Ban Tang is the only daughter of Ban Yin, a winemaking magnate in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region whose wealth could rival a kingdom. She is beautiful and captivating, and every man falls for her. Unfortunately, Ban Tang is already promised to Ling Siyuan, heir to the Earl of Cheng'an, in a betrothal arranged years ago.
But the closer her wedding to Ling Siyuan gets, the more anxious Ban Tang feels. She once had an accidental encounter with a strange man and gave birth to a son.
If she marries into the Ling family, her premarital pregnancy will inevitably come to light, and she will be scorned by the world.
Just as Ban Tang is at her wits' end, unsure what to do, the Earl of Cheng'an's household sends word that Ling Siyuan was ambushed by the enemy on the battlefield and gravely injured. His life is hanging by a thread, and they want Ban Tang to marry him as soon as possible to bring him good fortune.
Ban Tang's heart tightens, and she hurries to see Ling Siyuan.
His body is covered in mangled flesh, and his face is unrecognizable. Even if Ban Tang marries him, there's no saving him.
But Ban Tang immediately agrees to the marriage to bring him good fortune, and hastily marries him three days later.
Everyone praises Ban Tang, saying she's not only beautiful but kind-hearted, too.
Just as Ban Tang expected, Ling Siyuan dies only three days after she marries him. From then on, Ban Tang is a widow.
Though she feels she has wronged Ling Siyuan, Ban Tang genuinely likes being a widow.
She doesn't have to please a husband or risk her life bearing and raising children. Her parents-in-law feel deeply indebted to her for agreeing to the marriage, so they indulge her without limit.
And she has a vast dowry worth more than a kingdom. She wins over her parents-in-law, her brother-in-law, and her sister-in-law with her generosity, and they all adore her.
Ban Tang is open-minded, lazy, and easygoing by nature, so she throws all her premarital worries aside and decides to live recklessly.
She eats and drinks to her heart's content, goes to the theater and strolls through the market, doing whatever she likes.
But she feels lonely when she's by herself at night, so all she can do is count beans to pass the time.
Then one night, when she returns to her parents' home, she finds a gardener in the courtyard. He's quite handsome and spends all day striking poses and trying to seduce her. Unable to resist the temptation, she plays along with him, not taking it seriously.
Life couldn't be better, until one day Ling Siyuan, who had long since passed through the gates of hell, appears before her.
She's utterly astonished. While she's still wondering what to do, the gardener from her parents' home arrives at the door carrying a child, saying he's brought the boy to meet his mother. But isn't the child in his arms the son she secretly gave birth to before her marriage and left with her family?
Then who is this gardener?
As Ban Tang stands there dumbfounded, everyone around them kneels and calls out, "Long live!"
Ban Tang faints on the spot. Could the gardener who spent all day posing and trying to seduce her really be the crown prince, the emperor's most favored son?
Reader's guide:
1. Happy ending, sweet romance, 1v1
2. Fictional setting, no need to check historical accuracy
June 6, 2024: Blurb screenshotted
Theme: Follow your heart and live freely
