After Humiliating the Brooding Marquis

Ning Rukui has only three years left to live when she takes a liking to a young gentleman who rescues a child in the street. She sends people to investigate and learns that he is the young Marquis Xie, who is supposedly about to become engaged.

A graceful young man, carefree and elegant, with strikingly beautiful looks. In both family background and talent, he is the perfect husband.

Relying on the power of her elder brother, the Prince Regent, Ning Rukui succeeds in marrying into the marquis's household.

After the wedding, the uncooperative Xie Jingqing is given an aphrodisiac and sent to Ning Rukui's room.

That night, the red bridal curtains stir. Xie Jingqing's gaze is shattered, and even as desire surges through him, he refuses to utter a single tender word. His eyes hold nothing but disgust as he grits out, "You think this will get you what you want? Don't even dream of it! I will never... love you."

Ning Rukui never expected him to love her. Her time was limited, and having him was already good enough.

Later, the political situation becomes turbulent, and the Ning family is toppled in a single day.

Acting on an imperial order, Xie Jingqing is sent to take the Ning siblings into custody. But when he arrives, the place is already empty.

Some say the domineering marchioness, unable to bear the shock of her husband's betrayal, jumped into the river and took her own life long ago.

The emperor, recognizing Xie Jingqing's merit in quelling the rebellion, wants to grant him the daughter of the Grand Tutor as a wife, but Xie declines.

Rumors in the countryside say that the wicked woman humiliated the young Marquis Xie so badly that she left him traumatized, and that is why he no longer dares to marry.

Five years later, Xie Jingqing is sent to defend the border. A child wanders into the camp, and the child's mother hurries over to find them.

It is Ning Rukui, who fled and should have died long ago. She kneels before him, tearfully speaking of how she has missed him. His personal guards wait outside the camp, and hear their usually kindhearted Marquis Xie's voice turn icy cold: "Very good. You married someone else and had a child, yet you still think of me. Very good. Then... you can stay tonight."

Sweet, sly heroine x aloof, sinister hero

Note:

#Happy ending, both leads are sexually inexperienced, one-on-one romance

#Romance-focused, marriage first, love later

Theme: My fate is mine to command, not Heaven's