A flood destroyed Pingyuan Village, leaving Ruiru homeless overnight. Pregnant, she had no choice but to follow the refugees north, searching for the husband who had left half a year ago to take the imperial examinations in the capital.
Along the way, she met a kind young nobleman.
He was refined and courteous, always mindful of propriety. When bandits were about to abduct her, he appeared like a god and defeated them soundly. Once he learned of her plight, he offered to take her along without hesitation.
From beginning to end, he never crossed a line.
Only after reaching the capital did she learn that the young lord was Wen Zhiyu, heir to the renowned Yixin Marquis's residence.
Despite their vast difference in status, he did everything he could to help her find out what had happened to her husband.
He was truly a rare good man.
But as her pregnancy advanced and her child was about to be born, she realized she would be left without household registration. She had no choice but to ask the young nobleman for one last favor.
In the dim candlelight, the young lord rolled a die between his fingertips, his face half-lit and half-shadowed.
He said,
It wouldn't be difficult, but it would cost her her reputation. If she didn't want to, they could forget it.
At such a crucial moment, Ruiru couldn't care less about some imaginary reputation. Of course she agreed at once.
And so she became a concubine in his household.
It was a long time before she realized what kind of bargain she'd made with a demon.
On the day the new examination results were announced, Wen Zhiyu pointed to the new top scholar, beaming with joy and wearing a large red flower on his chest, and told her,
That was the man the emperor had chosen to marry the princess.
But when Ruiru saw that all-too-familiar face, she went deathly pale and fainted on the spot.
When she woke, Young Lord Wen apologized to her with an expression of guilt.
He said,
I'm sorry. I didn't know that ungrateful man was your husband.
He said,
Your household registration still hasn't been sorted out, so you may as well stay at my residence. The marquis's household can spare two more pairs of chopsticks.
In this muddled way, she somehow ended up staying, maintaining her status as his concubine.
/
[Bonus Scene]
Much later, while she was strolling down the street with Wen Zhiyu and their child, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist in a tight grip.
She turned around. Ji Suizhou's eyes were bloodshot, his expression full of agitation.
"My wife, you're alive! Where have you been? I've been looking for you for so long!"
Then he looked at the child beside her, who was as small and innocent as a little bean. His voice trembled. "Is this... our child?"
At that moment, a pair of strong arms suddenly pulled her into an embrace.
The man's voice was icy. "Lord Ji, what do you intend to do to my wife and daughter?"
Blurb captured on 2024.8.4
Theme: True love conquers all.
