Love in Pairs

[Blurb saved on December 26, 2022]

Also known as: Two Hopeless Romantics Secretly in Love, Each Longing for the Other

[A story about two seemingly unattainable beauties who are both hopeless romantics, secretly in love with each other. It opens with their wedding.]

Yu Yanmu is the most distinguished young lady in the capital. Beautiful as an immortal and unmatched in talent and learning, she has countless noble young men and royal descendants vying for her favor. Yet she has always been aloof, spending her days with an oil lamp and the Buddha, seemingly uninterested in romance.

Ji Wuqing is the most promising young man of the capital's foremost clan. Refined and accomplished, a general who can also serve as a minister, he has countless noble ladies and princesses secretly longing for him. Yet he has always been distant, spending his days at a Taoist temple, devoted to cultivation and seemingly uninterested in romance.

The two most famous beauties in the capital could remain unmoved, but their parents, and even the emperor, could not.

An imperial decree bound them together.

Their parents feared the two would rebel so much that they would even refuse the imperial decree, and carefully explained the consequences of defying it.

But neither had expected the pair to calmly accept, saying they would leave the decision to their parents and the emperor.

The next day, the most famous Buddhist temple in the capital received an enormous donation of gold and silver.

The anonymous donor wrote: "This humble believer's wish has been fulfilled. May this money help the Bodhisattva restore its golden form."

At the same time, the most famous Taoist temple in the capital received hundreds of books worth a fortune.

The anonymous donor wrote: "This humble believer's wish has been fulfilled. May these modest gifts help enrich your temple's collection."

On the night Yu Yanmu and Ji Wuqing married,

Yu Yanmu sat by the bed, stealing glances at Ji Wuqing's distant expression. She suppressed the flicker in her eyes and imitated his cool tone. "Though neither of us has any affection for the other, the imperial decree stands, and some things cannot be refused. For example... what happens tonight."

Ji Wuqing looked at Yu Yanmu's heart-stirring beauty in the candlelight. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, and he nodded. "That makes sense."

The candles went out. In the darkness, Yu Yanmu and Ji Wuqing both smiled faintly.

Theme: Sincere devotion brings blessings. Do more good deeds.