After Li Junqing’s father was imprisoned and the Zhao family refused to help, a rift grew between her and her husband, Zhao Yucheng.
The Zhao family had risen to prominence, but now its position was precarious with the old faction back in power. To protect themselves, they arranged for Li Junqing to be sent to the bed of Lu Zhihai, the Privy Councilor.
Lu Zhihai lost both parents when he was young and grew up poor. After becoming a student of Li Ke, he fell deeply in love with Li Junqing, but kept his feelings buried. Li Junqing poured all the resentment she felt toward her husband’s family for plotting against her onto Lu Zhihai. He endured it in silence, using his already-cold heart to warm Li Junqing, who was troubled yet unyielding.
Bonus Scene:
Lu Zhihai was frugal with money. Even though he had risen to the rank of Privy Councilor, he kept few servants at home. The most valuable thing in his residence was a Duan inkstone, which Li Junqing smashed to pieces in a fit of anger.
Lu Yunyun, Lu Zhihai’s younger sister, was horrified. If her brother, who even darned his torn underclothes, learned that his most beloved inkstone had been smashed to bits, wouldn’t Madam Li be in terrible trouble?
But when Lu Zhihai heard what had happened, he told the steward, “Smashing an inkstone is exhausting. Take the Ru ware celadon-glazed string-patterned zun and the Guan ware celadon-glazed long-necked vase from the storeroom and give them to my wife, so she can smash them to her heart’s content. If she’s still not satisfied, I’ll go to the palace and ask the steward for a Jun ware moon-white-glazed flanged zun for her to vent her anger on!”
Reader’s Notes:
1. This is a fictional historical setting. Please don’t nitpick the history.
2. Happy ending. The male lead is sexually inexperienced; the female lead is not.
Blurb archived on March 12, 2023. Feel free to add it to your collection.
Theme: Once you have seen the ocean, no other water will do; after seeing the clouds of Mount Wu, no other clouds will compare.
