Shu Xueqing was born into an illustrious family. At fifteen, she was betrothed to the legitimate eldest son of the Pei family.
They were well matched in status and had known each other since childhood, close and inseparable. They were the perfect couple, envied by everyone in the capital.
But then the Shu family was demoted overnight, and Shu Xueqing went from a noble young lady high above everyone else to a fallen maiden with no one to protect her.
Following her father's last request, she took the marriage contract and went to the Pei family.
She had worried the Peis might want to break off the engagement, but soon received their letter saying the marriage contract still stood and they would arrange the wedding as soon as possible.
On her wedding night, Shu Xueqing waited by the wedding candles for her groom to lift her veil.
The man in wedding robes had a face as handsome as jade, but he wasn't the childhood sweetheart she was engaged to.
She stared at the newcomer in shock. She knew him.
Pei Yu. She had heard he was cold-natured and ruthless, a great general who had made his name in a single battle.
He was also her fiance's half-brother, born to a concubine.
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The scene Pei Yu saw most often as a boy was the little girl from the Shu family with his elder brother. He never knew what his brother said to her, but it always made her laugh.
He would watch them from behind the eaves, thinking in irritation that they were so noisy.
He never imagined that the fussy little girl he found so irritating would come looking for him to talk, then insist on giving him a sweet pastry.
Holding the pastry in his hand, he found himself unable to refuse.
Later, he went to the battlefield. After winning his first battle on the border, he heard that she had become engaged to his elder brother.
Later still, when the Shu family fell into crisis, he hurried back from the garrison and heard his stepmother and father discussing whether they should call off the marriage.
He looked at his silent elder brother, clenched his fists, and said:
"If Elder Brother won't marry her, then I will."
· Long-planned scheme + marriage first, love later + love triangle showdown
· A pampered, fallen noble maiden x a possessive, ruthless general
[Reading Guide]
1. Both are sexually inexperienced, one-on-one, happy ending
2. Fictional setting, dramatic romantic angst
3. The male lead is a gloomy, twisted sort who tries hard to act noble and refined in front of the female lead, but fails
Theme: Face adversity without fear and dare to pursue what you want.
