Warm, scheming top scholar and general x cool, clever daughter of a duke
On the day the imperial exam results were announced, Jiang Xian placed third and paraded through the streets. Xu Ningzhao and Shen Xingruan watched from the Tower of Spring's First Blossoms. Suddenly, an imperial decree arrived: the emperor was granting Princess Jing'an's hand in marriage to Jiang Xian. After the envoy read the decree, Linghua Street fell silent, then erupted into an uproar. Jiang Xian stood frozen, refusing to accept the decree, and looked up at the window, panic in his eyes.
Xu Ningzhao met his gaze from inside. Her vision blurred, and her heart felt heavy, as if stuffed with damp cotton. When she heard that Jiang Xian had accepted the decree, she could no longer hold back her tears and ran home.
The sky was dark as ink, and a fine rain fell. Xu Ningzhao went alone to Zhaobai Pavilion, where Jiang Xian had confessed his feelings on the Winter Solstice. She rubbed the half of their betrothal jade pendant at her waist, remembering his promise: "When I pass the exam, I'll give you a happy life." Tears streamed down her face. Just as she was about to take off the pendant, a familiar pair of arms pulled her close.
Dressed in his red robe as the third-place scholar, Jiang Xian gasped out an apology, his eyes rimmed with red. "You're the only one I've ever loved." He unfolded a new imperial decree: the emperor had changed his decision and was granting him and Xu Ningzhao permission to marry. Jiang Xian took her hand and pressed it against his chest, moonlight reflected in his eyes. "Zhaozhao, will you marry me?"
Theme: Keep your heart true, and adorn your hair with spring clouds
