Heir Apparent Your Wife Is Calling You Home

Ning Ye is the twenty-one-year-old heir to the Duke of Dingguo, a prestigious military lineage in the capital. Known for his striking appearance and carefree, mischievous temperament, he has consistently rejected marriage proposals despite his grandmother’s urging. His household is divided among three branches: his mother, Madam Yang, who is deeply affectionate toward him; his Third Aunt, Madam Tong, whose children are already engaged or married; and his Second Aunt, Madam Zhao, who harbors ambitions for her niece, Zhao Yaqing, to marry the heir and elevate her own status within the family. Zhao Yaqing is viewed with suspicion by the matriarch, who recognizes her scheming nature.

Simultaneously, in the Su residence, Su Luowei, the seventeen-year-old legitimate second daughter of the Minister of Revenue, leads a quiet life focused on food, play, and her family. She is beloved by her parents and siblings but is overshadowed by her elder sister, Su Luowan, who is celebrated for her beauty and talents. Su Luowei is unaware that political factions are maneuvering against her father. The Third Prince, seeking to curry favor with the Su family, petitions the emperor to take Su Luowei as a secondary consort. Her family, determined to protect her from the treacherous royal household, decides to marry her off to a noble house with strong military backing to prevent this outcome.

The Duke of Dingguo’s mansion hosts a spring flower-viewing banquet to introduce potential brides to Ning Ye. Su Luowei attends reluctantly, driven by her mother’s insistence. Upon arriving, she encounters Ning Ye, who is immediately struck by her unique charm and beauty. Their interaction is marked by his teasing and her witty, unorthodox responses, which contrast sharply with the demure behavior expected of noble ladies. Meanwhile, Zhao Yaqing, feeling threatened by Su Luowei’s presence, attempts to sabotage her reputation by pushing herself into the lotus pond and framing Su Luowei for the accident. Su Luowei, realizing the trap, jumps into the water to clear her name. Ning Ye rescues Su Luowei, ignoring Zhao Yaqing’s pleas, which solidifies his interest in the clever girl.

The Duke’s matriarch, observing Ning Ye’s clear preference and Su Luowei’s intelligence, approves of the match. She instructs her son and daughter-in-law to proceed with the engagement. Su Luowei is initially horrified by the prospect of marrying the "jinx" she met at the banquet, but her parents explain that marrying into the Dingguo family is her only protection against becoming a prince’s concubine. She reluctantly accepts her fate. Before the wedding, Su Luowei is lured to a teahouse by a forged letter from her friend, where a man attempts to compromise her. She outsmarts the attacker, ties him up, and summons Ning Ye, who happens to be nearby. He helps her interrogate the man, who reveals that Su Luowei’s illegitimate half-sister, Su Luoxue, orchestrated the plot out of jealousy. Su Luowei exposes the conspiracy, leading to Su Luoxue’s punishment and exile to a temple.

On their wedding day, Su Luowei and Ning Ye marry in a grand ceremony. Their first night together is awkward but tender, with Ning Ye gently comforting his shy bride. The next morning, Su Luowei faces the complex dynamics of the Duke’s household, particularly the hostility of her Second Aunt, Madam Zhao. During a family meal, Madam Zhao makes veiled insults about Su Luowei’s reputation, but Ning Ye sharply defends his wife, silencing his aunt. The couple’s relationship begins to blossom as Ning Ye indulges Su Luowei’s playful nature, taking her disguised as a young man to a pleasure pavilion to see a famous courtesan. Their bond strengthens through shared humor and mutual respect, setting the stage for a marriage that transcends the political and familial intrigues surrounding them.