1.
Shen Zhinian is the only girl among three generations of the Duke of Xuanguo's family.
As delicate as a spring peach, she is also famous throughout the capital for being pampered.
An imperial decree of marriage
orders her to wed Xiao Zheng, the crippled, disfigured heir to Prince An.
He is gloomy and strange, with a fearsome face and a violent temper.
Everyone is trembling with fear, expecting Shen Zhinian to cry and make a scene.
Instead, she quickly asks, "When's the wedding? Could it be tomorrow? Can he still father children?"
Everyone: "…"
Heavens above! Please come and look at our young lady. Has she lost her mind from a fever?
When Shen Zhinian overhears that she is a fake heiress who was switched at birth, she panics.
The real heiress is still farming in the countryside, and sooner or later, Shen Zhinian will be sent back in her place.
She thinks that as long as she can have a child, Xiao Zheng won't be able to divorce her once he learns who she really is.
2.
After Xiao Zheng went from a spirited young man to a crippled invalid,
he grew sick of the world and himself, unable to pick himself back up.
That is, until his new wife cautiously pushed open the door to his room.
"From now on, I'm your wife."
He cruelly shows her the scars on his face and his crippled legs.
The pampered young lady cries until her eyes are misty. "Can you still... perform?"
Xiao Zheng thinks Shen Zhinian has been frightened out of her wits.
In fact, Shen Zhinian is already mourning her own future.
Her husband might not be able to perform down there.
3.
At first,
Xiao Zheng treats his pampered new bride coldly
and writes her a divorce agreement. "If you want to leave, just sign it."
Later, the two have an argument.
Xiao Zheng says coldly, "If you think I'm an ugly cripple, we can divorce. Go find the top scholar you grew up with."
Pregnant and furious, Shen Zhinian runs away from home. Her carriage has barely reached the city gate when she runs into the top scholar.
The man chasing after her limps along on a cane, his face dark with anger. "You're really going to take my child and marry someone else? I'm not dead yet!"
Bonus scene:
After who knows how long,
Xiao Zheng picks up a book from the desk.
It records recipes for virility-boosting tonics, springtime pictures, and the young lady's thoughts about marrying into his household.
His face darkens.
Shen Zhinian says petulantly, "What are you reading? My legs are so sore."
Their sharp-tongued little girl says, "Daddy, baby's tummy hurts too."
He turns to look at his wife, whose belly is swollen high as she waits for him to take care of her, and their mischievous daughter.
With a dark expression, he says, "You married me just to have children."
Shen Zhinian's eyes redden, and she says aggrievedly, "You actually raised your voice at me."
Xiao Zheng: I'm sorry. I was wrong.
(Screenshot taken on 2024.12.17)
Theme: Love the world
