Clever, sharp, seemingly sweet young commandery princess x tsundere, secretly genuine young marquis who pretends to be a playboy
1.
The Duke of the State's family held overwhelming power. To ease the royal family's suspicions, their only daughter, Commandery Princess Chao Ning, Qin Yuanning, was betrothed to Jin Ziqi, heir to the impoverished marquis household next door.
The Commandery Princess Chao Ning was as radiant as a precious pearl, and her nature was gentle and demure. She was well known in the capital for her good reputation. Unfortunately, her fiance came from a declining family and was a playboy.
Whenever people brought it up, they all lamented her fate.
When Qin Yuanning heard this, she only smiled faintly. "It was my parents' decision. I can't let him down."
After she said this, her reputation for virtue grew even greater.
Jin Ziqi, sitting on the wall, ground his teeth in anger. He wanted to expose her right then and there.
2.
No one knew that their engagement was fake.
Qin Yuanning was sharp by nature, but concealed her abilities for the sake of her family. Jin Ziqi wasn't a playboy either. He only acted like one to put people's suspicions at ease.
The two families had hit it off perfectly.
They should have been childhood sweethearts, but they had never gotten along.
3.
Qin Yuanning looked down on Jin Ziqi's playboy ways, but that didn't stop her from using him to fend off other suitors.
She thought the Duke of the State's elegant and refined heir was rigid and long-winded, while the kind-hearted young general seemed clueless about romance.
At first, Jin Ziqi was furious.
Gradually, though, he began to enjoy it.
Qin Yuanning realized something was amiss, but before she could think it through, she used him again to fend off the Crown Prince's advances.
To her surprise, word reached the emperor. Deeply moved, he immediately arranged a marriage between Qin Yuanning and Jin Ziqi.
Qin Yuanning: ...
Having taken things too far, Qin Yuanning went to Jin Ziqi to discuss what to do.
But he glanced at her, gave a slight nod, and said, "Sounds good."
Qin Yuanning: ???
4.
At first, Jin Ziqi just thought Qin Yuanning was putting on an act.
He enjoyed exposing her in public and watching her get flustered, or calling her "future wife" and watching her get angry but unable to say anything.
He was best at teasing people.
He never expected to tease her so much that he would be the one to fall first.
Once again, he sat on the wall, watching sourly as she used him as an excuse to gently turn away another suitor. He wanted nothing more than to make their fake engagement real.
Theme: Flirting and bickering are the sweetest!
