[Blurb]
Xue Lingheng and the third prince, Jiang Zhuo, grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Once she came of age, she smoothly married him and became his princess consort. During the struggle for the throne, Jiang Zhuo relied on the power of the Xue family to become crown prince.
But then Marquis Xue died on the battlefield, and the political landscape changed overnight. To secure his position as crown prince, Jiang Zhuo spent his days and nights doting on new lovers, betraying the promises he had once made.
Xue Lingheng asked to spend her days beside the Buddha, and ended their marriage with a single fire.
Chen Jixue once accompanied his uncle to the capital on business. As soon as their boat reached shore, he saw a girl in red riding through the streets, her smile radiant. From the people of the capital, he learned she was the future princess consort of the third prince, a true daughter of a noble house.
From then on, he kept that vivid red figure in his heart. He never neglected his studies for a single day, hoping that one day he might catch another glimpse of her among the capital's countless people.
The crown princess perished in a sea of flames, and Chen Jixue lost heart, sinking into despair day and night. His aunt, who disliked him, heard that a widow had come to the county and decided in private to arrange a marriage for her.
But when Chen Jixue first came face-to-face with the woman, he stared at the female tutor in shock. "C-Crown Princess?!"
In the third year after losing Xue Lingheng, Jiang Zhuo eliminated his two elder brothers and finally secured his position as crown prince.
Yet among the countless beauties in the palace, not one was his beloved A Xiu.
Recently, the emperor had acknowledged an illegitimate son who had been living among the common folk. Jiang Zhuo thought nothing of it. He was just a crude younger brother raised among ordinary people, no threat at all.
The newly acknowledged prince, Jiang Ji, attended a palace banquet with his princess consort. Seeing Xue Lingheng's familiar face, everyone exchanged uncertain looks and glanced toward the crown prince, seated below the throne.
Jiang Zhuo crushed the wine cup in his hand without a word. Looking at his sister-in-law, eight months pregnant, his eyes instantly reddened. That was his A Xiu.
Reader advisory:
1. The male lead is a black-hearted wolf in sheep's clothing, and not a good person.
2. The female lead is not a virgin, the male lead is.
Theme: Know when to cut your losses.
