Everyone in the capital knows that the Heir of the Marquis of Jingbei is as elegant as the breeze and the moon—a brilliant talent who joined the army at sixteen and decapitated the enemy commander single-handedly. However, the Heir is also known for being blind to reality.
Despite the abundance of fine ladies from noble families in the capital, the Heir insisted on revolving around Lin Yurou, the illegitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s household. Little did the Heir know that Lin Yurou had long since conspired with others, coveting the family’s military power, eventually leading to the slaughter of the Heir’s entire clan.
After death, her soul witnessed the Eldest Princess—the woman she detested most in life—clutching her corpse and weeping uncontrollably. She watched as the Princess took revenge for her, step by step, with her own hands.
Reborn into the past, she decides not only to settle the debts of her previous life but also to marry Xiao Le’an.
After the Summer Lotus Banquet, everyone noticed that the little Heir, who used to follow the Prime Minister’s daughter everywhere, had become a different person. Not only did she withdraw all the special favors previously given to Lin Yurou, but she actually went to the Princess’s Manor to propose marriage.
One must remember that she had once declared in front of everyone that Xiao Le’an was old and ugly, and that she would marry anyone but her. Unsurprisingly, before she could even cross the threshold, she was tossed out by the Princess’s guards.
Thinking the matter would end there, people were shocked when, two days later, the little Heir returned to the Manor with betrothal gifts. This time, the Princess simply unleashed the dogs.
Pei Qingtang could not understand. In her previous life, Xiao Le’an clearly had feelings for her. Why was everything different after her rebirth? While she was still pondering this and planning yet another proposal, she heard that the Minister of War had entered the palace to seek the Princess’s hand for his profligate son…
This was unacceptable!
Xiao Le’an is the powerful Eldest Princess who dominates the court, the Emperor’s sister, and the paragon of womanhood in the Kingdom of Basheng. In Basheng, women reach maturity at fifteen; if they remain unmarried by twenty, they become a laughingstock. Xiao Le’an is twenty-five this year and remains stubbornly unwed, becoming a source of constant worry for the Emperor.
Exasperated by the endless nagging, Xiao Le’an finally chose the one candidate who hated her the most.
Since she was taking the title of the legal spouse, Xiao Le’an wasn’t entirely heartless: “We shall share a room on the 1st and 15th of every month. At all other times, we sleep in separate quarters.”
Pei Qingtang thought: Two days a month is better than nothing. I’ll agree for now and plan my next move slowly.
On the wedding night, Pei Qingtang bashfully revealed her true identity.
Xiao Le’an was instantly laughed to the point of fury. Who gave this person the audacity to seek the hand of the Eldest Princess while inhabiting a female body? Had she spoiled her too much?
Later on, Xiao Le’an personally led men through the night to snatch Pei Qingtang back from the military camp to the Manor: “Who gave you permission to stay out overnight? Attend to my bedtime immediately.”
Pei Qingtang bit her lip. “But today is neither the 1st nor the 15th.”
Xiao Le’an was momentarily speechless before shouting, “Someone! From now on, keep the lamps lit outside the bedchamber every single night for the Consort!”
One-sentence summary: A duplicitous, sharp-tongued Eldest Princess x A black-bellied little Heir.
Theme: Marriage requires mutual trust.
