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Zhu Yan was born into a distinguished family and grew up in Jiangnan with her grandmother.
When she turned eighteen, her father sent a letter urging her to go to the capital as soon as possible to marry.
She first saw Song Huanzhi on the journey to the capital. He was dignified and handsome, with an elegant, noble bearing. Zhu Yan felt a little relieved. He didn't look like the sort of spoiled young master who had been indulged rotten.
After their marriage, she and Song Huanzhi treated each other with courtesy and worked together in perfect harmony. In public, they were the model couple everyone praised. In private, Zhu Yan respected the secrets he kept to himself and never overstepped her bounds.
Their days had been peaceful, but one day the heir of the Marquis of Jiawu died young in a sudden calamity. Overnight, Song Huanzhi became the principal heir, and the prosperity of the entire family rested on his shoulders.
Zhu Yan was pushed into the limelight. Her sister-in-law handed her the keys to the household and said, "From now on, you'll be in charge of managing this family."
**
Song Huanzhi had known for a long time that he had a betrothed, but since she lived in Jiangnan, they'd never had a chance to meet. He didn't care much. Born into a marquis's household, he knew marriage was simply a matter of parental orders and matchmakers' words. As long as she was docile and obedient, knew her place, and didn't pester him all day, that would be enough.
Then one day after their wedding, while Song Huanzhi was handling documents in his study, he lost focus for the nineteenth time and glanced toward the empty doorway. His attendant reminded him, "Second Master, Second Madam is busy taking care of household affairs. I don't think she'll come by today, either."
Song Huanzhi suddenly realized that he had fallen for her long ago... At the same time, he was terribly troubled. Why did his wife seem not to like him very much?
Reader's guide: 1. A local historical romance about falling in love after marriage, with no golden finger. 2. A conventional historical setting. Although it's fictional, don't expect the heroine to pick fights with everyone she meets. 3. There is an eight-year age gap.
My new novel is available to add to your pre-reading list: "Behind the Spring Door"
Blurb:
In the eleventh year of Yongcheng, Shen Cong, heir to a duke's estate, was ordered to travel south and reform the administration in Jiangnan.
Jiang Ying was presented to Shen Cong as a gift by a local official.
The young master was elegant and refined, a man of inestimable rank. Knowing her place, Jiang Ying served at his side and never overstepped her bounds.
Time flowed by like water. Before long, Shen Cong was about to return to the capital.
On the night before his departure, he asked her casually, "Would you like to come with me?"
Faced with the choice of being passed on to someone else or staying with him, Jiang Ying chose the latter.
**
After returning to the capital, Jiang Ying was settled in the rear courtyard of the ducal estate. Shen Cong was busy outside every day, and sometimes months passed without them seeing each other. When he did occasionally visit, he never stayed long.
For the first time, the usually gentle and obedient Jiang Ying went to him of her own accord. "I've seen the splendor of the capital. I miss home dearly and wish to return to my hometown."
The jade brush in Shen Cong's hand paused. He looked toward the woman before his desk, her eyes lowered and her expression composed.
She was still as she had always been, calm and detached.
Countless people had willingly sought Shen Cong's favor in his life. With his status, why would he force a lowborn woman to stay?
He smiled faintly. "Go to the accounts office and collect some banknotes. You may leave whenever you like."
Several months later, at a banquet, Shen Cong passed by a lotus pond and saw a familiar figure among the guests. With her soft, delicate voice, she was singing a song called "The Jade Beauty's Home."
Shen Cong felt an inexplicable discomfort in his heart.
**
In a noble household, talking about "love" was childish and laughable.
A man like Shen Cong would never waste even a thought on the inner quarters.
He never imagined that one day he would become obsessed with a "gift."
Theme: You reap what you sow.
It would be great if I could publish a separate book about my sister and my husband 🐰
Can you write a novel specifically about the eldest sister and brother-in-law? I want to see it so much [clasp fists]
After reading this novel, I really had a lot of thoughts. I didn't use cp, nor did I focus on the love between them. I just felt how helpless everyone was in this long history. I didn't cry for the separation of the eldest sister and brother-in-law, nor did I think deeply about the relationship between the male and female protagonists. What makes me sad is that nothing in the world remains unchanged. The previous affection, and recently, I have been in a bad mood. It was particularly good, and then reading this article made me even more sad. I sympathize with the emperor, but unfortunately Queen Qiao, and even the third brother's wife. I feel that what I feel most about this article is that everything in the world cannot be controlled by one's own control, and God's will is not what one wishes. Everyone has their own ideas and their own dissatisfaction. This article may be written hastily, and may not be as good as that other masterpiece, but it does make me feel a lot. Everyone has their own perspective, and the only one who knows you best in the world is yourself.
[Let me be healthy] [Let me be healthy] This scene between the eldest brother-in-law and the eldest sister is so exciting, although it makes people feel emo.
Author, please write an article about characters like Zhu Yu and Qiao Yian
Has the ending between Aunt Yun and that child been revealed? The story of the eldest sister and brother-in-law is so inspiring. I hope there will be a sequel.
It's a very good article, and I procrastinated to finish it. The supporting characters left me more dissatisfied than the protagonist. There is no happy ending, and the intrigues in the palace will never stop. I like the eldest sister couple very much. If there is a side story, thank you for Joe's perspective. Hahahaha
Can't the eldest sister and brother-in-law have sex? [Hold up the chin]
Finished spreading flowers! It's been a long time since I've read this book and I almost forgot about it, so I watched the ending specifically. Fortunately, my sister was not tied up by the child. Fortunately, the ending did not force me to make dumplings. Fortunately, the damage was not done but I still had to pursue my wife with blunt regrets. It was good that everything stopped here and my sister was finally free.
Wuwuwu, I always feel that there are still regrets in the story of the eldest sister.