Delicate and Cool

While living in Jiangnan to recover from an illness, Yu Lingyuan fell in love with a man. The two secretly exchanged vows before Heaven and Earth, promising to stay together.

She thought meeting her true love was the greatest good fortune of her life.

Only after following him back to the capital did she discover that her husband was a man of noble status, already betrothed to a princess of the imperial clan.

Yu Lingyuan was unwilling to accept it, but one day she happened to overhear him speaking arrogantly to the princess. "She's lowborn and devoted to me. Once she gives birth to my child, I'll take the child and let you raise it as your heir."

Every word was ice, chilling her to the bone. Despairing, Yu Lingyuan fled in the dead of night while he was away investigating a case.

She sought refuge with her maternal aunt, and arrived just as her cousin fell gravely ill and someone was needed to take her place in an arranged marriage.

Knowing that the man would never let her go, she thought the status of the Prince of Yunyang's heir might offer her protection. She knelt before her aunt. "I'll marry the Prince of Yunyang's heir in my cousin's place."

Cui Xiao was young and successful, single-mindedly devoted to building a career. This marriage had been an unforeseen turn of events.

Now that he had married her, he would treat her with the respect she deserved. Beyond that, he had no particular interest in her.

The two agreed to be husband and wife in name only, and to divorce when the time was right.

But as they spent their days together, he discovered her clever hands and gentle words unsettled his heart every time.

During the Lantern Festival, Cui Xiao intended to confess his feelings and make them a real married couple.

Amid the bustling crowds, a cold figure suddenly appeared. Anger in his eyes, the man ground out, "Yuan Niang, do you know how hard I've had to search for you?"

That man was Cui Xiao's uncle.

Cui Xiao was struck as if by lightning. He suddenly understood that the woman he had fallen for was his own aunt by marriage. The woman beside him trembled all over, tears falling like rain. Only then did Cui Xiao truly understand what it meant to be heartbroken, and what it meant to yearn for someone day and night.

Reader's guide:

A voluptuous beauty x a sharp-tongued, scheming general x a coldhearted, feudal minister

Content warnings: The heroine has no prior partners, and neither does the hero. There is no improper relationship while either party is in another relationship. This story combines a regretful-chasing arc, marriage before love, romantic rivalry, and forced love. As for the male lead... read the story.

Theme: Pursue the one you love, and let no one hold you back.