He Is Not Her Husband

Wei Tan was not Shen Tang's husband,

but he heard her call him "husband" three times.

The first time was at a small house in Qin Xiu's hometown. A woman ran toward him, skirts gathered in her hands, mistaking him for the husband she had been separated from for so long. She threw herself into his arms and softly called him "husband."

Wei Tan knew that Mrs. Qin was blind and had lost much of her memory.

The second time was in the back courtyard at a banquet. Mocked for her blindness, she hid beneath the flowers, hugging her knees and weeping. She mistook him for Qin Xiu, who had come to find her, and leaned against his shoulder as she cried.

Her sobs made his heart burn, and again and again she called him "husband."

She was calling for her husband, not him. Wei Tan knew that.

The third time was in the palace, after he ascended the throne.

An arrogant and overbearing commandery princess shoved her into a pond.

She had been drinking and was already disoriented. As he rescued her, she sobbed and choked out, "Husband."

She wanted him to hold her and comfort her, wipe away her tears, and bend over backward to please her.

Wei Tan did it all.

But once her mind cleared, she realized he was holding her. She knew he was not Qin Xiu, and she was terrified.

Her face pale, she begged him not to tell her husband.

Wei Tan covered the eyes she could not see with his palm

and softly replied, "All right."

She would never know how many times he had practiced Qin Xiu's footsteps, until he could fool her ears.

Theme: "What's wrong with wanting a good life?"