Ning Huaiyu placed first in the imperial examinations at twenty, riding his horse down the main street. He was the very picture of a refined young gentleman, and the perfect future husband according to the rankings. Who could have guessed that getting caught up in factional infighting would earn him a sentence of exile three thousand li away?
In a city buried in snow, the elegant young gentleman is carried off to a nest by Huo Yun, a famous general guarding the frontier. General Huo only meant to snatch himself a bargain military strategist, but this strategist is even more captivating than the foreign beauties beyond the border.
Life at the frontier is dull, so Huo Yun thinks he might as well keep a pretty flower around to brighten things up. But the young gentleman suffered greatly on the journey into exile, sustaining numerous hidden injuries. The slightest upset could be enough to kill him.
Accustomed to being rough around the edges, General Huo is forced to tread carefully at every turn and do his best to give him everything.
Unfortunately, Huo Yun happens to overhear Ning Huaiyu stubbornly say, "I have no feelings for him. I just need his power."
He can't bring himself to lay a hand on him, but neither can he bear to send him away. So General Huo's tent rings with music and laughter every night as he summons young men to drink and amuse themselves.
For the first time, Ning Huaiyu, who has always taken everything in stride and remained composed, loses his peace of mind.
The lamps burn night after night. Every day, Huo Yun props his head up and dozes, never once looking down at the reports, but in the end he can't help asking, "How has he been these past few days? Why hasn't anyone brought him food?"
His subordinate answers cautiously, "Young Master Ning vomited blood a couple of days ago. He can no longer get out of bed."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"You said you didn't want to hear any news about him."
Before the words are even out, the man in the main seat has vanished, knocking over several fruit platters in his undisguised panic.
A fake chase-your-lover-to-the-crematorium plot, but really a rough-edged gong who falls for him all on his own.
Blurb written on October 1, 2024, on a whim during the holidays.
Theme: Love takes sincere effort.
