Singing Phoenix

[Cool, celibate (not really) powerful minister × gentle, pretty, honest wife of a minor official] After the Wei family fell into decline and her older sister married into a more powerful family, Yinyuan, the neglected daughter, was forced to take her sister's place and marry into the Wei family to save face for both households. In the fourth year of her substitute marriage, the Wei family's status continued to rise, while her older sister's marriage to a prominent family was going poorly. In the third month of spring, her parents arrived at the Wei residence with her older sister, who had been back home for some time after divorcing. They summoned Yinyuan. “This marriage was originally your older sister's, and she gave it to you. Now that you've had it for four years, it's time to give it back.” Yinyuan's mother-in-law, who had never liked her, had accepted their gifts and spoke in a patronizing, charitable tone. “You've been part of the Wei family for years and still haven't had a child. Your sister is willing to help carry on the family line. You should be grateful.” Her sister-in-law had always been close to her older sister, so of course she took her side now. Yinyuan had thought that at least the man who had shared her bed for years would oppose this. But ever since her older sister entered the house, Wei Ruzhuo's gaze had kept drifting to her. Yinyuan called to him several times, but when he didn't answer, she tugged at his sleeve. Only then did he come back to himself. But he, too, addressed her older sister by her given name. “Chentan says she isn't trying to take the position of primary wife, only asking to be a co-wife. What do you think…?” Yinyuan was stunned into silence. How had the marriage she had made whole by filling in for her sister become a situation where she was the one causing trouble? What had all those years of struggling to make her place in the Wei family been for? Only now did Yinyuan understand that whether it was family or romantic love, even if she lowered herself into the dust, she could never hope for a shred of affection or respect. All the words in her heart turned to grief and vanished. After a long while, she lowered her eyes and said softly, “If that's how it is, then let's divorce.” * In Wei Ruzhuo's eyes, Zhu Yinyuan was quiet and gentle, but far too timid. She was so young, yet had no spark of life and knew nothing of romance or pleasure. Even though she was dutiful and virtuous, and beautiful enough to seem otherworldly, she always struck him as dull and wooden. So when she asked for a divorce, he was surprised but paid it no mind, assuming she was just angry. Once a woman divorced, it was difficult for her to marry again. Her family didn't like her or welcome her back. Before long, she would come crying back to him. He never imagined that what awaited him was news of her marrying someone else. His face turned livid as he stared at the man's name on the wedding invitation, so painfully bright to his eyes. The man was the emperor's close aide, foremost among the great houses and someone no one dared offend. * Shen Jingzhan was born the heir to a marquis's estate. After placing highly in the imperial examinations as a young man, he was appointed to serve the emperor. Brilliant and talented, with the handsome looks of a jade gentleman, he was a favored child of heaven. Everything in the world seemed easily within his grasp. His one regret was that the girl he cherished had married someone else at a young age. But so what if she was married? Zhu family eldest daughters looked down on those beneath them and fawned on those above, while the Wei men were insatiably greedy… After years of restraint and lying in wait, Shen Jingzhan swirled the wine in his cup, his long fingers rubbing the portrait of the young girl he had kept for years. He lowered his eyes, hiding their dark, sinister depths. * After their wedding, Yinyuan accidentally discovered that the man she had married was not as gentle, refined, and harmless as he appeared. He had engineered the Wei family's rise. Her older sister's divorce was connected to him, too. Even every meeting between Yinyuan and him had been deliberate. The vast web of schemes he had carefully laid was all for the sake of taking her for himself. [How did the newcomer win? Because he fought for her, took what he wanted, and knew how to put on an act.] Reading guide: Slow-burn romance | The heroine is inexperienced; the male lead is not | Told from the heroine's perspective, a marriage of convenience that turns to love; the male lead has secretly loved her for years and plotted for a long time | All the exes get their comeuppance | Second male lead takes the heroine The male lead is pure-hearted, harmless, gentle, and refined only toward the heroine. To everyone else, he is ruthless and cold-blooded. Theme: Love yourself before loving someone else.