-He loves me so much. I must protect him well.
After her birth mother died young, Li Zhizhi was raised by her stepmother to believe she could do no wrong. Everyone in the capital knew her as a silly beauty.
Li Zhizhi knew it too...
But only half understood. She just thought her beauty could kill!
At fourteen, she still hadn't received a token of love. Li Zhizhi: Excellent, I deserve to be treated with such respect.
At fifteen, no one had come to ask for her hand. Li Zhizhi: They're so considerate, wanting me to spend another year with my family.
At sixteen, the eligible young men of the capital all avoided her and married other women. Li Zhizhi: They're too insecure, thinking they're not good enough for me.
At seventeen, Li Zhizhi was finally bundled off by her father and stepmother to marry the frail young heir of the Dongyang Duke's residence.
Li Zhizhi: ...Fine, this will give me more chances to show off my talents for managing a husband.
On the first day of their marriage, the entire Dongyang Duke's residence was thrown into chaos.
On the third day, the Jin Yang Marquis's residence was in an uproar when they returned to visit her family.
On the tenth day, she set fire to the kitchen courtyard at her husband's home.
Before falling gravely ill, Ji Mingchuan, heir to the Dongyang Duke, had been the very picture of grace and refinement. Now, everyone in the capital pitied him.
It was bad enough that his health was poor and his prospects had dwindled. He'd also married such a foolish wife. How would this family ever manage?
No one expected that three months into the marriage, Ji Mingchuan would be well enough to leave the house and buy his wife white sugar cakes.
Six months into the marriage, Ji Mingchuan recovered from his chronic illness. He recited a poem praising his wife from atop a tall building, stunning the entire capital. The emperor summoned him in the middle of the night to inspect him, afraid that his body had recovered but his mind had not.
A year into the marriage, Ji Mingchuan coolly stood up the Crown Prince and ran several miles to comfort Li Zhizhi, who was sobbing, and bring her back into his arms.
Li Zhizhi hiccupped through her tears: Fine. Since so many people are watching, I'll let you off for forgetting to peel my shrimp at the palace today.
Behind the scenes, Ji Mingchuan waved for the onlookers playing extras to leave, then gently and solemnly coaxed her: My wife is so generous. Now that you know I
Reading guide
1. A legitimate son of a duke's family who pretends to be frail but is actually cunning X a silly beauty who thinks her looks can kill, and really is stunningly beautiful.
2. One-on-one, happy ending. A simple, sweet story, marriage first and love later. They marry due to circumstances, and neither is perfect.
3. The heroine really isn't clever. She handles palace and household intrigue by copying the top student male lead's homework. The male lead is a little manipulative and a bit of a hypocrite. If that's not for you, run, run, run!
I can't remember what else. I'll add more if I think of anything. Thanks!
Theme: Be sincere
