After the Farmer's Daughter Followed Her Husband to the Capital

Song Tang'er and Xue Jingcheng grew up together in a small town in Jiangnan.

Xue Jingcheng's family was poor, but he was clever and studious. Song's father, the town's only teacher, often helped him out.

Later, he promised Tang'er, the flower he'd lovingly raised, to Xue Jingcheng in marriage, and they planned to wed when he returned from the imperial examination.

Song Tang'er was sweet and lively, with eyes and heart full of her dear Jingcheng-gege, but he was always hot and cold toward her.

When things were good, he made grand promises and sweet-talked her. When things were bad, everything she did was wrong.

Upset, Song Tang'er decided to accompany him to the capital when she went to visit her cousin, hoping they could grow closer along the way.

On the journey, Song Tang'er, whom her family had cherished since childhood, learned to take care of Xue Jingcheng. She went along with almost everything he wanted, refusing only his improper demands.

The capital was naturally dazzling with wealth. Song Tang'er enjoyed herself and broadened her horizons, but when she'd had enough and wanted to go home, Xue Jingcheng, who had failed the imperial examination, refused to let her leave.

He brought a pregnant beauty to meet her.

He said, “You should know what the sages say: ‘Better to marry a great family's servant than a girl from a humble household.’ Though Lan'er was once a slave, she was raised by the Duke's household as a senior maid. She served the Old Madam from childhood, and later the Young Duke. She's more respectable than many of her masters. She can read and write, cook, and conduct herself in high society. She's seen the world. In the future, she'll uphold the standing of the Xue family and raise my descendants well. You, meanwhile, do nothing but play every day and gossip with those women who hang around the street-side stoves. How could you ever be fit to be mistress of the Xue family?”

Song Tang'er sobbed. “But there aren't any good people in the Duke's household. That Young Duke even tricked me into drinking wine and didn't pay for it. Jingcheng-gege, please reconsider. Don't leave me, okay?”

Xue Jingcheng declared firmly, “There's no need. We must break off our engagement today!”

Later, they met again at a banquet hosted by the Duke's household.

Xue Jingcheng saw her standing alone by the lake, wiping away tears. Sunlight streamed through the willow branches and fell on her fair, lovely face, making her beauty almost startling.

His heart stirred. He walked over and condescendingly offered, “If you're willing to lower yourself, I'll welcome you into my household as a favored concubine. How about it?”

Just then, his Lan'er suddenly bowed. “Greetings, Young Duke!”

Sheng Yan hurried over, not even glancing at them. Holding a small bottle of medicine, he went straight to Song Tang'er and asked in a tender, doting voice, “How is it? Does it still hurt a lot?”

Song Tang'er held out a delicate finger. There was a tiny puncture on it, no bigger than a pinprick. “It's all your fault for taking so long to come. It stopped hurting already...”

Note: A sweet romance. Sheng Yan is the male lead, and the second male lead will be ground to dust.

Theme: The past is but a prologue