Yu Ruimeng is the daughter of a military family. You'd expect her to be a bold and heroic woman, but instead she was born delicate and stunningly beautiful, one of the most beautiful women in Chang'an. However, she is frail and sickly, so the young men who come to ask for her hand leave with smiles on their faces and worry in their hearts. No one dares bring home such a fragile treasure.
Then one day, an imperial decree betrothed Yu Ruimeng to Xu Beishen, and the two were wed.
Yu Ruimeng knew Xu Beishen was the Crown Prince's tutor. He was handsome and dignified, but also quite calculating, the very model of a man who looked human but was a beast inside.
He had married her only because he knew she would not live long. Once she passed away, he could gain a good reputation by playing the devoted husband who had treated his wife as his equal and remained faithful to her until death.
No one thought much of the marriage. They said the tutor had kindly taken in a sickly girl and was taking on her bad luck for her.
But they had no idea that Xu Beishen had schemed and plotted for ages to make this marriage happen.
One day, after returning from an imperial tour with the emperor, he happened to see her being supported by someone. She was as delicate as a willow in the breeze, breathing softly and unevenly. One glance was enough to set his heart racing. He could hardly wait to pull her into his arms and care for her with all his heart, never letting her feet touch the ground.
Yu Ruimeng had never imagined that after getting married, she would not only avoid the life of bloodshed and danger she had expected, but would instead be cherished in the palm of his hand. Xu Beishen made her medicine every day and coaxed her into drinking it. Afraid her delicate body would tire, he chose the softest bedding and the finest food for her.
Only later did Yu Ruimeng realize that the sweetest words in the world were Xu Beishen softly calling her name...
My next book will be The General's Regret After the Divorce. Please add it to your favorites.
Gu Weian is the dashing, magnificent general who guards the nation. Gifted, virtuous, and loyal to the core, he lost his right leg in battle. The young general who once raced across the land on horseback could never again leave his wheelchair.
Bai Yining is the youngest daughter of a duke. With rosy lips and delicate features, she is the most beautiful of all his daughters. But as a concubine's child whose mother died young, she is aloof by nature and the least favored.
To ease Gu Weian's troubled mind and comfort him, the emperor decreed that Bai Yining, who was already betrothed to him, should marry him as soon as possible.
Bai Yining's childhood dream had finally come true. Her thoughts were filled with the glorious image of the man she'd once seen, spear in hand and astride a fine horse. But on their wedding night, when the veil was lifted, she saw him sitting in a wheelchair, with half a leg gone.
Gu Weian had spent years racing across vast battlefields. Now, trapped in this tiny place where he could barely move, the general was deeply frustrated. His personality changed as a result: he became volatile and found fault with everyone, especially his new wife, Bai Yining.
Gu Weian made things difficult for her at every turn. In the dead of winter, he sent her to the market to buy watermelons. The snowy streets were slippery, and Bai Yining twisted her ankle, leaving her to limp as she walked. When Gu Weian saw her, he flew into an inexplicable rage, accusing her of putting on an act to mock him for being half-paralyzed. Even when she exchanged a few words with another man, he accused her of behaving improperly as a married woman and said she was hoping he would die so she could find someone else.
In short, at the General's residence, even breathing was wrong for Bai Yining.
His unreasonable torment finally became more than Bai Yining could bear. She gave up on him completely, left a divorce letter behind, and walked away without looking back.
But when Gu Weian saw Bai Yining laughing and joking intimately with someone else, he began to wonder: how could he have let go of such a radiant smile, such a lovely woman?
He regretted it...
Theme: Deep and enduring affection.
