Jiang Wuning x Cui Zhuolian
Widowed concubine x Buddhist monk
Lively, clever elder brother's concubine x Eccentric, scheming younger brother
-1-
Jiang Wuning is the legitimate daughter of a minor official. Just before her wedding, the heir to the Guangling Marquisate schemes against her, ruining her future. She has no choice but to enter the marquis's household in a small sedan chair as a dowry concubine for her legitimate elder sister, becoming the concubine of the heir, Cui You.
Three months after the wedding, the heir falls from his horse and dies. The Cui family sends Jiang Wuning to Cixin Temple to live as a widow.
-2-
A young monk lives at Cixin Temple. He is skilled in music and lyrics, seemingly both Buddha-like and immortal, and gentle and amiable.
He says he was once the son of an official family in Jiangnan and came here to escape trouble.
Widowed young, with endless spring days ahead.
Seeing how poorly the monk lives, Jiang Wuning tempts him with silver, getting him to play the zither and sing for her amusement.
Cixin Temple is remote and quiet, rarely visited by anyone, yet there Jiang Wuning indulges in all the languor and romance of Jiangnan.
-3-
Not long afterward, her husband, who had faked his death, returns.
Only then does Jiang Wuning learn that the monk is the second son of the Guangling Marquisate, Cui You's own younger brother.
Her brother-in-law.
It turns out the young monk's intimate caresses were never motivated by greed for money.
She has provoked a madman.
But Jiang Wuning is not afraid, because she has already gotten what she wanted from the Guangling Marquisate.
So...
Goodbye, Cui Zhuolian.
-4-
Cui Zhuolian is the youngest son in the family, precocious and clever, but frail and sickly. As a child, he was sent to live with his maternal relatives in Jiangnan to recuperate.
When he grew a little older, the Cui family brought him back and settled him at Cixin Temple outside the capital.
His elder brother asked him to look after Jiang Wuning. He agreed with a smile, but paid no mind to the lovely concubine his brother had schemed to obtain.
Later, amid the damp spring rain, graceful and seductive songs replace devout Buddhist chants. The scent of flowers mingles with sandalwood, and misty moisture clouds amber-colored eyes.
The prayer beads fall to the ground.
Greed, anger, delusion, pride, and doubt.
All five poisons take root.
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A few notes before reading:
1. Some characters have secret identities.
Theme: Love freely
