When he was young, Fang Linyuan entered the palace. He saw a graceful figure in a single glance, and fell deeply in love. He was in unrequited love with Princess Huining for many years.

Afterwards, he followed his father to guard the borders, and captured eighteen Beijiang cities, despite his young age. He returned in victory. All of it was for the sake of asking for Princess Huining’s hand in marriage.

Before, Huining’s mother had been ruined. Huining was thin and reclusive, having suffered neglect and humiliation. Yet she was still cold and unbending, like a pearl fallen in the mire.

Now, she was in the bloom of youth, striding through the palace with a vibrant crown. Her suitors filled the palace to bursting, yet no one could catch her eye.

That day, an imperial edict was declared to the realm, and the princess’s refusal was not allowed.

That night, the light of the red candles swayed, and a razor-sharp dagger met Fang Linyuan’s neck.

“Listen to my orders, or you’ll die without a complete corpse.”

Beneath the veil sounded the cold and unfamiliar voice of a young man.

***

Fang Linyuan received his long-sought wish, but the angel he dreamed of marrying as a boy turned out to be a man.

It turned out that Princess Huining, Zhao Chu, had been in disguise for many years, enduring humiliation and trials, just in order to protect himself in a den of tigers. He was waiting for a chance to take power and steal the throne.

And his marriage was nothing more than another layer of his disguise.

Fang Linyuan had nowhere to express his bitterness. He could only swallow his resentment and tuck away the sincerity he had paid in vain, wanting nothing more than to never see the false princess again.

But the marriage certificate was already written, and not only did he have to see Zhao Chu day after day, but he also had to put on a show of harmony and mutual respect with the false princess.

Fang Linyuan could only suffer patiently, being Zhao Chu’s false husband on one hand while waiting for war to arise on the other. Once it did, he would lead an army out of the capital, never to return.

But before the fires of war arose, there came the day when Princess Huining took power.

The throne was beneath him, and the officials bowed to him. Zhao Chu no longer needed to be Madam Fang.

Fang Linyuan offered him divorce papers, intending to retire from the capital and guard the borders.

Yet he saw Zhao Chu rip the divorce papers into tiny pieces with a cold expression, his eyes forbidding. Zhao Chu asked him why he started this mess only to abandon it at the end.

“But you’re a man,” Fang Linyuan explained.

Beneath the red candles, Zhao Chu’s face was luminous, just as when he had first seen him.

“Men have their good points.”

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