Yu Wan never expected that, after being dealt a hopeless hand, she'd still get the good fortune of becoming the Prime Minister's daughter!
With a new name, she became Lin Wanqing, a sought-after young lady in the capital, all graceful and gentle, winning the admiration of many officials' sons.
She considered her options and chose Xiao Shu, the emperor's twelfth son, a prince with no backing, achievements, or favor.
When someone asked what she looked for in a husband, she simply said, "As long as he's handsome, we can work everything else out!"
Xiao Shu had beautiful courtesans in his arms and male entertainers at his beck and call.
As he ran his fingers over the gold-embossed name "Lin Wanqing" on the marriage proposal from the Lin residence, his heart stirred.
He remembered the pretty young lady who kept saying she'd "throw herself at him." He'd secretly been pleased, thinking it was because he was so charming, only for her to start making demands.
"How about giving me half of your uncle's fortune?"
"He's a rebel. You dare covet his wealth?"
"You're a subject, but you're coveting the emperor's throne, aren't you?"
"..."
Xiao Shu liked women with desires. They were easier to control.
But he didn't like women who were promiscuous.
Whenever he saw Lin Wanqing getting close to his second brother, he smashed one of the jade pieces in her room.
The miser's distress worked many times better than any amount of nagging.
Many years later, a jade pavilion was built beside the emperor's sleeping quarters, the Hanzhang Hall. Rumor had it that the empress was given a piece of jade to place in the pavilion every time the emperor summoned her to his bed.
Embarrassed, Lin Wanqing hid beneath the thin blanket and insisted that the tongue of whoever started the rumor be cut out.
Xiao Shu drew her into his arms and gently kissed the tip of her reddened ear. "Your husband has only one tongue. If you cut it out, how will I serve you, my dear?"
--
At first, Xiao Shu was merely one of the benefactors who helped her escape the fate of being a pawn.
Later, he became the one place Lin Wanqing longed for, even at the ends of the earth, and no one else could take his place.
Theme: Look ahead. The road is wide.
