Synopsis
Next up: She Rules Beneath His Skirt
Scheming beauty x hypocrite
In the thirty-first year of Yuanfeng, the emperor took his princes, princesses, noble families, and feudal lords on an autumn hunt.
Princess Mu Wanyan, who had been married for half a year, did not ride with her husband. Instead, without the slightest attempt at discretion, she climbed into the carriage of her brother-in-law.
The princess was beautiful and alluring, her manner intimate. Everyone turned to look.
And there, in full view of the crowd, the usually aloof and upright Xie Erlang, renowned for his integrity, showed not the slightest hesitation as he bent down to gather up the young woman's skirt, his manner tender and considerate.
*
Though Mu Wanyan was a princess, she lived worse than the lowliest palace maid. The imperial power had waned, and the great families held sway. Her marriage had initially been no more than a favor the royal family had granted, and no one cared whether she lived or died.
Her husband was cruel, her mother-in-law unkind, and he had married her only to bring his mistress into the household openly.
On their wedding night, her drunken husband smashed bowls and dishes and came at her. The servants trembled in fear. Just as she thought she was about to die, someone snatched the whip from the prince consort's hand and rebuked him coldly: "How dare you behave so outrageously in front of the princess?"
Only later did she learn that the man was Xie Hezhang, the famous second son of the Xie family, known throughout the capital.
By seniority, she ought to call him Uncle.
Xie Hezhang was aloof and desireless, distant and lacking in warmth. But to Mu Wanyan, Erlang was just and strict in his dealings, and always ready to help the vulnerable. He was a truly good man.
When she first entered the Xie household, she had no one to rely on, so she went to Xie Hezhang with every problem. After each silent, helpless sigh, he would always step in to help.
She naturally felt close to him, and every day she would find an excuse to seek him out, hoping he would continue looking after her for a long time.
But as time went on, rumors about the uncle and his sister-in-law began to spread. Mu Wanyan felt deeply guilty. After much hesitation, she finally suggested they keep their distance.
The man, usually so self-disciplined and proper, fell silent for a moment but did not agree. He only said, "If your conscience is clear, why care what others say?"
Mu Wanyan said nothing. As silence fell between them, the man had already begun gathering up the long hair at her waist.
.
As the eldest son of the Xie clan, Xie Hezhang had studied the classics and understood propriety from a young age. Pure and refined, he was the ideal example for the sons of noble families.
At first, he looked after Mu Wanyan at the elders' command, to keep peace in the household.
Later, it was because he could not bear to see her come to him looking so pitiful all the time.
He always thought he had everything under control, until one rainy night his disheveled, soaked sister-in-law frantically knocked on his door. She told him she had accidentally killed her husband and asked what she should do.
Her eyes brimmed with tears. She looked so helpless and pitiful.
By law, he should have taken her to the authorities at once.
But after gazing at her for a moment, he reached out to wipe away her tears and drew her into his arms, soothing her softly: "Don't be afraid."
Note: There is no romance between the leads while the marriage remains in effect.
Next up: She Rules Beneath His Skirt
Xiao Yin first heard about Jiang Fu from his imperial sister.
She complained to him about a distant cousin who had recently come to stay at her fiance's house, and how that woman was such a shameless poser, swaying as she walked and completely ensnaring her fiance.
Before she had finished speaking, a man on an arched bridge placed a flower in the hair of the woman beside him.
The woman smiled shyly, her eyes lowered in embarrassment. She was like a lotus reflecting the moon, or spring water beneath willow branches.
When she lowered her head, the slender stretch of her neck was pale and enticing.
His imperial sister said, "There, that's her."
Xiao Yin unconsciously rubbed his fingers together.
.
After her parents died unexpectedly, Jiang Fu took her young sister to seek refuge with a distant aunt and temporarily settled in the Earl of Ding'an's mansion.
She knew that living in someone else's home could not last forever. All she wanted was to find a good family to marry into, someone she and her sister could rely on for the rest of their lives.
She noticed Xiao Yin at a poetry gathering. The man was as pure as autumn moonlight on ice, gentle and taciturn, and stood out among her many disappointing male cousins.
She also heard that he was a successful candidate from a humble family, with no relatives at home.
With a background like that, he probably wouldn't look down on her for coming from a fallen family.
Jiang Fu kept him in mind and deliberately dropped a handkerchief as she passed him.
Half an hour later, the man came to the pavilion to return it.
The weather in Jiangyang was beautiful that day. Jiang Fu chatted with the man returning her handkerchief for half an hour, still not ready to part.
.
With mutual affection, Jiang Fu and Xiao Yin became close soon after meeting.
Although she occasionally thought this "successful candidate from a humble family" was too generous with his money and far too refined in his speech, she assumed it was simply his nature and never gave it much thought.
Until the day of the Old Madam's birthday celebration. Sitting at the end of the table, she watched the man arrive with his attendants, noble and handsome. Everyone fell silent as he passed.
The Old Madam was overwhelmed with honor, addressing him as His Highness the Crown Prince. When the subject of choosing a consort came up, she eagerly hinted that her youngest granddaughter should step forward to pay her respects.
Xiao Yin smiled and responded to them all.
Jiang Fu's face instantly went pale.
.
When Jiang Fu first mistook him for someone else, Xiao Yin did not correct her because he thought she was interesting.
A woman as entertaining as her, with whom to share a night of passion and a brief affair, seemed like a fine idea.
But gradually he began to have other thoughts. He wanted to take her as a concubine, keep her confined to his chambers, and cherish her in secret.
Just as he happily began building her a golden home of jade and gold, he heard that Jiang Fu had fallen seriously ill and returned to her hometown.
Remembering how she had laughed in his arms just the day before and said she would marry him, Xiao Yin coldly and unhurriedly crushed the jade hairpin he had just carved for her.
Who had told her she could run away?
Did she not know that husband and wife should live and die together?
Who had given her permission to abandon him?
.
When she saw Xiao Yin again, the man was smiling, but his eyes were red. He looked just like a demon come to collect a debt.
Jiang Fu took a frightened step backward.
His eyes darkened at once, but he smiled and opened his arms to her. "A Fu, why aren't you coming over? Don't you recognize your Xiao Lang anymore?"
Scheming beauty x hypocrite
Theme: Staying true to oneself
