After Being Married Off to a Sickly General

Qu Qingxi was the illegitimate daughter of the Qu family. Beautiful as snow and flowers, she was skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. But after her legitimate elder sister fled from her wedding, Qu Qingxi was forced to marry Xie Zhiying, the An'nan Marquis, a man known for his cruelty and unpredictable temper.

Xie Zhiying was a renowned war god of the Great Xia, distinguished by his military achievements. But he had been poisoned during a southern campaign and now had to drink medicinal ginseng soup every day.

Everyone said Qu Qingxi was pitiful to have to marry a sickly man. With his vicious disposition, her life was sure to be miserable.

Even Qu Qingxi felt she had jumped from one pit of fire into another.

The Emperor had ordered the marriage, so no matter how unwilling she was, Qu Qingxi had to grit her teeth and accept it.

After the wedding, Qu Qingxi served him attentively, trying all sorts of ways to win his favor.

When Xie Zhiying was weak, she studied medicine and brewed tonics to restore his health.

In spring, she took him to see the cherry blossoms. In summer, she picked lotus pods. In autumn, she gathered persimmons. In winter, she admired the snow beneath clear skies.

Through the cold winters and hot summers, Qu Qingxi watched him slowly recover. At last, she cautiously made a request: she wanted to leave the estate.

Unexpectedly, the usually composed and reserved Xie Zhiying crushed his teacup. His eyes turned blood red, and through clenched teeth, he uttered a single word, his voice tinged with bloodlust.

"Fine."

-

Only later did Qu Qingxi learn that the Emperor was persecuting his own loyal subjects and manipulating the court. He was the one who had poisoned Xie Zhiying.

Xie Zhiying was exceptionally gifted and had grand ambitions. How could he let others control him and spend his life in despair?

He endured hardship and bided his time, secretly amassing an army and raising troops across the land. In one fell swoop, he overthrew the crumbling dynasty, rotten to its core.

When the army stormed the capital, the stench of blood spread for miles, and the city's people trembled in fear.

But Xie Zhiying, the army's commander, leaped down from his horse, walked toward Qu Qingxi, and bent down to take her hand.

"I've come to take you home."

-

No one expected the first thing Xie Zhiying would do after ascending the throne to be going out to the countryside to find Qu Qingxi, who was living a quiet retirement, farming and fishing.

He personally presented her with the golden book and imperial seal, begging her to take her place as empress.

Though all beneath heaven bowed to him, Qu Qingxi alone held his heart.

Together, they grew old.

Theme: Take your fate into your own hands and forge a life of your own