Springtime Romance in a Noble Household

When Qingyuan was eight, her lucky koi fate led to her being sold to the Marquis of Zhenguo's household to bring good fortune. She became Chu Jingyu's child bride, drawing blood from her own heart every day to use as medicine for him and serving him with all her devotion.

Ten years later, Chu Jingyu was in good health. When someone asked about Qingyuan, he merely said, "If your family needs someone to bring good fortune, you can buy her back, too."

Then came the day she was kidnapped. Message after message arrived from the kidnappers, but he was intent on enjoying a boat ride with his first love, and impatiently said, "Tell her to wait."

At last, Qingyuan learned who his first love was: his elder brother's betrothed. She was nothing more than a bird he kept in a cage, valued because she knew her place and wouldn't pester him.

Qingyuan did exactly that. She left without a word, even when she finally bought her freedom.

Chu Jingyu had no idea that to earn the money for her freedom, Qingyuan had taken a job bearing an heir for a condemned prisoner, who happened to be his elder brother.

Later, on the day Chu Jingyu was to be married, Qingyuan became famous throughout the land for her embroidery. He fled his wedding like a madman to find her, eyes red as he demanded, "So it was you I was meant to love from the very beginning. Ayuan, please, won't you look at me?"

The famously aloof, chaste Marquis of Zhenguo kicked him to his knees and said in a steely voice, "That's no way to speak to your sister-in-law."