In her previous life, Xixi and her cousin got engaged one after the other. Her cousin married a young general, while Xixi married a poor scholar.
Who could have known that years later, the poor scholar would come first in all three imperial examinations and rise to become the chief minister?
Xixi became a titled lady, enjoying unparalleled prestige.
Her cousin, however, was forced to live on an estate, where she spent the rest of her life in misery.
She begged Xixi to send someone to bring her out.
Xixi agreed.
But her cousin set a great fire, dragging Xixi to her death with her.
Reborn into a new life.
Her cousin chose the poor scholar first, leaving Xixi to marry Xie Jinhuai.
"You can spend your life as a widow with a living husband!"
Her cousin gloated. "I'll be the Chief Minister's wife!"
Only after marrying Xie Jinhuai did Xixi discover that this cold, distant cousin-in-law was so forceful and domineering in private that just thinking about him made her heart race.
*
She had once been the mistress of a household in her previous life, and it had nearly worn her to death.
All she wanted in this life was to enjoy herself.
She wouldn't manage a thing, leaving everything to Xie Jinhuai.
Just one thing.
- Don't make her have a child.
She couldn't bear that hardship.
Her elders grew anxious and gave her an ultimatum.
So, while Xie Jinhuai was away on a campaign, Xixi put on men's clothes, packed up her valuables, and set off as a traveling physician specializing in women's health.
She lived that carefree way for three years.
Until one day, she was invited to take the pulse of the prefect's daughter.
The sweet, charming young woman confided in her about the pain of unrequited love:
"His wife has been dead for three years, but he still refuses to remarry. Does he love her that much?
"I've dreamed of marrying him, but he says he'll never marry again."
After Xixi talked with her, the young woman finally gave up and asked her to pass along a message.
Xixi accepted the request.
When they met, she suddenly understood. Panicking, she turned and ran.
She ran until she couldn't take another step.
She lay limply in a meadow full of wildflowers, watching the clouds roll endlessly across the sky.
Her heart felt ready to leap out of her chest.
The blazing sun was blocked, and a pair of deep eyes brimming with longing met hers.
It was Xie Jinhuai, now twenty years old.
Xie Jinhuai smiled and held out a leather waterskin.
He seemed relaxed, like someone teasing a kitten, yet utterly certain of victory.
"Little physician, why are you running?"
Xixi didn't know how to answer.
Awkwardly, she put her lips to the waterskin's spout, tilted her head back, and took a huge gulp.
She nearly choked to death.
Ptooey!
It was wine.
Xie Jinhuai had succeeded in his prank. Laughing, he leaned in to kiss her.
Xixi felt terribly wronged.
That bastard was just as awful as ever.
A truly easygoing beauty vs. a fake playboy young general
Theme: Women should be self-reliant
