[Jiang Rui's Perspective]
Yun'er and I grew up together. I watched her grow from a mischievous child into a graceful young woman. Our mothers were close as sisters, and everyone assumed we'd marry someday. So I waited for her, quietly, for years.
But then, one day, everything changed—over a piece of hibiscus cake. I didn't save her the last piece, and suddenly she declared we were through. What a ridiculous reason!
I brought ten boxes of hibiscus cakes to make amends, but she refused, even beating me up. Every time we met, she'd hit me again. I went from heartbroken to numb. But I told myself: if she's hitting me, at least she still cares.
When my shadow guards reported she was writing love poems to my third brother, I didn't believe it for a second. She hated studying—how could she write poetry?
One night, I got my brother drunk and snuck into his room. The handwriting on those letters was unmistakably hers. That's when I realized: I was the only one taking this drama seriously.
When I heard she was injured, I panicked and carried the imperial doctor all the way to her house—well, the guards did most of the carrying, but still. I figured she wouldn't want to see me, but then she showed up at my residence.
I hadn't even swept the thresholds yet—what was I supposed to do?
Then she said, "I want to marry you." It was like thunder in my ears. I was so stunned, I had to ask her three times to be sure.
She said she wanted to marry me! How could I be so lucky?
But remembering how she'd treated me before, I had to be cautious. I made her sign a promise never to regret marrying me.
After she left, I started to worry. How could such good fortune come so suddenly? I sent people to investigate and found out she'd been hurt—and that the Lin family was involved.
Well, let's just say, once I finished my business with salt and iron, the Lin family was next on my list.
I emptied the storeroom for her dowry, added pearls and jade to the wedding dress I'd prepared years ago, and went to her house to propose. But then I saw my third brother lurking nearby.
Was she really going to marry me, or was this all another trick?
I tested her, watching her reaction when my brother's robe hem appeared in the corner of my eye. But she only had eyes for me.
And finally, that piece of doubt vanished—just like my brother's shadow.
Third Brother, I'm sorry. But your big brother fell for Yun'er first.
On our wedding night, I used my lingering injuries as an excuse to refuse Yun'er's advances. It wasn't that I didn't want to—who could resist their beloved on such a night? But I was afraid. Afraid Yun'er would regret it later. It was only on the eve of our marriage that I discovered she'd lost her memory. I couldn't take advantage of her confusion.
That didn't stop us from growing close, though. The rumors of our blissful marriage? I spread them myself. I wanted the world to know that when I had Yun'er by my side, it was as her rightful husband.
I never expected Lin Wanran to cause trouble again and again—she nearly cost Yun'er her life! That, I couldn't forgive. I worked day and night, finally gathering enough evidence to bring down Minister Lin's whole corrupt family.
But I hadn't anticipated my foolish Third Brother getting entangled with Lin Wanran. While I was still figuring out how to deal with her, my brother rushed off to beg Yun'er for mercy on her behalf. I was annoyed, so I teased Yun'er, fishing for a little comfort. She actually coaxed me—"Kiss me," she said, and she really did! I couldn't hide my delight.
Fine, I thought, maybe Lin Wanran deserved one last chance. After all, I'm a good big brother, right? But Lin Wanran was relentless. When Yun'er was hurt again, I ignored all pleas and locked Lin Wanran away. This time, no one could save her. As for the so-called child—if Third Brother wants a daughter, he can always have another.
Yun'er was unconscious for three days. My heart nearly shattered. When she finally woke, she started avoiding me. My heart broke all over again. She'd regained her memory.
Panicked, I ran from her, terrified she'd ask for a divorce. But fate can't be dodged. After a few days brooding in my study, Yun'er kicked down the door and demanded, "Why are you hiding from me?"
Resigned, I told her I'd already written the divorce papers. Then a letter from my father-in-law arrived—turns out, Yun'er's "bullying" all those years was for my sake. I lost my mind. She never really hated me! Maybe, just maybe, she even liked me a little?
With hope in my heart, I stopped her from leaving and poured out everything I'd kept inside. She laughed and cried, "You're the one I love!" This time, I was the one in tears. What a fool I'd been—so close to losing her forever.
[Lin Zhi's Perspective]
My mother was the famed beauty of Dongchen, sent to marry my father, the emperor. But I didn't inherit her looks. When I was born, my mother despaired: "How did I give birth to such an ugly son?" Honestly, I just looked a lot like my father. The older I got, the more the resemblance grew. Ministers praised me for it, but was that really a compliment? My father thought so, and favored me over my brothers.
That meant more time in the imperial study, more lectures, and more beatings. I could have done without all that "favor." I never expected he'd want to make me crown prince. "I refuse," I said. Why spend my life listening to old men in court when I could be out enjoying myself? So I tossed the edict to Second Brother.
He dodged too. "If no one else wants it, why should I?" he said. What a genius. So, thanks to our mutual avoidance, Eldest Brother ended up on the throne, looking like he'd just swallowed a bitter melon.
When it was time for me to marry, I wanted a beautiful wife and a cute daughter who didn't look like me. I browsed all the beauties in the capital until a letter arrived from the Prime Minister's estate: the famed beauty Chu Yun'er had chosen me?
I was over the moon. I snuck a peek at her—those cherry lips and willow-leaf brows had me eating an extra bowl of rice every day. When I heard she was injured, I rushed back from the countryside. But she said she liked Second Brother. I didn't believe it! Her poems said otherwise.
Fuming, I stormed out of the Prime Minister's estate, only to overhear Second Brother coming to propose. I wasn't willing to give up. I sneaked into the courtyard—no one dared stop me. But when I saw the way she looked at Second Brother, I knew—her eyes held nothing but love for him. My mother was right: women only care about looks.
On her wedding day, I drowned my sorrows in wine. If I couldn't have the girl, at least I could have the drink, right? The next morning, disaster struck—Lin Wanran was in my bed! Well, a man should own up to his actions, and she was pretty enough. I told her, "Don't worry, I'll take responsibility." She looked like she'd been wronged and ran off.
Am I really that scary? Can't a girl at least let me decide if I want to be responsible?
Later, I learned the truth—Lin Wanran liked Second Brother too. I was crushed. I'm a prince, not that much worse than Second Brother… just a little.
So I kept drinking.
Then Second Brother confronted me: "Did you sleep with Lin Wanran?"
I nodded, still half-drunk. But what followed sobered me instantly. Lin Wanran had the nerve to harm Chu Yun'er. Now she wanted me to take responsibility, claiming she was pregnant.
"One try and it worked—not bad," I thought. I promised to plead for her, since my daughter was at stake. But I didn't expect her to be so crazy. Even after Yun'er agreed to let her go, she snuck out and tried to bash someone with a flowerpot. The mother of my child turned out to be a madwoman!
While I was still reeling, Second Brother's men told me, "The child isn't yours."
How could that be? We'd slept together! But it was true—the child was her fake brother's. I felt like I'd been played for a fool.
No daughter, no love—life felt meaningless. Maybe I should retire to Yunshan Temple and live out my days in peace.
But then I met Lord An's daughter. She stopped my tonsure ceremony and said, "You're a good man. I don't mind your looks." She smiled like a flower.
Suddenly, life seemed interesting again.
END
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