[Sarcastic and impeccably mannered fake princess x sharp-tongued, cold-faced young hound of a powerful minister]
A smiling, scheming dog trainer x a top-tier privileged noble (?), a pedigreed show dog
(Exactly.)
Yuan Tingshu hated that red cord.
The red cord that had appeared on him ever since Cui Yuzhao was born.
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Cui Yuzhao was born on the final day of the deadline foretold by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
The destined one would be born in Tiangu. The red thread would choose its owner, and the two would fall in love. For the next hundred years, the gods would grant their blessing and bring peace and prosperity, making Tiangu the greatest nation in the world.
It was a stormy night, with lightning flashing and thunder booming. Little Yuan Tingshu was crying his eyes out in his crib, just as he always did, except that a red cord had appeared around his tiny wrist.
The old man who came to see him was overjoyed. He said this was the red-thread fate from the prophecy.
What a joke.
Dynasties rose and fell, and the Xiao imperial family passed from one generation to the next, while the Yuan family had held military power for generations. The true dragon might sit high on the throne, but the Yuan family's Qilin Banner had stood firm above the city gates for over a hundred years.
Why should a prophecy decide whom he married?
Besides, she was a hypocritical, vindictive, arrogant, awful woman.
She scolded him and teased him practically every day, yet she was gentle and soft-spoken with everyone else. He was the only one she tormented.
Even after the emperor issued a marriage decree to the Cui family on the day they had reached the age specified by the prophecy, Yuan Tingshu had gone to their home to pay his respects, doing his duty despite himself, and Cui Yuzhao had still kicked him.
Yuan Tingshu felt like her dog.
He made up his mind: he would order himself not to speak to her for three whole days. He would show Cui Yuzhao that Yuan Tingshu wouldn't always let her push him around.
But the next day, just after dawn, a rumor began spreading throughout the capital.
They said Cui Yuzhao was a fake princess. She wasn't a daughter of the Cui family at all. Her birth parents were a farming couple from some unknown village.
He couldn't describe what he felt in that moment. He didn't even bother putting on his outer robe. He swung onto his horse and raced toward the Cui residence, with just one thought in his mind: he had to see her as soon as possible.
There were plenty of people Cui Yuzhao had offended. She never let anyone get the better of her with that sharp tongue, and now that rumors were flying, they would surely seize the chance to get revenge.
Within two hours, the warning from the young marquis of the Yuan family had been exaggerated to the point that it reached every household. At last, the whispers died down. He couldn't tell whether he was worried or simply glad to have an excuse to tease her, but his emotions were in turmoil, and the unease coursing through him left him restless. Torn and uneasy, he knocked on the Cui residence's door.
The door opened, and cries came from inside.
He thought he must be imagining it.
Cui Yuyu said, “My sister is gone.”
His throat tightened, but the moment the first syllable escaped, Yuan Tingshu froze.
He raised his hand. The red thread around his wrist had vanished.
-
Yuan Tingshu hated her.
Theme: If you love me, then the red-thread fate is real.
