Older, paternal reborn gong × outwardly gentle, inwardly strong beauty shou
The new emperor arranges a marriage, sending Qin Lie a marquis's wife who, aside from being good-looking, is a sickly wreck who puts him on edge in every way. Somehow, five years pass, and the sickly wreck gives him his whole heart, sharing both hardship and good fortune with him.
At last, Qin Lie lets down his guard and takes the sickly wreck to heart, saying they should be sworn friends.
The sickly wreck: "...Fine."
After a sudden upheaval, Qin Lie learns to his horror that the sickly wreck is Jiang Heng, the deposed crown prince who was supposed to be dead, and that he'd been using Qin Lie all along during their five years together. Qin Lie rushes to confront him, but after confessing his feelings, Jiang Heng dies of his illness on his own, without waiting for a reply.
A year later, having completely let himself go, Qin Lie finally lands himself on the execution ground. On the way there, he learns about the past Jiang Heng went through.
Reborn, Qin Lie returns to the night of their wedding and gets a fresh start with Jiang Heng, who has just suffered a disaster. He vows to nurse the sickly wreck back to health and avenge them both.
He gives Jiang Heng his whole heart, shares both hardship and good fortune with him, and finally recognizes his own feelings and confesses.
Jiang Heng is deeply moved, then says they should be sworn friends.
Qin Lie: "...?"
Theme: No one can step into the same river twice, but love can.
