After being deceived by her husband she suddenly realized her mistake

Li Wanzhao is the eldest daughter of Li Guan, the prefect of Enwen Prefecture, and the only child of his deceased first wife. After her mother died when she was young, her father remarried his cousin, Chen Shi, who brought twins into the family. Chen Shi and her daughter, Li Wanshu, have systematically marginalized Li Wanzhao, withholding resources and subjecting her to emotional abuse. Despite her father’s official position, Li Wanzhao lives in relative poverty within her own home, struggling against a stepmother who manipulates household affairs and a grandmother who favors the new lineage. Three months prior to the narrative’s start, Li Wanzhao was drugged at a poetry gathering and spent the night with Wen Chen, a poor scholar she had previously observed but never spoken to. The incident was discovered by female attendees, sparing her total public ruin but damaging her reputation. Her father, Li Guan, a man of rigid integrity, was devastated and shamed. He forced Wen Chen to marry Li Wanzhao to preserve her honor but subsequently cut off all emotional and material support, refusing to acknowledge her for months.

Wen Chen, outwardly a destitute scholar with no family, is secretly the Crown Prince of the empire, hiding his royal identity to avoid political intrigue in the capital. He is accompanied by a loyal servant, Zhongji, who manages his hidden affairs. Wen Chen views his marriage to Li Wanzhao as a temporary inconvenience and a necessary cover for his exile in Enwen Prefecture. He harbors no affection for her and plans to return to the capital once his situation stabilizes, intending to annul the marriage and leave her behind. However, he is forced to maintain the facade of a devoted husband to protect his secret and navigate the local examination system, which he must pass to regain his status.

The central conflict arises from the intersection of Li Wanzhao’s desperate need for familial acceptance and Wen Chen’s cold detachment. Li Wanzhao, believing that her husband’s success in the imperial examinations will restore her father’s favor, throws herself into supporting him. She endures humiliation from her stepmother, who tasks her with sewing lucky garments for her half-brothers while denying her and Wen Chen basic necessities like charcoal and winter clothes. Li Wanzhao’s turning point comes when she kneels in the snow to beg her father for help, exposing her vulnerability and securing minimal aid. This act strains her relationship with Wen Chen, who witnesses her desperation and feels a complex mix of disdain and reluctant pity.

As the county exam approaches, tensions escalate within the Li household. During a family banquet, Li Wanzhao’s half-brother, Li Hongyuan, provokes Wen Chen by mocking his poverty and attempting to snatch a lucky sachet from his waist. Wen Chen, usually restrained, violently subdues Li Hongyuan, choking him until he submits. This display of hidden strength and lethal intent frightens Li Wanzhao, who fears the repercussions will anger her father and grandmother further. She pleads with Wen Chen to be more submissive, arguing that survival in their hostile environment requires patience and concealment. Wen Chen, however, finds her cowardice infuriating and questions the value of enduring such abuse, revealing his royal upbringing and inability to comprehend her plight.

The story progresses with Li Wanzhao attempting to bridge the growing emotional gap between them. She tries to care for Wen Chen, bringing him money earned from his calligraphy and ensuring his comfort before the exam. Despite her efforts, Wen Chen remains emotionally distant, viewing her affection as a burden. The narrative highlights the stark contrast between Li Wanzhao’s investment in their shared future and Wen Chen’s calculated detachment. As the exam draws near, the underlying power dynamics shift subtly, with Wen Chen’s true identity looming as a potential catalyst for change. Li Wanzhao’s hope that his success will save her stands in opposition to Wen Chen’s secret agenda, setting the stage for a confrontation between her reality and his hidden destiny.

Throughout these events, the Li family’s internal politics remain a constant threat. Chen Shi and the Old Madam continue to scheme against Li Wanzhao, using her marital status and reputation as weapons. Li Guan, though initially harsh, shows signs of wavering due to Li Wanzhao’s persistent appeals and visible suffering, yet he remains bound by filial piety to his mother and social propriety. The narrative explores themes of gender inequality, familial duty, and the disparity between appearance and reality. Li Wanzhao’s beauty and resilience are contrasted with her lack of agency, while Wen Chen’s humility as a scholar masks his supreme authority. The story builds toward a climax where Li Wanzhao’s fate becomes inextricably linked to Wen Chen’s royal heritage, forcing both characters to confront the consequences of their actions and the illusions they have maintained.