The Powerful Chancellor as Husband

Xi Ning, the second daughter of the Duke of An's household, was betrothed from birth to the young master of General Qi's household.

After Xi Ning came of age, she heard that Young Master Qi had excelled in his studies and become a student of Gu Yanshan, a powerful court minister. His prospects were boundless.

She was fairly satisfied with the match.

At the Qixi temple fair, she went to a temple outside the city to pray for blessings, but accidentally got separated from her maid. Alone in the mountains for an hour, she saw something she shouldn't have.

When she returned home, she went straight to the Qi household to break off the engagement.

Over the matter, Gu Yanshan, Young Master Qi's teacher, personally came to the Duke of An's residence to apologize. His manner was sincere, and his words heartfelt.

He even said he would find Xi Ning a husband who excelled in both letters and arms.

The Duke of An assumed it was merely a polite gesture and didn't take him seriously at all.

But Minister Gu was entirely earnest. Every few days, he would visit the Duke of An's residence or invite Xi Ning to meet him at a teahouse.

Before long, rumors spread through the capital that Gu Yanshan and Xi Ning were seeing each other.

Gu Yanshan: "I have yet to take a wife. If Second Miss is willing, I can come to your home with a marriage proposal tomorrow."

Xi Ning lowered her eyes and sighed softly. "Please give me time to think, sir."

Xi Ning had to admire Gu Yanshan's ingenuity. How had he found so many men in the capital who were short as winter melons, thin as sticks, long-faced as donkeys, or round-bellied as pregnant women for her to look over? Her appetite had been poor for days.

Later, she heard that Young Master Qi had met a woman in the mountains, and that it was his teacher, Gu Yanshan, who had arranged it.

Xi Ning raised her hand and pinched the tall, elegant man's face, glaring at him. "Still denying it?"

For Gu Yanshan, as pure as the breeze and bright as the moon, the only underhanded thing he had ever done was resort to scheming after falling for his student's fiancée.

His love for her began with a plan and ended in a life together.

Important notes:

The male lead is a polished scoundrel, has been plotting for a long time, and abuses his power for personal gain (not really).

The male lead is twenty-one, the female lead is sixteen, with a five-year age gap.

Theme: Staying true to oneself