Marrying the New Aristocrat

In the beautiful and competitive capital, Chu Yu'an, who has average talent, secretly loves the unattainable man, Ji Jinghe. Fate favors her, and she gets to marry him under the guise of the Prime Minister's daughter.

She ambitiously tries to please him, but after only a few days, she learns that her husband has someone else in his heart.

She presents him with carefully nurtured orchids, only for him to give them away; the sachet she personally made is discarded like refuse. Even the meals she cooks are fed to the watchdogs.

Her father is framed, and he watches with cold indifference. When she is at her wit's end, she hears that he intends to divorce her to marry another, and her heart completely breaks.

Having lost her support and fallen into the dust, she kneels before her father's grave and burns the divorce letter she had written amidst the spirit money...

Protecting her young brother, avenging her father, even if everyone despises her, she is determined to be this 'new aristocrat's wife.

～

In the talent-filled capital, Ji Jinghe is the most dazzling presence.

At only twenty, he achieved the top position in the imperial examinations, becoming the youngest Grand Scholar in the court.

To uncover the truth behind his mentor's demise, he uses his own marriage as a bargaining chip in his power plays, marrying the daughter of the man who killed his mentor.

He knows this marriage is merely a strategic exchange, and deliberately ignores all of Chu Yu'an's kindness and affections.

The relationship between the two grows increasingly cold, almost to the point of being strangers.

The ironies of fate are such that only after shedding his prejudice and the truth becoming clear do the quiet affections that permeated their married life begin to ensnare his heart, little by little.

He discovers —

Her calligraphy is superb, her tea ceremony is proficient, but she has always been low-key and unwilling to show off;

She treats others with gentleness, completely different from the arrogance and rudeness others speak of;

She is actually extremely beautiful, but is unaccustomed to adornment;

She would also exchange soft laughter with others, but has never smiled in front of him...

She is wonderful in every way, but unfortunately, she no longer loves him.

Content warnings: 1v1, SC (pure), not a typical overpowered female lead story, the male lead does not have a white moonlight (past love interest), neither the male nor female lead are perfect characters. Those who are bothered by this should not read.

After chapter 20, the scoundrel man starts pursuing the wife [Melodramatic! Old-fashioned! Enter with caution!]

There's a bit of angst; everyone, please persevere until after chapter 20. The female lead's suffering must be fully experienced by the male lead.

[Next up... Seeking collection for "Only Two Hearts Are One"]

The world knows that the eldest daughter of the Yang family, Gu Pan Sheng Hui, is gentle and intelligent, and they were certain she was a match made in heaven with Pei Qingming. Unfortunately, it was Yang Qiao, the younger sister of the Yang family, who spent her days in the army, practicing martial arts, who married Pei Qingming. The world was shocked, pitying how Pei Qingming's life was ruined.

This new bride was shallow in her understanding, crude in her speech, and lacked any reserve in bed. They did not hit it off, and Pei Qingming felt his future was difficult, only hoping to live out the rest of his life peacefully, with no other aspirations.

But as time went by, he actually grew accustomed to his wife's uninhibited nature.

She was straightforward and genuine, with a strong physique, not at all like he had initially thought; even more unexpectedly, she was the one who saved him from the biting cold water in their youth.

Just as he decided to live a good life, she left him a divorce letter and departed without a word...

*

Yang Qiao had a crush since childhood. After seeing the handsome Pei Qingming, she never forgot him. So when her family discussed who should get married, she stepped forward without hesitation. She thought the bustling capital would be more interesting than staying at home. Unfortunately, not only did she lose her freedom, but even her husband disliked her at every turn.

At night, in the intimacy of the bed, Yang Qiao endured the flutter in her heart and asked, "Qingming, you really don't like me?"

The man, continuing his actions, replied without any passion: "Husband and wife fulfill their duties, why speak of love."

In the end, it was all unrequited devotion... Forget it, what maiden fears not having a husband, divorce!

*

Leaving the divorce letter behind and returning to Yulin Prefecture, just as she was throwing the heartbreak out of her mind, Pei Qingming reappeared.

One moment he was bringing her thick quilts and a warm stove, the next he was inexplicably jealous, even disregarding his dignity to warm her bed.

"Pei Qingming, didn't we say we were done with each other?"

"I didn't sign the divorce letter, we are still husband and wife," the man said through gritted teeth. "I am yours in life and yours in death, I will never leave you."

Content Tags: Historical Palace, Blissful Union, Proud Son of Heaven, Daily Life, Marriage Then Love, Chasing Love, Purgatory of Love

Chu Yu'an, Ji Jinghe

Others: Melodrama / HE / Double Purity

One Sentence Synopsis: Aloof and proud powerful official × resilient and clear-headed noble lady

Concept: Although the orchid may be content in a corner, even the tiny moss flower emits fragrance.