A few hundred years ago…
Long before Nattalie Huang's time, the first of the Huang bloodline was a woman named Lie Niu Er — a beauty of rare grace, and a pride that matched her charm.
She believed herself untouchable, the kind of woman who could have any man she desired. But arrogance is a dangerous thing. In her vanity, Lie Niu Er fell in love with the one man she should never have touched — a scholar, already married, named Ma Zu Ting.
Ma Zu Ting came from the distinguished Ma family, their most treasured son — intelligent, ambitious, and born to be respected.
He had been arranged to marry Jia Yi Hua, the youngest daughter of the Jia family — a woman of gentle beauty, shy and soft-spoken, used to solitude and silence.
Obedient to her family's will, Jia Yi Hua accepted the arranged marriage.
It was a grand affair, blessed by both families, with every detail planned down to the auspicious date: the eighth day of the eighth month.
When they finally wed, the union of the Ma and Jia families became the talk of the region — a perfect match between two noble houses. One family of landowners, the other of successful merchants. Their marriage sealed both fortune and reputation.
In the early years, everything seemed flawless.
They lived by tradition; Ma Zu Ting ruled as head of the household, while Jia Yi Hua honored him as a devoted wife should.
Four years passed.
They were blessed with two children, a boy and a girl. Jia Yi Hua believed she was truly happy — that her husband, though chosen by her family, had learned to love her deeply. She believed their marriage was both prosperous and kind.
But bliss is fragile.
After giving birth to their second child, Ma Xiao Bao, Jia Yi Hua's world began to crack.
Ma Zu Ting's duties at the ministry required frequent trips to other cities — or so he claimed. He said he was inspecting distant provinces, conducting surprise audits.
The truth came to Jia Yi Hua like a knife.
Her husband was not working. He was living with another woman — a woman he had met in his travels, the same one who now haunted his thoughts and heart.
Her name was Lie Niu Er.
She worked as an administrative aide and Ma Zu Ting's personal assistant during his assignments out of town — alluring, intelligent, and dangerously captivating.
The affair had been going on for months.
When Jia Yi Hua finally uncovered the truth, she was consumed by rage and despair. Yet, bound by love and pride, she chose forgiveness.
Ma Zu Ting wept, begged, and swore it would never happen again.
And for the sake of her family's honor, Jia Yi Hua relented. She allowed herself to believe him — to rebuild their life from the ashes of betrayal.
But hearts that stray once seldom stay.
It wasn't long before he returned to Lie Niu Er.
This time, Jia Yi Hua went to confront the woman herself.
"You wretched whore!" she spat, trembling with fury. "How dare you steal my husband? Can't you see he has a wife—children—an entire family he's destroying for you?"
Lie Niu Er, unbothered and amused, sat languidly in her chair. She smiled, the picture of calm arrogance.
"I never chased your husband," she replied sweetly. "He's the one who keeps coming to me. I can't help it if he's drawn to my charm. And as a lonely woman… tell me, should I really turn away a man who seeks me out so passionately?"
The slap came fast — a sharp crack that echoed through the room.
Jia Yi Hua's palm left a red mark across Lie Niu Er's perfect cheek.
But before she could say another word, Ma Zu Ting appeared — arriving just in time to defend the woman who had destroyed his home.
"Yi Hua, please! Stop this! Don't cause a scene — it isn't her fault. I'm the one to blame. I was the one who sought her out… because I can't forget her."
Another slap — this time landing squarely on his face.
"What did you just say?" Jia Yi Hua cried, her voice breaking. "You came here—by choice—to see her?"
Her heart shattered. She had been the perfect wife — obedient, faithful, devoted to raising their children. She had believed, naïvely, that love would grow from duty.
***