Breaking the Frost

Xie Yi saved the notorious Prince Ning of the capital.

She thought they would go their separate ways and never meet again.

Then an imperial decree announcing their marriage crashed down like a bolt of thunder.

His Majesty had betrothed her to Prince Ning.3

On their wedding night,

after counting all the wedding gifts from the various households, she was about to enjoy a good night's sleep when the red wedding curtains were suddenly swept aside. The man, who should have looked gravely ill, stood before her full of vigor, actually expecting them to consummate the marriage.

Startled, Xie Yi hurriedly came up with an excuse to pack her bags and flee that very night.

The day He Xubai was born, he was burdened with a sixteen-character prophecy:

A star of calamity, bringing death to father and mother; those who grow close to him are fated to die young.

He was loathed by thousands and despised by all.

He deserved a lonely life.

But when suffocation closed in around him, Xie Yi risked her life to breathe life into him. In that instant, he was utterly certain that she was the one.

Yet fate did not grant him his wish.

After his death, he watched with his own eyes as she was pierced by a rain of arrows and died.

His heart tore with pain, but there was nothing he could do.

When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to three years before Xie Yi's death.

Reborn, what would he do?

Those who slandered her must be eliminated; those who hurt her must die; whatever she wanted, he would take for her.

To seize the throne, He Guici schemed at every turn,

even marrying a woman he did not love.

He once thought Xie Yi would wait for him forever.

But when he finally looked back, he realized her supposed playacting with that man had long since become real.

The splendid realm, every blade of grass and every tree, should all have been his.

But she was like sand slipping through his fingers. No matter how hard he tried,

he could not hold on to even a little of her.

Advance preview: Spring Beyond the Calamity

Meng Yu transmigrated into the body of a little mute.

Her father favored others, her mother was meek and weak.

Her legitimate elder sister had honeyed words and a snake's heart; her legitimate younger sister hid a blade behind her smile.

Surrounded by wolves, she cautiously managed to survive until she was old enough to marry.

Her mother had meant to marry her off to a kind and generous man.

But one careless mistake later, her father married her off to

the notorious young marquis.

The young marquis, infamous in the capital for his extravagance and debauchery, returned home with military honors.

He named the Meng family and demanded to marry one of their daughters.

But the Meng family had three daughters.

One was renowned throughout the capital, a refined young lady skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting;

one was clever and lively, a mischievous darling who delighted her parents;

and, well, there was one more... a timid, dull-witted little mute.

Which one did he want to marry?

Meng, Assistant Secretary of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, did not dare ask.

He feared the young marquis might want his dignified, graceful daughter.

Lord Meng nervously tested the waters:

"The third young lady is kind by nature. Perhaps she could be promised to the young marquis?"

He had expected the young marquis to fly into a rage.

Instead, the peerlessly noble man leaned back in his armchair,

let out a soft laugh, and drawled, "Sounds good!"

The first time Lu Xiuyi saw the little mute from the Meng family,

she was curled up, soaked through, on a tattered straw mat.

Her skin was as smooth as jade, her figure graceful.

Her eyes glistened with tears, like a pear blossom wet with rain.

She seemed like a delicate trumpet vine, easy to pluck,

and she set his heart and soul aflutter.

Only later did he learn:

what trumpet vine?

She was clearly a thorny rose.

Thesis: You are the one I will choose, steadfastly, for all my life