Growing Old Together with the General (Married First, Love Later)

[Decisive, scheming noblewoman x aloof, chaste young general]

[Marriage first, love later; sweet romance]

After a great victory in Yongzhou, Pei Xidu returned triumphantly to the capital. Taking advantage of the moment, Empress Pei, who had been confined to the Cold Palace, regained control of the imperial harem and made a comeback, flourishing like never before.

To strengthen the favor of Noble Consort Lu, who was currently in the emperor's good graces and carrying his child, Chancellor Lu carefully selected two beautiful women from his clan. He sent one into the palace and arranged for the other to marry the young General Pei, who had just returned victorious.

Pei Xidu knew this was the Lu family's beauty trap, but with the emperor's decree in hand, he had no choice but to comply.

He'd always kept his distance from women, and his original plan was to stay away from the great beauty the Lu family had sent him and make theirs a marriage in name only.

But on their wedding night, his wife in name alone lifted her own veil and offered him a vicious dagger, saying, "Lu Jinnian is willing to be the blade in the general's hand."

-

The Pei family had served the country loyally for generations. After her father and brothers all died on the battlefield, the young Pei heir, who had been sent to a monastery as a child, had no choice but to put aside his sutras and shoulder the burden of his family.

The court was a treacherous place, full of hidden currents.

At first, all Pei Xidu wanted was to return to his monastery once his work was done.

Later...

The young general, who could have walked away once everything was settled, placed the dagger back in Lu Jinnian's hand and said gently, "From now on, I'll be the blade in your hand."

-

Jinnian had walked her whole life as if treading on thin ice.

A carefully calculated marriage decree bound her to the renowned Pei Xidu of Chang'an.

She had thought that in a marriage where both sides had their own agendas and were wary of each other, the best outcome would be to survive and go their separate ways once everything had settled.

But she never expected the young General Pei, so self-disciplined, courteous, and as refined as jade, to hold a lantern and slowly light the path before her, asking, "A Jin, will you stay with me until our hair turns white?"

Blurb written on 12/24/2024

Theme: To be determined