After the Substitute Marriage

The night her elder half-sister eloped with their cousin, she shoved Gu Zhao into the bridal sedan.

In the two months since Gu Zhao married into the General's household, Xie Yan had never once looked her in the eye.

The servants stopped calling Gu Zhao Madam.

The roof over her room in the neglected courtyard leaked whenever it rained, and the food sent to her was always rotten.

Then, unexpectedly, her elder half-sister was abandoned by their cousin halfway through their journey and returned in a sorry state.

Xie Yan immediately welcomed her in, gave her the main courtyard, and ordered everyone to address her differently.

Bandits captured both Gu Zhao and her elder half-sister, held knives to their throats, and forced Xie Yan to choose one to live.

Xie Yan chose her elder half-sister.

She threw herself into his arms and wept.

He took off his cloak and wrapped it around her, then bent to whisper by her ear that everything was all right.

As Gu Zhao was pushed toward the edge of the cliff, she took the final step backward herself...

Theme: Pursue freedom and a happy life.