Has My Husband Been Cremated Today?

[Household intrigue | face-slapping | groveling for forgiveness]

Meng Yuan was supposed to marry her current husband's younger brother, the second son of the Pei family. But shortly before the wedding, she learned that the second son and her younger sister had been having an affair for some time.

Her sister knelt before her, weeping like a flower in the rain, and begged her to give up the marriage. She promised she would remember Meng Yuan's kindness for the rest of her life.

Their parents had always favored Meng Nian. Even after learning that Meng Nian had developed improper feelings for her future brother-in-law, they thought it over and still urged Meng Yuan to indulge her sister's infatuation.

Her betrothed, the second son of the Pei family, even came to see her in person. At first, he tried to sweet-talk her into giving up the marriage. When he saw that Meng Yuan was determined to refuse, he sneered and pointed at her, accusing her of stopping at nothing to marry into a wealthy family.

Meng Yuan's last shred of hope was extinguished.

Everyone wanted her to give way.

But why should she?

Meng Yuan forced herself to go through with the wedding, never expecting the second son of the Pei family to flee, with her younger sister Meng Nian disappearing alongside him. On the wedding day, the groom and the bride's younger sister eloped. Word spread quickly, and Meng Yuan, already dressed in red and waiting to be wed, became the laughingstock of everyone around her.

It was then that Pei Yinqi appeared. He said he was willing to take his brother's place and marry her. From outside the bridal sedan, he asked if she was willing.

Meng Yuan had no choice. She took the red silk Pei Yinqi offered and went through the wedding rites with him.

Only after the wedding did Meng Yuan learn from the gossip that her new husband had married her because he had a beloved mistress outside the home. The Pei family wouldn't let him bring the mistress into their household unless he first took a proper wife.

Meng Yuan could only laugh in disbelief.

So wherever she went, she was always the one no one chose.

Fine.

Even so, it didn't matter. She would choose herself.

Pei Yinqi had always thought his new wife was old-fashioned and stiff, so even on their wedding night, he made an excuse to leave the bridal chamber.

As they spent more time together, however, he came to think she was good-tempered and easy to get along with. He gradually grew used to having her by his side. When his elders urged them to consummate their marriage, the red wedding candles burned bright, and he saw that his wife had a beautiful face like a hibiscus flower.

He thought their days would simply pass like that, one after another. His wife was virtuous, and having children was only a matter of time. But before he could hear that she was expecting, he received divorce papers instead.

She said she was grateful that he had helped her out of a difficult situation back then. Now that she had the means to stand on her own, she was willing to divorce him and give up her place as his proper wife to the woman he kept outside the home...

Pei Yinqi's eyes darkened. He didn't take the divorce papers. Instead, he caught his wife's wrist.

Theme: Live well, love yourself, and find happiness every day.