Married for the Eighth Time to a Young Gentleman

[Contest entry reason: Thanks to her outstanding military service in repelling the Hu raiders, Song Jiuxiao is named General Who Guards the State. To refuse an imperial marriage arrangement, she leaves the court and gives up her military career, wanting nothing more than a quiet life. But reality is nothing like her hopes. She is slandered and maligned, then forced back into action because she is seen as a threat, putting the lives of those around her in danger. Since keeping her head down won't let her live in peace, she might as well rise again, return to the court, and demand justice!]

Hot-tempered War Goddess × scheming demon lover (younger man) / three lifetimes of melodrama

[Blurb]

Song Jiuxiao has been married seven times, and all eight of her husbands have died.

Just as she decides to grow old alone, a penniless pretty boy with not even a change of clothes starts coveting the betrothal gifts from her eight husbands. He clings to her, insisting on marrying into her family.

Song Jiuxiao bullies him relentlessly, hoping he'll ask for a divorce himself, while figuring out how to make money so she can get rid of him as soon as possible.

Who could have guessed that overnight, the villagers who stood up for her would be slaughtered? She is branded a murderer and hunted everywhere.

Unable to swallow this injustice, Song Jiuxiao decides to go to the imperial city and appeal directly to the emperor.

But times have changed. Her former colleagues are being crushed by the powerful, her clan is implicated because of her, and she can't even get a single petition into the imperial city.

All the while, she has to drag along an inescapable pretty-boy tagalong, whom she has to kick several times a day just to feel better.

With nowhere else to turn, Song Jiuxiao thinks of a virtuous prince whose marriage proposal she once refused.

She has heard that he too once lived among commoners, so he must know how hard life can be. Perhaps he can help get a message to the emperor.

The moment she reaches the virtuous prince's gate, the servants all drop to their knees when they see her.

Song Jiuxiao turns to the pretty boy she's been tormenting all along and says, “At ease.” Her face turns pale.

On the eve of the wedding, a heavy snow suddenly falls.

Song Jiuxiao opens the door and sees a handsome man standing in the moonlight, dressed in a bright red wedding robe and holding a lantern.

The snow glitters silver in the moonlight, dazzling her eyes. Song Jiuxiao suddenly understands why Miss Zhang had cried and begged to marry him.

Song Jiuxiao: “You are...”

Chu Yunsheng: “My name is Yunsheng. I've come to wed Miss Song.”

Reader note:

1. Paid typo reports welcome.

Theme: Are kings and nobles born to rule?