Faraway Clouds and Waters

Xie Yunyao was born into a powerful family and had been spoiled since childhood. With a face like a hibiscus flower, she was radiant and beautiful, the number one beauty in Jinyang City.

Who could have imagined that when her father became embroiled in a corruption scandal, the Xie family would be destroyed overnight?

Before he died, her father told her to seek a marriage alliance with the Lu family and ask them for protection.

The Lu family was the most powerful clan in Anyang, with immense influence.

To survive in the Lu household, Xie Yunyao planned to curry favor with one of the Lu family's young masters and seek his protection.

But the young masters in the household all avoided her and loathed her. The only one who showed her any concern was Lu Fei, the only legitimate son in the family, a young marquis as graceful as a bright moon and a gentle breeze.

Lu Fei, the legitimate son of the Marquis of Jingning, was as elegant as a jade tree and as warm as jade. He was the dream lover of countless noble young ladies in Anyang.

Xie Yunyao knew that her family had fallen into ruin, and she could never hope to marry someone as distinguished as the young marquis. So from the beginning, she hadn't dared set her sights on him.

Yet the young marquis took a special interest in her and treated her with tenderness and care. After accidentally seeing her body, this always-proper gentleman proposed marriage.

Xie Yunyao assumed the elders of the Lu family would never agree, but to her surprise, Lu Fei's sincerity moved them, and they gave their blessing.

Naturally, Xie Yunyao readily accepted such an advantageous match and dreamed of a happy, wonderful life after marriage.

Until, on their wedding night, she found a yellowed, tattered marriage contract beneath her pillow.

Xie Yunyao had been betrothed to the third son of the Cui family since childhood, but the Xie family looked down on them after their fortunes declined. When Xie Yunyao was eight, Cui Xingyuan brought the third young master to their home, and she drove them away.

To put an end to the Cui family's hopes, Xie Yunyao's father had the spoiled eight-year-old Xie Yunyao trample hard on the fingers of the third young master, who looked like a beggar.

That day, thunder and rain had raged, just as they did on this wedding night.

A flash of lightning made Xie Yunyao drop the tattered marriage contract in fright. Someone pushed open the door.

Lu Fei wore a bright red wedding robe. His handsome face looked terrifying and sinister in the flickering lightning, like a demon from hell coming to claim her soul.

He walked toward Xie Yunyao one step at a time, tore away the mask of a perfect gentleman, and revealed his true nature. His long fingers curled like claws around her throat and slowly tightened, while a warm, doting smile still played on his lips. "You've finally remembered, my fiancée."

Theme: Good fortune doesn't fall from the sky.