholar gives her a cold look, then storms away in anger and shame.

Xue Heqing's father died young, leaving him and his mother to depend on one another, along with his younger brother and sister. He took on the burden of supporting the family early. Their life was hard but peaceful. Exceptionally talented, he passed the provincial examinations at a young age. All he had to do was pass the spring metropolitan examinations the following year and become a presented scholar, and his family's circumstances would improve dramatically.

Faced with Su Yuzhao's repeated advances, Xue Heqing feels insulted and never gives her a kind word. Yet when he sees her turn around and flirt with another young master, he cannot help growing annoyed. He thinks that once he passes the spring examinations, he'll settle things with her. Unfortunately, fate has other plans. In the twelfth lunar month, his mother falls gravely ill. With nowhere else to turn, Xue Heqing knocks on the Su family's door in the middle of a snowy night.

"Please, miss, save my mother."

Kneeling at Su Yuzhao's feet, he breaks his proud spirit and casts aside every last shred of dignity:

"I'll marry into your family, be your kept man, or sell myself as a slave. Anything you want, as long as it pleases you."

Su Yuzhao casually takes off a pair of gold bangles and presses them into his hands. "Everyone has hard times, Young Master Xue. You don't have to go this far."

Xue Heqing is stunned. "..."

What does she mean, he doesn't have to go this far?

Later, Xue Heqing passes the highest examinations and rises rapidly through the ranks. Holding the gold bangles he has bought back, he blocks Su Yuzhao in an alley as she returns from discussing a marriage match. His face is dark as he asks, "What is it about me that doesn't meet your standards, Madam Yu? Why would you rather find someone else than choose me?"

"I'm looking for a son-in-law to marry into my family. Lord Xue isn't suitable."

"Give me a chance, Madam Yu. I'm suitable."

Theme: Love life and pursue your dreams