Lin Wanyi, daughter of General Lin, who guards the border, was eighteen years old. She was a rare beauty, but so frail that a gust of wind could knock her over.
The Lin family had only one girl across several generations, and she was delicate and sickly. They cherished her so much, they practically kept her in their mouths and held her in their hands, afraid she might be hurt.
Even in the harsh conditions of the borderlands, they raised her no worse than the high-born young ladies who had grown up in the capital.
Yet somehow, this girl who seemed liable to topple in a breeze became so renowned that her fame rode the blowing sands all the way to the emperor's ears. With a single decree, he betrothed her to his youngest son, Weisheng Qi.
When the palace official arrived at the border with the imperial edict, Lin Wanyi was so excited that she fainted again.
The official showed no sign of it, but thought to himself: I never imagined General Lin's youngest daughter would be as beautiful as the rumors say. She's also frail enough to make anyone stare.
After the official left, Lin Wanyi sat up in bed. Her cheeks were rosy, and all the delicate helplessness she showed outsiders was gone. She rubbed her hands together and said, “Father! Mother! I want to see for myself what kind of person this Weisheng Qi is!”
On their wedding night, Lin Wanyi had been sitting on the bed, ready to take on her “husband” after sharpening her knives at the border. But when she watched her beautiful husband lift her veil with a jade ruyi, she was instantly smitten.
Her husband really was as beautiful as a flower. He was just a little too frail.
She only pretended to be weak, while her husband was truly delicate. On their wedding night, there was room for a third person to lie between them.
From Weisheng Qi's point of view
The night he was born, his mother's family was wiped out. His mother, overcome with grief, passed away after giving birth to him. The emperor had truly loved Consort Gu, and poured all his guilt into the tiny, premature infant.
Because he was so small, he nearly didn't survive. The emperor named him Qi, meaning “prayer,” hoping he would grow up healthy.
He did grow up, but his health remained fragile. A gust of wind could give him a high fever. He couldn't be in the sun or the cold. He was practically a medicine jar come to life.
When he was nineteen, the emperor betrothed him to Lin Wanyi, the only daughter of General Lin.
On their wedding day, he lifted the veil and saw the bride from the rumors, the one who supposedly toppled in a breeze. Out of habit, he coughed up blood.
The two invalids settled into a life where she made him take his medicine, and he reminded her to dress warmly.
Later...
Lin Wanyi was accidentally captured. Weisheng Qi charged into enemy territory alone to rescue his wife, only to find her standing with one foot on a Tatar and a heavy saber in her hand, boasting proudly.
Lin Wanyi: “...”
Oh no, she was exposed.
Wait, her husband, who was supposedly too weak to take care of himself, didn't seem to be doing much better.
☆ Also known as “What Do You Do When Your Personas Collide?”, “My Husband Is Too Weak to Take Care of Himself,” “My Wife Is Incredibly Delicate,” and “What If They Find Out? I'll Just Pretend.”
Theme: A harmonious, happy family.
Seen on the seedling cultivation list