After her cousin got into trouble, Jiang Ruotang was jilted by her childhood sweetheart, who was also her cousin.
She wiped away her tears and started going on blind dates again, only for the emperor's matchmaker to show up at her home. The matchmaker was kind and friendly, taking her hand and praising everything about her. Jiang Ruotang was so frightened she broke into a cold sweat.
The tyrant was twenty-five or twenty-six and still unmarried. He had seized the throne after slaughtering his own elder brother's entire family, without sparing even the babies in their swaddling clothes!
An unfilial, cruel monster!
She was about to refuse, but then she thought it over: The empress held a position of great prestige, came with a generous stipend, and could even secure official posts for her family. Wasn't that better than marrying some minor official and serving her in-laws every day?
No more thinking. She would marry him!
*
Zhou Heng had finally managed to take an empress. His demands of her were simple: be quiet, be obedient, and stay out of politics. He could give her money and status, but she had better not pester him about love. He had no time to coddle women.
After the wedding.
The empress was afraid of the dark at night and burrowed right into his arms.
He frowned and raised a hand, reluctantly drawing her into his embrace and murmuring comfort through his drowsiness.
The empress loved good food but had a tiny appetite.
He picked up the piece of pea-flour pastry she had taken only one bite of and pondered: It would be a shame to waste it, wouldn't it? Under the horrified gazes of the eunuchs, he ate her leftovers.
The empress got drunk after one cup, but loved to drink. Once tipsy, she gently lifted his chin, her eyes hazy with drink. "Young sir, you're so handsome! Much better than His Majesty and his corpse-like face."
Zhou Heng's temple throbbed, but his hand was gentle as he steadied the empress, who could barely walk. He threatened her through gritted teeth: "Just wait until we get back. I'll settle this with you!"
Later, court officials submitted a memorial urging him not to dote exclusively on the empress, for fear she would use her beauty to beguile the emperor and throw the court into chaos.
He gave the official who submitted it a tongue-lashing and demoted him to clear land in the southern frontier.
Zhou Heng before: "Don't talk to me about love."
Zhou Heng now: "The empress and I are perfectly in tune, a match made in heaven. What do you sourpuss scholars know?"
A cold-faced, soft-hearted tyrant who protects his own x A delicate-looking white lotus empress with hidden fangs
Reading guide:
1. Marriage first, love later. The main story is sweet and satisfying.
2. The heroine has a clear growth arc. The hero is a bit of a jerk at first, but later becomes completely lovestruck.
3. The hero has no other consorts. One-on-one romance, and both leads are untouched.
4. There's a reason the hero killed his brother, which will be explained in the story.
Theme: Walking side by side
