The Marquis's Household

(Male lead is a scholar, female lead a warrior; two strong personalities in a battle of wits.) Pei Yue is the head of the foremost aristocratic family of his time: elegant and refined, a man of honor and integrity. He serves at the emperor's side, offering counsel and taking part in state secrets. He is the finest of his generation, but there is one thing people criticize him for: he married a country girl who was no match for him in family standing. When Pei Yue was seven, his grandfather traveled through the mountains and rivers and passed through Tanzhou. After drinking late into the night with a local gentleman, he let Pei Yue's marriage be arranged without thinking. The Pei family roundly berated the old master for it, and officials in the capital lamented the match. But what was done could not be undone. Pei Yue prized his reputation, and in the end, he brought her home as his bride. At first, Pei Yue truly disliked her. They came from very different backgrounds and had nothing to talk about. Later, he saw that his new bride was simple-hearted and unpretentious, with no schemes of her own, and began to look after her a little more. Later still, the court was rocked by political upheaval and a series of major investigations. Pei Yue held several posts and was buried in official business. How could he possibly spare her any attention? Until one day, while investigating a case, he found himself looking into his own wife's affairs... A short scene: The lamps beneath the covered walkway still burned, illuminating Pei Yue's exceptionally clear eyes. All he had to do was go to the back courtyard, and every mystery would be solved. He might even catch her in the act. He could sit on the canopy bed and wait for her to return, then demand to know where she had gone, what she had done, who she was, and where she came from. And then... What next? What should he do? What could he do? The bone-deep, entangling taste of their kiss still lingered on his tongue. Pei Yue closed his eyes tightly and took a step back. (They fall in love after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, secret identities, both fully aware as they fall, a battle of wills to the limit.) Theme: Hard work never goes unrewarded.